Orchardgrass

Orchardgrass is a cool-season, long-lived, perennial bunchgrass. It is native to Europe and was first introduced to the United States in the late 1700s, preferring areas that are well-drained with moderately fertile to rich soils.

It is one of the more useful introduced pasture grasses, especially on irrigated pastures and rangelands where precipitation is 18 inches annually or more. Under dryland conditions, it usually develops distinct clumps 15 to 18 inches tall; when grown under irrigation or in moist conditions, the plants grow much larger and in a more closed stand. It is one of the earliest species to initiate growth in the spring and makes tremendous growth during cool conditions. With deep roots, it is also capable of strong summer growth when it is dry but still somewhat cool. Under extremely hot conditions, it will suffer a temporary production slump. Orchardgrass may be injured in areas with dry, cold winters and no snow cover. It does not tolerate extended periods of drought and will not tolerate soils saturated for extended periods of time.

Orchardgrass cures well and is sometimes mixed with alfalfa or other legumes to provide very high-quality hay. It also provides excellent pasture and has the ability to remain green and continue growing while being grazed, so it can recover very quickly after grazing or harvest. It is excellent forage in a young growth stage for livestock and wildlife and is especially relished by deer.

Orchardgrass responds well to nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation. Because of its dense network of non-rhizomatous roots, it provides good erosion control. A clean, firm, weed-free seedbed is recommended. Dryland and erosion control seedings should be made in the late fall or very early spring. Irrigated seedings should be made in early to mid-spring. Do not seed after the spring rains have passed, or the establishment may fail because of dry seedbed conditions and hotter temperatures. Under dryland conditions, the new planting should not be grazed until late summer or the fall of the second growing season. Periodically the grass should be allowed to mature and produce seed to rejuvenate the stand. Orchardgrass does not spread vegetatively and is therefore much less invasive than many other introduced grasses.

Growing Height: 12 to 36" Min Yearly Rainfall: 18" Seeds Per Pound: 654,000 Acre Rate: 18 lbs Lbs per 1000sq feet: 1 lb