Saving My Garden from the Clover Cover Crop Chaos

[@Green.Country.Agroforestry]

Clover is my favorite default ground cover. Mix 2 or more similar varieties together when seeding - variations in germination conditions will give you better coverage, and then just cut it back where you want to give more light to your other plants. Drop there for mulch and fertilizer, or save some for feeding the critters, either way you have transformed the chore of weeding into a harvest, and got healthier soil out of it. Crop depending, you may also have critters like ducks come in and take care of grazing the clover for you .. they have their preferences: they might nibble an allium once to see what it is, but won't eat them if there is something tastier to be had. The same goes for most of your bushes, shrubs, trees, and even strawberries. They will have some of the fresh shoots of day lilies, and presumably cannas, too .. but won't eat them when mature, as they won't eat corn or wheat once those plants are no longer young and tender. They DEMOLISHED a bed of crosnes, though .. so unless one is growing out betonies as a fodder, keep that in mind. They have a love for cucurbits as well (and incidentally, prevented my corn from being totally overwhelmed by Seminole pumpkin last year) A perennial clover cover is VERY easy to plant into with seedlings or transplanted annual starts. First cut back the ground cover, then open a crack in the soil surface with your spading fork. Insert the transplant into the crevice, then allow the soil to settle, firm about the transplant, and mulch with a portion of the cut ground cover. For direct sowing, clear a space at least six inches in diameter to disturb the surface for your seed bed - more, depending upon how quickly one anticipates germination and establishment. Maintenance is as you just saw William demonstrate. The better the understory coverage (those trees that are interplanted here and there) the less water will be required, year after year. It is the life in the soil that retains the moisture, and the protection of the vegetative layers that preserves that life.

[@4evermetalhead79]

Informative, not scripted, no jump cuts on editing and funny…. This is the type of content i love and enjoy. That rap joke and the snake moment were so funny. 🤣

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

😂 thank you so much!

[@kennethsword551]

LOL, SGB! Hose snake. Scream like a little girl.🤣 Then shoot. 🤣🤣 That can be a video of its own 👍🏻 Good demostration on the chop and drop. I'm still chuckling. God bless Wu Tang out.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

I uploaded a video right after this one showing how to flip it.

[@brokenmeats5928]

I love ALL The Permaculture Consultant videos!

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

Thank you so much!

[@claysmith5894]

The clover cover is genius. Nitrogen plus evaporation barrier is awesome. Implementing it soon

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

That's awesome!

[@allonesame6467]

Yay! 🦋 Yes! That was a Monarch butterfly!

[@donnahoffman-qf9tw]

Yes that is a Monarch and yes Texas is part of their migratory path

[@paulreader1777]

Thanks for these from the home of permaculture in Tasmania

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

That's awesome! See any tigers lately?

[@paulreader1777]

Sadly no but many wallabies in domestic gardens due to current drought

[@jameswalley2500]

Yesterday, I found 2 different snakes while transferring finished compost into my raised beds. Got my cardio in with the endurance work after all.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

😂

[@jwhite5396]

Have you considered sowing native pollinator patches on your property? It would be interesting to see how many more pollinators you notice. Prairie Nursery and Prairie Moon Nursery both sell native plant seeds. Wild Ones is a native plant group that has chapters across the U.S. Permaculture and native landscaping seem to fit well together.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

Oh for sure! I have a few pounds of seed I'm waiting to broadcast until I get all of the earthworks squared away. One of the locations will be right next to the future barn location.

[@nataliatsvetkov9977]

Awesome video! I wait for every new episode like this is a detective story, I know it will end well (a beautiful garden), so excited to see what new things about garden you will uncover for us! THANK YOU!!!

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

Thank you so much!

[@misterdubity3073]

I think the butterfly @3:25 was a Viceroy (Monarch lookalike) based on the peripheral spots seeming to be mostly white rather than some white and some colors; and the Viceroy has a horizontal dark line on the hind wings that the Monarch does not have. But all of Texas and the entire part of the US east of the Rockies has Monarchs that migrate to Mexico.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

That's wild.

[@paulaturner6147]

I found scissors in the aisle with garden tools that come apart to use as a knife. I use scissors to cut my cover crops because it’s easier for me and I have small children helping occasionally. I may have to try the rice knife though 😊

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

That's not a bad idea at all! If it was slightly smaller scale, I would use scissors too. Thank you!

