Conewago Currents: Practice Spotlights

On The Farm: Cover Crops

Now is a good time to start thinking about planting fall cover crops. Cover crops protect and even improve soil in a cost effective and sustainable way. Keeping soil continually covered reduced erosion, increases soil organic matter and moisture retention. Some cover crops such as legumes are also highly effective at fixing nitrogen in the soil, thereby reducing the amount of nitrogen needed for spring planting. For more information about cover crops, visit the Penn State Extension website.

Around The Home: Grass Clippings

Many homeowners spend countless hours every summer bagging grass clippings. Did you know it is better for your lawn and the watershed if you let those grass clippings lay? The clippings will naturally fertilize your lawn as they decay. Maintain a nice looking lawn by using a mulching mower and cutting to one-third of the blade length. This practice will prevent fertilizer runoff from your lawn, save you money spent on commercial fertilizers, give you a healthy, organic lawn, and save you lots of time each summer!

Read the complete Conewago Currents Newsletter at the Conewago Initiative website.