soil and light blog4
What Is Green Manure, and How Does It Benefit a Garden?
Green manure refers to fast-growing plants you sow specifically to improve your soil — not for harvest. In Saudi Arabia, where soil can be sandy, compacted, or lacking nutrients, green manure can transform your garden from the root up.
What Are Green Manure Crops?
Also known as cover crops, green manures are sown during your garden's “off-season” — usually between spring and fall in cooler regions of the Kingdom. Common options include:
- Legumes (e.g., clover, alfalfa, vetch) — they fix nitrogen into the soil
- Grasses (e.g., oats, buckwheat) — they grow fast and protect topsoil
Why Grow Plants You Don’t Eat?
Because green manure does what fertilizer can’t — it creates lasting structure, feeds your soil microbes, and reduces the need for external inputs. Here’s how:
1. Improves Soil Fertility
When green manure breaks down, it becomes organic matter that:
- Feeds soil microbes and earthworms
- Increases nutrient availability
- Builds long-term fertility
2. Fixes Nitrogen Naturally
Legume cover crops extract nitrogen from the air and convert it into a form plants can absorb. This means richer soil and less need for commercial fertilizers — ideal for organic gardens.
3. Improves Soil Texture (Tilth)
Green manure roots loosen compacted soils and help sandy soils hold moisture — a major benefit in hot, dry regions. As they decompose, they build spongy, root-friendly soil structure.
4. Suppresses Weeds
Cover crops shade out invasive weeds and prevent their seeds from taking hold. Some gardeners leave the chopped stems on the surface as a natural mulch — this adds organic matter and blocks new weeds.
5. Supports Soil Microorganisms
Healthy gardens rely on beneficial bacteria, fungi, and insects to break down nutrients. Green manure keeps this underground ecosystem fed and active year-round.
6. Prevents Soil Erosion
In windy or rainy conditions (especially in western and southern Saudi Arabia), cover crops anchor your soil and reduce erosion — even in raised beds or sloped plots.
7. Attracts Pollinators
Some green manures — like buckwheat or clover — produce flowers that draw bees, butterflies, and birds into your garden, helping future crops bloom and fruit better.
When to Plant Green Manure in Saudi Arabia
In most regions, sow in:
- Late April to August for summer coverage (especially quick crops like buckwheat)
- October to January for winter cover (like clover or oats)
Getting Started
You don’t need a big farm to benefit. Even small raised beds or pots can host a cover crop in the off-season. Botanvia will soon offer region-friendly green manure seed options — stay tuned!
Gardening isn’t just about what you grow — it’s about how you care for your soil. Green manure makes your garden more productive, more organic, and more alive.
Green Starts Here.™