Green manure

Stephanie74

Hi, 

Can you use green manure (i'm thinking of sewing grazing rye) to add goodness to the soil before i plant up a flower bed next spring? 

I wasnt sure if it is just used for vegetable plots, or if it will be ok to plant flowers and shrubs after the winter?

thanks.

Paul Charnock

I've often used grazing Rye over the winter and yes it should be fine for flowering plants.
One word of caution though. Rye does have an inhibiting factor on seed germination I am told but if you are planting plants rather than a seed bed then it should be good. The thick roots of the Rye halp to break up heavy soil and of course keep the weeds down too. Dig it in before it goes to seed.

Stephanie74

Thanks for this Paul.