Cover Crops: Your Garden’s New Best Friend!

(Updated: Sept. 18, 2025, 6:53 a.m.)

Workshop by the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Chatham County


October 23, 2025 | 9:30 - 11:00 am

Location: Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center

Cost: $12 - Pre-registration required.

REGISTER

Austrian winter pea flower
Image: Dyorkey CC BY SA 3.0

Cover crops are crops that are grown before or after the vegetable crop and not harvested as produce. Instead, they are terminated by cutting or other methods and then left to decompose in the garden to help you build soil fertility, improve soil structure, reduce erosion, suppress weeds, and increase microbial activity and soil organic content.

In this workshop, participants will learn from the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Chatham County about the many different legumes and grasses we use as cover crops, what they can do for your soil and garden, and how to include them in your garden planning.

After the lecture, we will head outside to the Extension Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at the Chatham County Agricultural & Conference Center to see some cover crops and methods for planting and terminating. You will leave with some specific ideas about cover crops that can become your garden’s new best friend!

REGISTER


 

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities and persons with limited English proficiency may request accommodations to participate by contacting Matt Jones, Extension Horticulture Agent, at 919.542.8243, Matt Jones, or in person at the County Extension Office at least 14 days prior to the event.