I have a blank slate for a yard and am curious about using cover crops before planting sod as well as a garden. the lot was newly developed so it has been compacted by machines and is Alberta clay in zone 3. Eventually I would like to plant trees, sod, vegetables as well as some flowers. The amount of soil I would have to bring in to do all this would be a lot as well as facing challenges when planting trees so the hole it is in doesn’t just act like a bucket and drown the tree. If I plant cover crops for a whole year will that improve the clay so I will not need to bring in as much soil when planting sod and the rest of the garden or will it not make much of a difference? I am also concerned about the crops becoming a weed problem so I was hoping to choose some that will not survive once I’m done with them. To start for the spring/summer I‘m considering an annual ryegrass, crimson or red clover as well as some radishes where the trees will go. Hoping the clover and ryegrass will act as a temporary lawn as well. In theory would this work? Any problems that might occur? Has anyone attempted this?