RYEGRASSES - Annual & Perennial

Ryegrasses were brought to the USA from Europe and are now grown and planted throughout the country.  These bunch grasses have two basic types; annual and perennial.  Each type is planted as a pure strain or used in mixtures depending on the specific lawn use desired.  Do not confuse these two kinds as being the same.  They are adapted into our lawns mainly for their fast growing ability as a cool season grass. Perennial is a permanent lawn choice in more cooler climate areas, and annual is seeded yearly and lives for one season.

Bright green, fast growing, and prolific; the ryegrasses do much for lawns by adding contrasting color to early spring flowers, trees and shrubs.

As a fill-in grass on slower growing permanent lawns annual ryegrass is exceptionally adept. Ideally suited for short term seasonal use in areas reaching below the transition zone, annual ryegrass is a great fill-in to create green grass on new areas.  In warmer regions, ryegrass lawns may require watering, fertilization and mowing quite frequently.

TURF QUALITY PERENNIALS
Perennial Ryegrasses such as the Professional Select (Pro Select) or Fairway Classic blends we sell, can be grown on their own for lawns in the northern regions, and are widely used as a mixture with permanent grasses or in new lawn establishment.  It is also popular with Turf Agronomists for overseeding of quality Bermuda lawns, golf areas and sports fields in more Southern state locations. Most Golf Course greens today are overseeded with Perennial for primary winter cover.  Centipede lawns should NOT be overseeded with Perennial, but instead use Annual Ryegrass.

Both Perennial and Annual Ryegrass can provide a winter green lawn overseeded on warm season grasses that go dormant in the fall/winter.  Used on newly sown lawns of cool and warm season grasses it acts as an erosion barrier while the permanent lawn develops plus giving any area an almost "instant" green coverage. This green coverage is the chief purpose for using annual ryegrass. Clippings mown and left on the developing lawn as it grows, helps adds extra nutrients as the ryegrass decomposes.

Ryegrass is one of the few "throw and grow" seeds that can be sown without the hassle of tilling, scarifying, or digging into the soil and destroying any of the permanent ground covers already in place.  Plus if the weather helps out by raining just before sowing then you practically have it made. Otherwise watering the yard and applying fertilizer before or after sowing are the main two steps in fastest establishment. The trick to sowing any seed is to get an even coverage in conjunction to sowing the correct amount to achieve an even lawn appearance as the grass fills in.  And to get the seeds to make "soil contact" for germination to occur.  

One of the best ways to get rid of those winter "blues" is a spot of annual ryegrass "green" and some early spring bulbs. Beautiful mental picture with very little money!

PERENNIAL RYEGRASS LAWNS are one of the best lower maintenance lawns of the cool season grasses. This is one of the toughest and most wearable turf covers that can be grown. Ryegrass is noted for quick germination, shiny green color,  fine texture (newer turf type varieties) and dense forming sod. High disease and insect resistance helps to make perennial ryegrass one of the leading choices for lawn and athletic covers in north America. Used as permanent turfs and in overseeding warm season grasses  while they are in winter dormancy.

Perennial is also mixed with other cool season grasses to provide more density to the dominate grass in the mixture.  Perennial ryegrass is often added to Kentucky bluegrass to add strength and give bluegrass time to repair while the perennial is in full growth. These two grass species can be mown at the same height and retain a sod density for which both are well known. Although bluegrass needs more fertilizer, the perennial will respond to additional amounts without any damage.

Two of the top Perennial Ryegrass Blends we sell are:
See more ryegrass choices at our VARIETY page.

Professional Select  Perennial Ryegrass Blend
Fairway Classic Perennial Ryegrass Blend.

A compatible growing medium with any vegetation where needed.  Annual rye is very beneficial to problem areas that are infected with nematodes which are almost impossible to get rid of except by heavy chemical control. Natural and cheap for this infestation problem. Yearly planting of this grass ahead/behind/or with crops  known to be a nematode favorite would certainly be cost effective. Annual ryegrass is easily removed from any area through heavy grazing, mowing or turning under before the seeding stage. Maybe this should be the number one grass of the new millennium? A non-aggressive, vigorous grower, furnishes nutrients back to the soil, forms an erosion soil basis for stability, highly digestible, beautiful color, dies off when you need it to without chemicals - makes its a winner!

BUY RYEGRASS SEED ONLINE FROM SEEDLAND

Ryegrass - Annual

	ANNUAL RYEGRASS is a cool season grass generally used as a temporary planting for overseeding warm or cool season grasses.  Its uses are many, including temporary pastures, green manure's, temporary coverage for erosion control, short term use on reclamation sites, parks, new lawns, and along highway shoulders.
Annual ryegrass may be seeded with other grass mixtures , legumes, clovers and small grains. Fast germinating, quick growing and requires low to medium fertilization.

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Ryegrass - FORAGE / PASTURE USE

Annual ryegrass certainly must be considered a staple in the farming and ranching business. Ryegrass can be used in so many useful ways to benefit pastures or farm lands in general. From providing quick, short season forage, hay, green chop, green manures, erosion control, weed control, and so much more.

PASSEREL PLUS ANNUAL RYEGRASS - Highly rated Forage Ryegrass! Read about Passerel Plus along with Data Reports.

Cheap, easily seeded, established and harvested, this grass is a number one seller worldwide.  Annual ryegrass (Gulf Annual) can be used from berry fields to corn fields, row cropped with all kinds of products to keep down weeds and provide early coverage, shade for some products, green fertilizer when mown and returned to the soil, wildlife crops, and when left to maturity it will partially reseed for the next season on a lesser scale of production. 

DO NOT PLANT RYEGRASSES DEVELOPED 
ONLY FOR LAWN USE IN PASTURES!

Due to the potential for Ryegrasses in pastures to have the possibility of producing higher than desirable Endophyte production of toxins, you should only plant ryegrasses that have a known history of safe use for forages such as Passerel or Gulf Annual.  Some of the newer improved perennial ryegrass varieties for lawns often contain Endophytes and are NOT suitable or recommended for pasture use.  Plant only forage type varieties.

PERENNIAL RYEGRASS PASTURES are highly digestible and a favorite of all animals. A valuable winter and spring grazing crop that can be overseeded onto additional forages or used alone lengthening the pasture season.  A fast growing multi-use forage crop requiring minimal tillage and competitive enough to make a place for itself. Compact growing habit reinforces the ground and gives a perfect erosion base for pastures with heavy traffic or in the case of heavy rains or snow meltdown  it helps keep the livestock out of the mud as much as possible. 

Perennial ryegrass is fast germinating, grows prolifically, and can be grazed heavily. Many varieties have been developed and are in "prescription" mixes or in stand alone crops for complete pasture and hay production. The ryegrasses are well known for being companion grasses in mixes of fescue, clovers, timothy, orchard grass and many other pasture crops. The ryegrass is usually first to germinate and grow in while the others are developing. Perennial rye is used to overseed many warmer season pastures that may go dormant or are growing slower due to cooler temperatures. This is one of the most diversified grasses used in the forage industry for permanent and semi-permanent pastures.

OVERSEEDING Since annual and perennial ryegrasses are used in overseeding many areas the best stands are still the ones with a small amount of input. Rake or remove all debris (this helps scratch the soil for better soil contact), fertilize as suggested (slow release is actually the best and easiest), water lightly before (if possible) seeding evenly at the heaviest rate recommended , rake again if possible and lightly mist to keep seeds in place.  Excessive force will move seeds into uneven clumps. Watering  helps increase  germinating process.