Cover Crops for Beauty and the Bees

By Newyorkrita
October 6, 2015

Cover crops are very useful to attract bees and other beneficial insects. They are most often used as green manures to enrich the soil, but I just grow them because they are pretty and they attract pollinators.

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Oct 5, 2015 7:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!
Region: United States of America Rabbit Keeper Hummingbirder Salvias Charter ATP Member Birds
Echinacea Butterflies Tender Perennials Bee Lover Container Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
I had to laugh when I saw Alfalfa. The wild rabbits would eat it down to the ground, even if I put it into a container and most likely before it started blooming. I've regular clover mixed with the grass and they eat that a lot.
Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!


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Oct 6, 2015 8:14 AM CST
Name: Rita
North Shore, Long Island, NY
Zone 6B
Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Tomato Heads I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Vegetable Grower Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Roses Photo Contest Winner: 2016
If it kept them away from your regular garden plants then it would be a good thing. Hilarious!
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Oct 6, 2015 2:12 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!
Region: United States of America Rabbit Keeper Hummingbirder Salvias Charter ATP Member Birds
Echinacea Butterflies Tender Perennials Bee Lover Container Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
They would probably think it was dessert and still eat everything they've been eating. Hilarious!
Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!


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Oct 6, 2015 5:07 PM CST
Name: Rita
North Shore, Long Island, NY
Zone 6B
Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Tomato Heads I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Vegetable Grower Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Roses Photo Contest Winner: 2016
Marilyn said:They would probably think it was dessert and still eat everything they've been eating. Hilarious!


Hilarious! Hilarious! Hilarious!
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Oct 6, 2015 10:28 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!
Region: United States of America Rabbit Keeper Hummingbirder Salvias Charter ATP Member Birds
Echinacea Butterflies Tender Perennials Bee Lover Container Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
When we had our two bunny rabbits they loved anything alfalfa! We gave them alfalfa hay and alfalfa based food pellets. They got timothy hay also, among other food, but they loved the alfalfa! Lovey dubby

When our second and last bunny passed away in April, we still had bunny food left and the remaining rabbit food we scattered outside each day to the wild rabbits. I think they thought they were in 'bunny heaven'. Hilarious!

We had a lot of the alfalfa pellets, alfalfa hay and timothy hay to share.

The wild rabbits still eat, every day the mixed bird seed I scatter on the ground for the birds (and my plants whenever, the grass/clover and weeds).
Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!


Last edited by Marilyn Oct 7, 2015 7:34 PM Icon for preview
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Oct 7, 2015 9:58 AM CST
Name: Rita
North Shore, Long Island, NY
Zone 6B
Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Tomato Heads I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Vegetable Grower Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Roses Photo Contest Winner: 2016
Sounds to me like those wild bunnies have a great life there at your place. They are cute though.

I don't have bunnies here at my house which is truly odd as around the corner there are plenty of bunnies in that section, we see them all the time on peoples lawns on our walks.
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Oct 7, 2015 7:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!
Region: United States of America Rabbit Keeper Hummingbirder Salvias Charter ATP Member Birds
Echinacea Butterflies Tender Perennials Bee Lover Container Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
They sure do and have been, since we moved here in 1997. They're just happy we don't have any dogs.
Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!


Avatar for BillAlleysDLs
Oct 10, 2015 7:07 PM CST
Name: Louise Alley
Central Maine, Waterville (Zone 5a)
Hairy Vetch is good for bees, but if it gets in the garden, from my experience, it is there for life. Chopping and slowing it is an option. I have no luck digging it out. I love it in my field. In asparagus, not so much.
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Oct 11, 2015 9:49 AM CST
Name: Rita
North Shore, Long Island, NY
Zone 6B
Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Tomato Heads I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Vegetable Grower Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Roses Photo Contest Winner: 2016
Hairy Vetch is an annual and not a problem. Crown Vetch, now that is another story as it spreads by those underground roots. And yes, those are impossible to get rid of.
Avatar for BillAlleysDLs
Oct 12, 2015 6:33 AM CST
Name: Louise Alley
Central Maine, Waterville (Zone 5a)
Thanks for clarifying.
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