Land Preparation

Annual ryegrass is a good cover crop choice on heavier ground. A rapid start depends on adequate soil moisture and a well-drained, clod and weed-free seedbed. There is often sufficient residual nitrogen after vegetables. However, if there is not sufficient nitrogen, 30 lb/ac of nitrogen can double the fall growth of ryegrass.

Seeding Rate

Drill at 10-20 lb/ac. Broadcast at 20-30 lb/ac and cover with 1/2 inch of soil. When blending with clover, use 2/3 annual ryegrass and 1/3 clover. Plant at 15-25 lb/ac.

Seed Cost

2007 cost: $1.00/lb

Seeding Dates

Early spring through late summer. Avoid seeding this cover crop during hot, dry weather. Annual ryegrass can be interseeded between or over established vegetable crops. Broadcast seed when conditions are moist and before the canopy fills in. Plant in fall as a winter cover or as a nurse crop for clover.

Time Until Control

4-6 weeks minimum, or incorporate in spring.

Seed Suppliers

Local, Seedway, Ernst Conservation Seeds. Annual ryegrass is produced in Oregon. For a list of seed dealers providing varieties suitable for cover crops see http://ryegrass.com/dealerlist.html

Management Tricks

Drill when possible, tolerates compacted soils Looks great in walkways between vegetables plantings, especially if the annual ryegrass can be mowed. May require multiple applications of herbicide to control.

Unavoidable Problems

Some varieties are susceptible to rusts

Avoidable Problems

Needs steady soil moisture to establish. Makes volunteer seedlings if left too long. Can be hard to kill with herbicides.

Classic Uses

Earliest planting date of winter covers. Fast cover between beds; temporary "lawn." Catch crop for excess nitrogen.

Maintenance

Mow for visual effects. If fall planted with legumes, mow to prevent the legumes from being smothered.

Control

Annual ryegrass will mostly overwinter, especially where there is good snow cover. Southern types such as Gulf will winterkill; Midwestern types will survive. The variety is often not specified for the New York market. A concern with annual ryegrass is preventing it from going to seed in the spring. Annual ryegrass volunteers are particularly undesirable in small grains, so special care must be taken if they are part of your rotation. It can be controlled with tillage and/or herbicides. When tilling, plow under and disk as soon as conditions permit. The timing of herbicide applications is important to control ryegrass. Apply glyphosate at 3 pt/ac when the grass is 6-9 inches tall, day temperatures are greater than 50° F, and the weather is sunny. A second or third application may be necessary to burn down ryegrass. Simazine can be added to the tank mix but requires rain to activate; Atrazine should not be tank-mixed with other herbicides. Apply 14-21 days after the glyphosate. Atrazine also needs rain to activate.

Tips

Heavily crusted soil at planting time will inhibit growth, resulting in gaps in the carpet of grass. August-seeded annual ryegrass makes a dense carpet of sod by the spring. This is valuable for improving soil health and for nitrogen scavenging. It takes some time for decomposition after spring tillage. For additional information see https://www.ryegrasscovercrop.com. Ryegrasses are susceptible to crown and brown rust (Puccinia spp.). Resistant varieties include Passerel Plus and Marshall. For further information on annual ryegrass, see the article on Mid and late summer cover crops.