[MAIPC] Using annual ryegrass in cover mixes

[Richard Johnstone]

Colleen,
First you should do a site prep if you have invasive plants otherwise you
won't be able to get rid of them after the meadow establishes. Winter wheat
or oats are a safer bet as they won't persist like rye. If you disturb the
soil or mix the soil profiles you will invite the invasives and lose the
benefit of the native seed bank, fungi and bacteria. Leave the soil intact
and use a no-till drill to plant.
Rick
Here's some advice from your extension office
: https://extension.psu.edu/fall-weed-control-in-small-grains


On Wed, Oct 20, 2021 at 12:43 PM Kenny, Colleen <ckenny at upperdublin.net>
wrote:

> Hi all,
> I'm looking at doing a warm/cool season grass mix from Ernst in an area
> that has a lot of exposed soil (we're very worried about erosion). The
> mixes have annual ryegrass (*Lolium multiflorum*) which is not native,
> but apparently germinates much faster and more aggressively than the native
> ryegrasses.
>
> Does anyone have experience with these? Will the ryegrass peter out in a
> few years? Any need to worry about it taking over too aggressively?
>
> I'm facing the tradeoff between need to stop erosion and desire to go
> all-native. If the annual rye is not detrimental it would be worth the
> faster germination.
>
> I appreciate your thoughts,
> Colleen
>
> Colleen Kenny
> Natural Resource Manager
> Upper Dublin Township at Commerce
> 370 Commerce Drive, Fort Washington, PA 19034
>
> Email: ckenny at upperdublin.net
> Office: 215.643.1600 x3843
> Cell: 267.615.3731
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