Dirt Doctor Cover Crop Mix
Price range: $10.95 through $39.95 - Builds soil nutrients
- Promotes healthy soil biome
- Aerates and breaks compaction
- Promotes water retention
- Establishes quickly
- Reduces evaporation
- Source of food for many animals
- Sold in 5 lb. and 20 lb. pound bags
Dirt Doctor Cover Crop mix is designed to improve your soil. It is a combination of cover crops and annual grass seeds. It is an inexpensive, eco-friendly way to rapidly build soil nutrients and break-up compaction. It is a good alternative to chemical fertilizers. The mix promotes healthy soil biomes by providing a stable and healthy environment for beneficial soil “bugs”. The roots retain water and break up soil compaction. It establishes quickly and paves the way for more permanent crops.
Poor soil health and densely compacted soils result in plants that are small and discolored. Forage production is limited and forage quality is poor because roots do not penetrate far enough below the surface. Low nutrient or emaciated soils cannot sustain plant life. Hard, crusty surfaces prevent seed penetration. Water runs off the surface and soil is dry dusty.
Quality soils are a combination of loosely compacted aggregate, aerated particles and a nutrient rich biome. Plants grow tall and have good color. Roots penetrate deep into the soil. Compaction is broken up. Air and water percolate through the aggregate. Beneficial bugs and microbes build communities. Water retention is good, and the green canopy prevents evaporation.
Dirt Doctor Cover Crop mix is a seed mix formulated to promote soil health. In addition to promoting healthy soil, the above-ground mater can be utilized for livestock, wildlife and fowl.
Soil Builder is sold in 5 lb. pouches and 20 lb. bags.
Soil Builder CoverCrop Mix contains the following percentages:
- 30% Eco-Till Radish
- 20% Common Vetch
- 15% Flax
- 15% Crimson Clover
- 10% Motley Triticale
- 5% Sunn Hemp
- 5% Forage Peas
Poor Soil Health
Poor soil health and densely compacted soils result in plants that are small and discolored. Forage production is limited, and forage quality is poor. Roots do not penetrate far below the surface. Water runs off the surface, soil is dry and low in nutrients.
Good Soil Health
Plants are tall and health, have good color. Roots penetrate deep into the soil. Compaction is broken up. Air and water percolate through the aggregate. Beneficial bugs and microbes build communities. Water retention is good, and the canopy prevents evaporation.
When to Plant Dirt Doctor soil Builder Mix
Sowing times for most US states. Extreme northern or southern climates should adjust according to conditions.
Spring
In warm climates Dirt Doctor can be planted around mid March. Establishment will be slower than late spring plantings. Establishes best when soil temperatures are above 50 degrees F. Spring plantings can be described as a slow rolling start. Establishment and performance increase as temperatures rise.
Summer
Late spring to mid summer plantings return excellent results. Plants germinate and establish quickly. Rapid growth on hot days. Sufficient water is necessary to reach full potential.
Fall
Late summer plantings are excellent as shoulder season cover before fall planting. Also a great way to prep soil for winter. OK to leave biomass as ground cover through winter. Early fall and later plant dates return diminished results. Ensure sufficient days for establishment.
Why Should I Use Dirt Doctor Cover Crop Mix?
Create a Healthy Biome
The primary purpose of Dirt Doctor Soil Builder Mix is to improve soil quality. It is an excellent alternative to using chemicals.Dirt Doctor breaks up soil compaction and surface crust. It aerates soil and improves oxygen flow to roots. New root channels and increased spaced between soil particles Increases water carrying capacity. The tubers and fiberous roots eventually decompose, and the spaces they leave behind are a source of food and water for plants and beneficial bugs and microbes. The above ground canopy reduces moisture loss. Other benefits to a cover crop in addition to soil health include an above-ground source of forage, reduced soil temperatures via biomass canopy, and reduced evaporation.
