Nurse Crops and Cover Crops FAQ's

• What is a nurse crop?
• What species are used as nurse crops?
• What if the nurse crop persists after the first year in my prairie planting?
• Can normal grain rye be used as a cover and/or nurse crop? Why?
• What is the difference between annual rye and normal grain rye?

What is a nurse crop?

A nurse crop consists of a fast-growing, annual plant, mixed and planted with the prairie seed mix to hold the
soil, prairie seed, and mulch in place.

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What species are used as nurse crops?

Non-native Annual Rye (lolium multiflorum) or Oats (Avena sativa)

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What if the nurse crop persists after the first year in my prairie planting?

Treat it as you would other unwanted plants. Mow the area in June of the second growing season to a height
of 10-12" before your nurse crop produces seed heads, typically one to two months after a spring or early
summer planting.

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Can normal grain rye be used as a cover and/or nurse crop? Why?

No,
Normal grain rye (Secale cereale) is allelopathic: It exudes chemicals into the soil that inhibit the germination
and growth of other plants.

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What is the difference between annual rye and normal grain rye?

The annual rye that we recommend as a cover and/or nurse crop is a completely different plant
(not the same genus), and does not produce plant inhibiting chemicals.

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