Description

• Annual rye grass is a bunch grass. The plant base is purple. Leaves are dark and shiny with smooth edges. The bud is rolled in the center of the plant. The grass leaves are ridged on the upper surface. Lower surfaces are smooth, glossy and hairless. The leaf sheath is split, overlapping with no hair. The root system is vigorous and fibrous and has many branches. Rye grass is easily identified by the position of the multiflowered spikelets on the edge of the rachis.
  
  

Types

• There are two types of rye grass seeds: annual and perennial. Annual rye grass is planted in the winter around November and then dies off in the spring around May. Perennial rye grass is permanent and does not die off. There are over 50 types of rye grasses.
  
  

Uses

• Annual rye is used to cover warm season grasses so that are homes have nice green lawns during the winter. It also is used as forage during the winter for cattle and livestock who need something to eat with a lot of nutrition. The annual rye, because of its quick growth, is also used for erosion control on hillsides hit by fires. Golf courses want that green look, too, and use it annually to keep the fairways green. Rye grass can also be used to cover dead areas in the winter as a cheap and quick way to get some green grass until the permanent grass is planted in the spring.
  
  

Considerations

• When overseeding, you need to cut the permanent grass short to maximize the seed-to-soil contact. Annual rye grass tolerates slightly acidic soils and loves rich organic soils. Rye grass is not drought tolerant and can die in extremely cold temperatures.
  
  If you are overseeding over Bermuda, use a broadcast rate of three to five pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet. Rye grass requires twice weekly mowing. Rye also requires a lot of nitrogen to keep it growing. In addition, it is highly susceptible to insects and disease.
  
  

Benefits

• Annual rye is used because of its growth rate. It is fast germinating and quick growing. From the day it is sown, you can get full turf in 20 days. It is shade tolerant and easy to grow.
  
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