[@kevinh6008]

I really like seeing this. I garden more traditionally and it's nice seeing a very different rulebook.

[@nickcarroll8565]

Yes. He makes me reconsider everything I do haha

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

You guys are awesome! This method works best for my situation. More traditional methods might work better for others.

[@helenstewart2085]

Live in a country, where its Autumn had a accidental cover crop under my corn of clover. Fed the corn plants to my cattle, mowed the clover down, am now going to dig it over as after 30 years of no dig my carrots had become very short, this is the only area that is dug, have experimented with how long between digging and sow the best carrots are the ones sown 4 months after digging the area over. Will have the whole area dug over by end of May.

[@gabrielborja5853]

It might pay to put a survey flag or painted stake next to your veg seedlings to avoid chopping them down. You’re right that the clover will probably quit soon. You should think about seeding to buckwheat for your summer cover.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

I was thinking about that. I'm betting it's going to be too hot soon.

[@vansicklejerry]

Exactly what I was thinking. Or, at the very least tie a little orange ribbon on the plant.

[@georgemiller9533]

I love my rice knife. I used it today when I propagated a bunch of comfrey.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

It's awesome!

[@jeil5676]

That does seem like a lot of extra work. Maybe there is an alternative cover crop that doesnt grow as tall or as fast, perhaps another variety of clover would be better. Its good having the cover though, for sure.

[@OakKnobFarm]

So far I've only used winter kill cover crops (oat / pea mix planted late summer). I haven't played around with anything that needs crimping or terminating yet.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

We're about to see how this works 😂

[@FloridamanForager]

Ive got to rehandle my rice knife ive just been using the serrated blade itself, im doing the same thing in my pigeon pea orchard, mulching around the young tree/shrubs. may have to re seed here in north central florida it is quite dry but im trying to develop an even hardier drought resistant pigeon pea, these will be second generation.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

Oh that will be awesome! You must be dead central if it's dry 😂

[@FloridamanForager]

@@ThePermacultureConsultant haha yes Ocala Florida!

[@mpedals]

i planted more peppermint around my greenhouse, and this year i had hardly any aphids on the spinach in my box and greenhouse, and im thinking the lady bugs like the pepperment,,,,i have seen tons of ladybugs this year,,,,and loving it, in north, Mo. What type of clover is this,,,,,,we have red clover field, and white clover around a bit here and there, It looks like a terrific mulch for the garden,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,so far

[@foodplantnursery]

I love using cover ( cover crop,, mulch) thanks for your videos. I have become a believer.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

Amen! That's awesome to hear!

[@allonesame6467]

Think of the aeration & water percolating capabilities that the fire ants introduced to the soil!

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

Right! I don't really have a problem with them.

[@iam317537]

I am probably a month from pulling potatoes from my garden (also east Texas). I wanted to put in a nitrogen fixing cover crop behind it to improve the soil. But it will be way to hot for clover. Would densely planting a bean crop work instead? Other suggestions?

[@shalomtoday]

Cowpeas and bambara groundnuts. Sorghum and sorghum sudangrass build soil too, although they are not nitrogen fixers.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

That definitely works. Any legume species will fix nitrogen.

[@iam317537]

I knew they would nitrogen fix. I just didn’t know about the ground cover aspect since they are taller. Or if there was anything better

[@norcalgal6785]

Thx William! 👍🏼

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

Thank YOU!

[@Kdsmith1407]

Do we plant the ground cover first? All at the same time? I already have some plants growing in my raised bed. I typically mulch but may want to try clover ground cover instead. Also- I’m having to weed already. Will I need to get all the weeds out before adding the clover?

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

I'm pretty sure you can seed at any time. I would pull the weeds before seeding the clover. Let the clover compete with future weeds.

[@janew5351]

I have been on Chip drop list for over 1 yr.. To replace wood chips could i use cover crop on the compost with cardboard underneath around my newly planted fruit tree? Please give us a picture of your baby pigs.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

You can totally do that! You'll have to replace the green mulch more frequently though.

