The only cool thing I've got going this year is in the blank parts of the garden, which I usually mulch with some shitty grass hay my grandpa had, I planted cover. It has Oats, Lentils, Flax, Dwarf Essex Rape, and Safflower.
I had some seed left over, so I threw it out. If it fails miserably, I can always till it under and mulch it, but I'm liking it so far. I tilled and mulched the area around the plants to keep the competition out.
I am trying to improve soil health and keep it loosened up. It is pretty heavy soil and bakes out hard. Plus it tills up dramatically better where I have stuff growing. So I'm trying keep the whole thing growing.
I'm also trying to keep the temperature down. We have no humidity here and that damn hay just reflects sunlight and heat. It is like standing on a hot tin roof in the middle of the afternoon. Growing plants absorb light and transpire, so it SHOULD help keep the temperature down some.
They are so far keeping the weeds out pretty well. There were some kochia that beat it out of the ground that we need to get pulled out, but I think it is doing pretty well. I'm liking it so far.
Here's a pic.
