Cover Crop - Cover and Color Mix
Best soil-enriching blend for gardeners seeking healthier, more vibrant garden beds.
Enhance your soil with the Cover and Color Mix, a sophisticated cover crop blend designed for optimal soil health and nutrient cycling. This mix actively increases organic matter, breaks up compacted soil, and improves aeration. It also serves to suppress weeds and undesirable insects while fostering beneficial microbial life. Many varieties within the mix attract helpful insects, adding beauty with their blooms. This blend is an annual and will not winter kill, requiring management in the spring by pulling, cutting, or flattening.
$11.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
270
/ 6090
#270 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
+13%
Above average
Mix Contains
Crimson Clover, Buckwheat, Nitro Radish, Phacelia, Cereal Rye, Austrian Winter Pea, Hairy Vetch, Pearl Millet, Oats, Flax, and Winter Barley
/ Crimson Clover, Buckwheat, Nitro Radish, Phacelia, Cereal Rye, Austrian Winter Pea, Hairy Vetch, Pearl Millet, Oats, Flax, and Winter Barley
Who it's for
- Eco-conscious gardeners seeking to support local pollinator populations
- Busy growers wanting a fast, all-in-one planting solution
- Organic gardeners focused on long-term soil health and structure
Who should skip it
- Gardeners with limited time for manual crop termination
- Farmers needing precise nutrient management for specific soil deficiencies
- Beginners worried about managing aggressive self-seeding plant varieties
Performance breakdown
Soil enrichment potential
Diverse blend maximizes organic matter and nutrient cycling for healthier beds.
Pollinator support
Flowering varieties actively invite beneficial insects to your garden ecosystem.
Weed suppression
Dense growth habit effectively outcompetes weeds for space and resources.
Soil aeration
Deep-rooting radish and grain components break up stubborn, compacted earth.
Maintenance effort
Requires manual spring termination as the blend does not winter kill.
Species diversity
Eleven distinct seed varieties provide a comprehensive, multi-layered soil solution.
Key Specs
Mix Contains
Crimson Clover, Buckwheat, Nitro Radish, Phacelia, Cereal Rye, Austrian Winter Pea, Hairy Vetch, Pearl Millet, Oats, Flax, and Winter Barley
Life Cycle
Annual
Plant Types
Vegetable, Flower, Grass
Seeding Rate
1 lb. per 300 sq. ft.
Size
1 lb
Planting Season
Spring, Fall
Seed Form
Loose Seeds
Attracts Pollinators
True
Features
- Boosts soil organic matter
- Loosens compacted soil
- Suppresses weeds and pests
- Attracts beneficial insects
- Supports soil microbial life
- Adds biotic materials to soil
- Complex blend for maximum benefit
- Features flowering varieties
What customers say
Customers highly value this cover crop mix for its exceptional quality and dual purpose. The germination rate is consistently praised, even in difficult soil, confirming the seed blend's freshness and reliability. Users appreciate how quickly the mix establishes a dense canopy, effectively managing weeds and preventing soil erosion. A key differentiator is the aesthetic appeal; the Color Mix transforms a utilitarian planting into a beautiful off-season feature. While some note the price is higher than bulk seeds, most agree the curated quality justifies the expense. Overall, this product is seen as a premium, dependable solution that successfully merges practical soil health benefits with garden beauty.
Know before you buy
No, this is an annual blend that will not winter kill. You will need to manage the growth in the spring by cutting, pulling, or flattening the plants before they go to seed.
One pound of this seed mix is sufficient to cover 300 square feet. Be sure to distribute the seeds evenly to ensure the complex blend of grasses, vegetables, and flowers establishes properly.
Yes, the inclusion of deep-rooting varieties like Nitro Radish and Cereal Rye is specifically designed to break up compacted soil and improve aeration. Over time, these plants increase organic matter and create pathways for water and air to penetrate deeper into the ground.
Yes, this blend is versatile and can be sown in either the spring or the fall. It is formulated to support soil health throughout the growing season and during the transition periods.
Absolutely. The blend includes flowering varieties like Phacelia and Crimson Clover, which are excellent for attracting beneficial insects and pollinators to your garden space.
This cover crop acts as a living mulch, growing densely to shade the soil surface. By occupying the space and outcompeting weeds for light and nutrients, it effectively suppresses unwanted growth while simultaneously fostering beneficial microbial life.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.