Planting Annual Ryegrass

[jenkinsph]

I am considering adding some annual rye grass seed to a new lawn for early groundcover while waiting for the fescue to gerninate.
What kind of temperature is needed for annual ryegrass to germinate? What are the minimum temperatures allowed overnight? Need some help here.

 

[jenkinsph]

Wow no feedback? No thoughts or opinions?

Is this place useless or what?

 

[Harriet]

Rye grass is a cool season grass so once you get it started it will do OK in the cool parts of the year. Spring and fall are the best times to start lawns from seed. If you are in the warm part of New Mexico, you may be able to start some seeding, but if there is any threat of frost, I would hold off.

 

[jenkinsph]

Harriet,
Thanks for the reply, as I understand it rye grass can germinate with temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees F. In our area you can generally seed early without alot of problems since our moisture level is so low. I can start watering when the temps are right. I seeeded with annual rye and tall fescue Monday two weeks ago just before the big freeze hit. It was snowing as I rolled in the seed.

We got down to -21F the next night so I am in a cooler part of New Mexico (in the mountains).

 

[KennyV]

I seeeded with annual rye and tall fescue Monday two weeks ago just before the big freeze hit.

I was not familiar with annual rye... we have a one time growth rye that is planted with lawn grasses.
I understood it's only purpose was a quick shade for the ground to keep the moisture from burning off with the sunlight.
Rye is a nice soft grass. Grows fast and is easy cutting... Good to know there is an annual... :smile:KennyV

 

[jd335]

not sure about your area but the annual ryegrass we sow the freeze willnot hurt it we sow alot of it in the fall and it's been 15 below zero and now it's pretty and green we have had several warm days. but the fescue is different if the seed itself freezes it's done.but again they might have diferent seed for your area.

 

[jenkinsph]

Kenny,
We have annual rye which is a one shot deal and perrenial rye which is a permanent grass available in my locale. For me this is a one shot cover crop to decrease erosion. The tall fescue will be the permanent grass for this lawn.

JD335,
Not good to hear about the Fescue seed not being freeze tolerant.:frown: With temperatures below -24F for the low and the high of -2F for a couple of days it would have froze in my storeroom anyway.
At least seed is cheap compared to the other costs.

 

[KennyV]

Kenny,
We have annual rye which is a one shot deal and perrenial rye which is a permanent grass available in my locale. For me this is a one shot cover crop to decrease erosion. The tall fescue will be the permanent grass for this lawn.

Hey the Annual grass, must be the quick cover grass I was thinking of...
It's great ground cover until the other grass gets established..

I think the frost threat is only after the seed has germinated, before it dose it should not matter if it freezes...:smile:KennyV

 

[jenkinsph]

I bet I will be popular with the deer around here too. they will love the rye grass I am sure..