[MAIPC] Using annual ryegrass in cover mixes

[Matthew Sarver]

Colleen,

At high seeding rates, annual ryegrass can be detrimental to the success of
a planting through competition. If you're worried about that, grain rye
(Secale cereale) might be a better cover crop. Ernst has a mix that uses
grain rye rather than annual ryegrass:
https://www.ernstseed.com/product/native-steep-slope-mix-wgrain-rye/

Of course, it very much depends on soils, sun exposure vs. shade, aspect,
etc. I wouldn't recommend the mix above for a shady location.

Best,
Matt

Matthew J. Sarver, BA, CERP
Certified Senior Ecologist, Ecological Society of America
Principal, Sarver Ecological, LLC
6 Walnut Ridge Rd
Wilmington, DE 19807
matt at sarverecological.com
(724) 689-5845
www.sarverecological.com







On Wed, Oct 20, 2021 at 6:36 PM Judy Fulton <jfulton5 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Colleen,
>
> I don't have personal experience with growing Lolium multiflorum (aka
> Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum and Festuca perennis), but I do get
> concerned when people talk about using it because it has been mentioned as
> invasive or naturalizing by various sources. Here's a sampling of links:
>
>    - CABI:
>    https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/31165#tosummaryOfInvasiveness
>    - NC State Extension:
>    https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lolium-multiflorum/
>    - Cal-IPC:
>    https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profile/festuca-perennis-profile/
>    - WV:
>    http://www.midatlanticpanel.org//wp-content/uploads/2016/04/WV_ISSP_2014.pdf
>    (pg 45)
>    - Weakley's Flora of Southeastern (no judgment about invasiveness, but
>    shown as exotic and growing uncultivated throughout the Mid-Atlantic):
>    https://ncbg.unc.edu/research/unc-herbarium/flora-request/
>    - USDA Agricultural Research Service (Naturalized section under
>    Distribution tab):
>    https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=22493
>
> Because of these and other sources, I've included Lolium multiflorum in
> the Mid-Atlantic Invaders Tool (https://www.invasive.org/midatlantic/).
> Frankly, if I were doing the planting, I'd choose to go all native.
>
> Judy
>
> ____________________________________________
>
> Judith P. Fulton
> EcoPlant Consulting: Native and Invasive Plants
> Board, Maryland Native Plant Society
> Board, Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council
> Chair, Maryland Invasive Species Council's Committee on Invasives Lists
> Voice: 410-337-3701, Text only: 410-404-8201
>
> On 10/20/2021 12:43 PM, Kenny, Colleen 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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