Planted Rate 10 - 20 Lbs. per Acre.
Orchardgrass
is adapted to the more fertile soils in the Limestone Valley/Mountains
Regions and some upper Piedmont sites. However, orchardgrass is not
recommended for the lower Piedmont or Coastal Plain regions as it
pertains to Georgia.
Orchardgrass
is adapted to the more fertile soils in the Limestone Valley/Mountains
Regions and some upper Piedmont sites. However, orchardgrass is not
recommended for the lower Piedmont or Coastal Plain regions as it
pertains to Georgia.
It
is a bunch grass that produces an open sod and produces excellent
quality forage. It is not as persistent as tall fescue. Even under ideal
conditions, stands usually thin after 2 to 3 years and will need to be
renovated. Though it can be grazed, orchardgrass stands will generally
thin more rapidly in pastures. Orchardgrass stands are easier to
maintain if they are cut for hay.
Mixtures
of tall fescue and orchardgrass are widely used in hayfields in the
upper Piedmont and Mountain regions. Orchardgrass is also a great
companion crop with a legume, such as red clover or alfalfa. A common
use of orchardgrass is to seed it into alfalfa stands that have thinned.
Orchardgrass is best
established on a prepared seedbed, though no-till establishment into an
alfalfa or red clover stand will result in satisfactory results.
Orchardgrass should be established in the fall. Plant 12 15 lbs of
orchardgrass per acre when using a grain drill or sod seeding drill.
When seed are broadcast and incorporated by disking or dragging,
increase the seeding rate to 15 to 20 lbs per acre.
