Annual ryegrass, as the name implies, is a plant that completes its life cycle within one year. Typically, annual ryegrass will be seeded in October and will germinate and grow quickly through the fall, winter and early spring. During this time it will provide a good quality lawn. As temperatures increase in mid to late spring, the annual rye becomes stressed and ultimately dies. The lawn is then taken over by the bermudagrass or other desirable lawn grass.
Annual ryegrass should receive good maintenance. Mowing at a 1-1/2 inch cutting height is important. Annual ryegrass should be mowed fairly frequently during periods of rapid growth in the fall and spring. A four to five day mowing frequency may be needed.
A lawn fertilizer should be applied during the fall and spring. Annual ryegrass requires readily available soil moisture but, because it grows during the fall, winter and spring, seasonal rains often provide much of its needed water. Even so, ryegrass does need occasional watering when the soil dries out.
Perennial ryegrass is well adapted to foothill locations where it provides an excellent lawn of medium textured, dense and disease resistant grass. The new improved turf-type varieties of perennial ryegrass are especially successful.
When perennial ryegrass is seeded to a new lawn or following renovation of an old lawn, the seeding rate should be 5 to 6 pounds per 1000 square feet of lawn area.
Once established, perennial ryegrass should be mowed at a 1-1/2 inch cutting height. Closer mowing will result in a weakened turf that is susceptible to weed invasion. Perennial rye should be mowed about once a week during the spring and fall and less frequently when growth slows at other times.
It is important that ryegrass be watered to avoid drought stress, especially in the summer. water to the depth of the root system, which is about 12 inches in a good soil. Water about twice a week in the summer and more often during hot, windy weather. Less frequent watering is needed the rest of the year.
A good spring and fall lawn fertilization program should be followed. Nitrogen is the most needed nutrient for ryegrass maintenance and it is the principal nutrient in good lawn fertilizers. Apply fertilizer during the spring and fall. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended rate for best results.