After either heavy planting or being left bare for long periods of time, soil will dry out and lose its nutrients. The best way to help improve soil and keep it from becoming infertile, is by using particular plants or cover crops that help provide nutrients and protect the soil.
Six Plants/Cover Crops to Enrich the Soil:
• Fava Beans- put nitrogen into soil, suppress weeds and produce edible beans
• Field Peas- provide nitrogen to the soil, are a winter annual and produces edible peas
• Red Clover- protects the soil, prevents weeds, is edible and attracts beneficial insects
• Comfrey- the leave provides a lot of nutrients to the soil when used as fertiliser
• Borage- edible and great for attracting pollinators
• Dandelion- edible, medicinal and helps pull nutrients from deep in the soil upwards
These six plants or cover crops provide a lot of beneficial qualities that will help improve your soil and protect it from damage, from the sun.