[@Green.Country.Agroforestry]

You can approach the power line trimming crews directly, and offer them a 20 to drop their chips off at your place .. or set aside a patch for growing biomass plants like sunhemp or sudan grass. You can get a lot of mass out of plants like canna and sunflowers too.

[@busker153]

I have crimson clover going, and lots of mint. What do you think of mint as a ground cover? I'm thinking, why not have a ground cover that smells this good, eh?

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

I don't see an issue with it! I have a few spots I would love mint to take over 😂

[@nathancaudill9365]

I’m going to try this clover method. I always thought you had to terminate cover crops. It’s almost time for me to plant my garden. Can I plant clover seed at same time I plant

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

You can definitely try! I did mine a few weeks before planting anything.

[@Sarrett.Studios]

Can you mow walkways of cover chop?

[@tambrasmith9707]

That made me laugh .. I’m the same way about snakes… I don’t usually scream. I found a snake on my saddle , I screamed

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

I hate snakes.

[@NikClinton]

Hey William, where did you get your clover seed from. Exactly which kind is it?

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

I got this stuff from a local seed n feed store. It's a blend of reds and whites.

[@NikClinton]

i might sound retarded but what is a seed n feed? is that like tractor supply?

[@NonexistentHomestead]

I am curious to see if you get much fruit off the apple trees there. Here in Florida they say my problem with them is not enough cold time.

[@janew5351]

This past year may have been a problem! This is zone 5 Ontario.

[@NonexistentHomestead]

​@@janew5351Most apple varieties need 500 to 1,000 chill hours or temps below 45 degrees F. You should have had that in Zone 5

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

I would check out the book Southern Apples by Lee Calhoun. He goes into a bunch of souther apple varieties pre civil war.

[@hippieacresnv]

What kind of clover are you using? We prefer yellow sweet clover in the high desert of Nevada, super drought hardy!! I have been watching your parents channel for years, I am loving your channel too! Great Job!!

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

I'll have to check that one out! It's a blend of some red's and white's. Thank you so much!

[@mandiegarrett1706]

What is that big knife you used after your Swiss knife? Name and where you get them? Thank you.

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

It's the Fiskar Brush Axe. I think I got mine from Ace Hardware.

[@Maggio1221]

Every time I try direct seeding, even cover crops ants (mainly coming from neighbours) take every seed I plant. Any advice? Very good video, greetings from Italy

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

That's wild! I would try putting some ant traps out or try planting seedlings. Thanks man!

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

Orange oil will also help.

[@williamzegley2272]

Just my 2 cents I've used dry cream of wheat (yes the cereal) I've used this method from NC to Germany to WYO and for most ants it works. they take the food into the hills and when they eat it expands and kills them (like Alka-Seltzer and pigeons) some times it takes a few times cause they then move but in my experience it works.

[@carierobertson7019]

Thanks William! Making it rain 😂

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

Thank you 😂

[@Soilfoodwebwarrior]

You vids are fire, but your garden beds are a little messy for me. Dr Ingham recommends planting into cover plants like you are using, perennials. In walkways I think perry cover plants can work, you can chop and drop them on the beds increasing fertility. However perennial cover plants in the beds I don't feel work well in my experience. No till you tube channel farmer Jesse trialed this as well to no avail. Annual cover crops in beds that can be chop and dropped with lots of high quality compost covered by a non living mulch is my preferred system. I like living mulch perennial pathways however.

[@flatsville9343]

Yeah. Planting perennial white dutch clover in your beds will compete, stunt & kill annual veg. I only allow it on paths & bed edges. I furiously dig it out if it tries to creep in. I do appreciate its presence for pollinator support.

[@Lydia-wu1zg]

Ok this video came a little late 😂 mine already flowered. Still going to cut it back with my rice knife

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

That's ok! That just means it's reseeding itself.

[@MiscMitz]

👍

[@kevina1084]

Why not just mulch with grass clippings from the field next to your garden

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

They might introduce grass seed to my garden beds.

[@Fed_Up_]

Lmaoooo 😂😂 madd funny broooooo !

[@ThePermacultureConsultant]

Thanks man 😂

[@flatsville9343]

Clover is pretty generic. Which variety? An annual variety I hope and not White Dutch Clover which is a perennial & will out compete & stunt the growth of your annual veg.

[@stephaniehill655]

Hose snake 🐍LOLLOL