[MAIPC] Using annual ryegrass in cover mixes

[Patrick D. Kelly]

 From a customer who is installing seed native grass/wildflower mix this year on their sunny/part shade conservation meadow (after my work eradicating existing invasive plants) "They (Ernst) also told me to use grain rye as the cover crop for these seeds." 
Patrick D. Kelly, Horticulturist
PDK Horticultural,LLC Phragmites and Invasive Plant Control Services

301 Hope Road

Centreville, Md 21617

443-262-2079 mobile

https://PDKHorticultural.com

https://www.facebook.com/PDKHorticulturalLLC






    On Thursday, October 21, 2021, 01:07:08 PM EDT, Richard Johnstone <ivmpartners at gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 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. RickHere'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 KennyNatural 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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