cover crop

noun

: a crop planted to prevent soil erosion and to provide humus

Examples of cover crop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Taking the time now to freshen up your garden soil with late applications of compost or a planting of cover crops is an easy way to add nutrients back into your garden and help plants grow better in spring. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2026

Annual ryegrass only lives for a season and is often used as a green manure or cover crop in veggie beds. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 18 Aug. 2026

Avoid unnecessary tillage, which can break fungal hyphae, and keep living roots in the ground when practical through perennial plantings or compatible cover crops such as annual ryegrass and crimson clover. — Dr. Avishesh Neupane, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026

Prevent exposed roots by planting cover crops, applying mulch, and watering deeply to encourage healthier root growth. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 19 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cover crop

• barbershop
• countertop
• lollipop
• mountaintop
• photoshop
• tabletop
• turboprop
• atop
• backdrop
• backstop
• bebop
• blacktop

Kids Definition

cover crop

noun

: a crop planted to prevent soil erosion and to provide humus