Dirt Doctor Cover Crops enhance the water retention properties of your soil by:
creating a shade canopy lowering average soil temperatures reducing evaporation creating root channels that hold water Increase space between soil particles beneficial bugs leave channels that hold water
Feed Growth to Livestock
If allowed to grow to maturity, Dirt Doctor will produce a great forage crop. This happens while the root structures are doing their job below ground. The above ground growth can be used in several ways, including:
Turn livestock in to pasture and graze Chickens and all classes of fowl can forage the growth Cut the growth, which can be baled or piled Feed the growth to most classes of livestock Till the material into the ground
Dirt Doctor Cover Crops enhance the water retention properties of your soil by:
creating a shade canopy lowering average soil temperatures reducing evaporation creating root channels that hold water Increase space between soil particles beneficial bugs leave channels that hold water
Feed to Chickens and Fowl
You can plant Dirt Doctor and feed the growth to all classes of fowl. You can use it exclusively for this purpose. You can also dual purpose Dirt Doctor by first feeding the above grown growth then follow by seeding a garden or some other kind of planting. The below-ground improvements prepare the way for healthy future plantings.We recommend you disturb the below-ground improvements as little as possible.
Chickens LOVE to scratch and browse. It is not simply a source of food for them; it is a vital natural foraging instinct that stimulates their nervous system. It provides essential exercise and prevents boredom. It keeps their claws short maintains muscle tone. It promotes social bonding and reduces the occurrence of bad behaviors like pecking and “bullying”. It also creates a time and space for them to dust bathe, reducing undesirable insects and skin issues.
Cut and Bale the Growth
In large-scale plantings, another option is to cut the above ground growth and use it as animal feed. Dirt Doctor Soil Builder Mix can be fed to most classes of livestock. It can be baled. Due to the succulent leaves of most cover crops, dry-down time is usually a little longer than with traditional hay or small grain grasses.We recommend no-till drilling after your cover crop growth is removed. It is best to not disturb the improvements that have taken place under the surface of the soil.
Magic Below the Surface!Below ground, the roots and biomass decompose and build a healthy soil biomass complete with beneficial bugs, channels for water. A healthy soil aggregate emerges and is a conducive environment for the next crop.
Till Biomass Into Soil
A final option is to till the biomass into the soil. This is a common practice in small plots and home gardens. It chops and turns the above-ground matter into the soil, which in turn decomposes. The decomposing matter creates food and aggregates the soil.When possible, we recommend you till BEFORE you plant Dirt Doctor then mow the above-ground material and avoid disturbing the progress made under ground. Sow your seeds directly into the stubble and biomass. In the crop production world this is called “no-till drilling” or “no-till planting”.
While tilling is a good option, a better option is to leave the newly developed underground bio-community undisturbed. It can take several seasons to create healthy soil, and leaving it to do it’s “thing” is generally the best course of action.
SOIl BUILDER COVER CROP MIX
Soil Builder Cover crop Mix PDF
Soil Builder Cover crop Mix PDF
PDF prepared by Great Basin Seed
Cover Crop Basics
An informative, authoritative guide to cover crops. Very comprehensive, and covers all geographic regions of the USA. Published by GO Seed.
Who is Great Basin Seed?
Great Basin Seed is a seed company that specializes in seed sales and consultation for home, ranch, farm, range and reclamation. We have been a leader in the seed industry since 1974.
Our History
We've been in the seed business since 1974.
What We Offer
We offer seed for home, farm, ranch, range and reclamation projects.
Meet the Gang
We have the best employees in the world! We are proud of the work they do, and trust them to serve you!
Right: Company founder Lloyd and his wife Paula Stevens in a wildflower seed production field circa 1977
Helpful Links
Additional information about this product can be found on the academic websites linked below.
Synonyms
There are no synonyms associated with this product
Quick Plant Facts
| Lifespan: | |
|---|---|
| Elevation of Occurance: | |
| Origin: | |
| pH Tolerance: | |
| Plant Height: | |
| Plant Type: | |
| Min. Precipitation: | |
| Growth Season: | |
| Best Time to Sow: | |
| Max Sowing Depth: | |
| Sun & Shade Tolerance: | Full Sun |
| Planting Rate: | |
| Select Item Size: | 5 lb. Mylar Pouch, 20 lb. Bag |
