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letting garden go fallow for one full season #927498

Asked April 04, 2026, 12:17 PM EDT

I have used the same garden plot for 50 years and have decided to let it go dormant this season. Last year's crop was ok but I am at the age where I'm not sure I want to continue the activity. What do you recommend as far as letting it be for one year?

Gogebic County Michigan

Expert Response

Thank you for contacting Ask Extension. If you are going to allow it to lay fallow for a year, I would put a cover crop on it. I have included some publications for your reference, but Crimson clover and/or buckwheat make excellent cover crops. Depending on when you are going to plant it, there is a publication from the Uof Maryland, that will tell you when to plant. All cover crops will put nitrogen in the soil, which is a good thing, and when they die back, you can turn it over back into the soil. 

https://extension.psu.edu/cover-crops

https://extension.umd.edu/resource/cover-crops-gardens/

https://www.canr.msu.edu/cover_crops/

If you are going to let it go for longer than one season, I would buy some native flower seeds and set up a butterfly/pollinator garden.

https://pollinators.msu.edu/

https://extension.psu.edu/planting-pollinator-friendly-gardens

If we can be of further help, contact us again.

Thank you for contacting us! Replied April 06, 2026, 3:53 PM EDT

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