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Cover Crops vs. Green Manure for Clay Soil Repair

Terms often used interchangeably. Technically: green manure = tilled in (legumes: alfalfa, vetch, peas, clover—fix nitrogen). Cover crops = left on surface (prevent erosion, roots enrich). Both loosen subsoil. U of Hawaii chart rates species for "excellent" subsoil loosening. Till green manure before maturity; let cover crops decompose naturally. Either beats sand (makes hardpan) or gypsum (only helps high sodium from chemicals).

Lawns: Establishing Lawn on Hard Clay: Economical Soil Preparation; Fixing Sod Laid Over Clay Without Tilling: Short- and Long-Term Solutions; Woodlice (Slaters) Killing Bean Seedlings: Reduce Organic Matter; Clay Soil Lawn: Aerate, Don't Just Topdress; Successful Sodding on Sandy Soil in South Florida; Seeding and Fertilizing Strategy for North Carolina Clay Soils; Choosing the Right St. Augustine for South Texas Clay: Soil Testing, Variety Traits, and Why Bermuda Might Be Better; Fixing Sloped Clay Lawn with Crabgrass and Moss: Total Renovation; Green Grass Secrets: Fertilize by Cycle, Amend by Soil; Lawn Establishment and Care: Mowing, Slopes, Shade, and Maintenance

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