Bulk Seed Savings
Ordering more than 250 lbs. of seed? Bulk discounts automatically applied at checkout!
Total Weight
Savings
250-499 lbs.
$25 Off!
500-749 lbs.
$50 Off!
750-999 lbs.
$75 Off!
1,000-1,499 lbs.
$150 Off!
1,500-2,000 lbs.
$250 Off!
Over 2,000 lbs.
Call or get free quote
Need help ordering 250 lbs. or more? Call us at 1(800) 552-1027
  • Aeschynomene Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Aeschynomene Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Aeschynomene Seed
  • Aeschynomene Seed (Deer Vetch) Cover Crop Seed
  • Aeschynomene Seed (Deer Vetch) for Deer Food Plot
  • Alfalfa Cover Crop Seed
  • Alfalfa Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Alfalfa Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Alfalfa Seed
  • Alfalfa Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Alpaca Pasture Mix
  • Animal Forage Seed
  • Annual Summer Forage
  • Application Area
  • Bahia Grass Cover Crop Seed
  • Bahia Grass Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Bahia Grass Seed
  • Bahia Lawn Grass Seed
  • Bahia Pasture Grass Seed
  • Bahia Turf Grass Seed
  • Barley Fodder Seed
  • Barley Seed
  • Beans and Peas
  • Bee Seed For Homestead, Animal, & Garden
  • Bentgrass Golf Course / Athletic Seed
  • Bentgrass Lawn Grass Seed
  • Bentgrass Seed
  • Bentgrass Turf Grass Seed
  • Bermuda Golf Course / Athletic Seed
  • Bermuda Grass Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Bermuda Grass Seed
  • Bermuda Grass Seed for Pasture
  • Bermuda Lawn Grass Seed
  • Bermuda Lawn Plugs
  • Bermuda Seed for Hay
  • Bermuda Turf Grass Seed
  • Best Sellers
  • Best Selling Products
  • Biofuels
  • Bird Seed for Homestead, Animal, & Garden
  • Birdsfoot Trefoil Seed
  • Bluegrass Lawn Grass Seed
  • Bluegrass Pasture Seed
  • Bluegrass Seed
  • Bluegrass Turf Grass Seed
  • Bluestem Seed
  • Brassica Fodder Seed
  • Brassica Forage Seed
  • Brassica Seed
  • Broad Leaf Mustard
  • Brome Grass Seed
  • Buckwheat - Fodder Seed
  • Buckwheat Duck Food Plot Seed
  • Buckwheat Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Buckwheat Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Buckwheat Seed
  • Buckwheat Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Buffalo Grass Seed
  • Buffalo Pasture Grass Seed
  • Buffalograss Lawn Seed
  • Camelina
  • Camelina Bio-Fuel Seed
  • Camelina Seed
  • Carpetgrass Seed
  • Carpetgrass Turf Grass Seed
  • Carpon Desmodium Seed
  • Cattle Seed for Homestead, Animal, & Garden
  • Centipede Grass Seed
  • Centipede Lawn Grass Seed
  • Centipede Lawn Plugs
  • Centipede Turf Grass Seed
  • Chicken Seed for Homestead, Animal, & Garden
  • Chicory Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Chicory Seed
  • Chufa Food Plot Seed
  • Chufa Seed
  • Clearance Items
  • Climate Zone
  • Clover Deer Food Plot & Cover Crop Seed
  • Clover Fodder Seed
  • Clover Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Clover Ground Cover Seed
  • Clover Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Clover Seed
  • Clover Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Contractor / DOT Seed Mixes
  • Contractor Seed Mixtures (Cool Climate)
  • Contractor Seed Mixtures (Transition Climate)
  • Contractor Seed Mixtures (Warm Climate)
  • Cool Climate Cover Crop Seed
  • Cool Climate Food Plot Seed
  • Cool Climate Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Cool Climate Homestead Seed
  • Cool Climate Lawn & Turf Seed
  • Cool Climate Mixtures
  • Cool Climate Seed
  • Corn Cover Crop Seed
  • Corn Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Corn Dove Food Plot Seed
  • Corn Duck Food Plot Seed
  • Corn Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Corn Seed
  • Corn Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Cover Crop Seed
  • Crabgrass Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Crabgrass Pasture Grass Seed
  • Crabgrass Seed
  • Customer favorites
  • Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Dichondra Ground Cover Seed
  • Dichondra Seed
  • Dove Food Plot Seed
  • Duck Food Plot Seed
  • Egyptian Wheat Seed
  • Equine Chia Seed
  • Equine Seed
  • Equipment
  • Erosion Control & Reclamation Seed
  • Erosion Control Seed
  • FARMERS & RANCHERS
  • Fertilizers
  • Fescue Grass Cover Crop Seed
  • Fescue Grass Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Fescue Grass Seed
  • Fescue Grass Seed for Golf Course & Athletic Field
  • Fescue Lawn Grass Seed
  • Fescue Pasture Grass Seed
  • Fescue Turf Grass Seed
  • Florida Lawn Seed
  • Fodder Seed
  • Food Plot & Hunting
  • Food Plot Seed
  • Forage
  • Forage & Pasture
  • Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Goat Seed for Homestead, Animal, & Garden
  • Golf Course / Athletic Field Grass
  • Grain Rye
  • Grain Rye Cover Crop Seed
  • Grain Rye Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Grain Rye Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Grain Rye Seed
  • Grain Rye Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Grain Seed
  • Grain Sorghum Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Grain Sorghum Seed
  • Grass Plugs
  • Grass Seed
  • Grass Seed Mixes for Forage & Pasture
  • Ground Cover Seed
  • Hairy Indigo Cover Crop Seed
  • Hairy Indigo Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Hairy Indigo Seed
  • Hairy Vetch Seed
  • Hancock Signature Apparel
  • Hancock's Bahia Grass Seed
  • Hancock's Bermuda Grass Seed
  • Hancock's Bermuda Pasture Seed
  • Hancock's Brown Top Millet
  • Hancock's Cattle Pasture Grass Seed Mix
  • Hancock's Centipede Grass Seed
  • Hancock's Central States Lawn Seed
  • Hancock's Choice Shade Mix
  • Hancock's Dove Field Seed Mix
  • Hancock's Duck Food Plot Mix
  • Hancock's Fescue Grass Seed
  • Hancock's Grass Seed Mixes
  • Hancock's Horse Pasture Grass Seed
  • Hancock's Lawn Seed Mixtures
  • Hancock's Microgreen Seed Mixes
  • Hancock's Northeast/Midwest Grass Seed
  • Hancock's Pasture Seed Mixes
  • Hancock's Ryegrass Seed
  • Hancock's Signature Ground Cover Seed
  • Hancock's Signature Pasture & Forage Seed Mixes
  • Hancock's Signature Quail Seed
  • Hancock's Signature Series
  • Hancock's Signature Series Food Plot Seed
  • Hancock's Signature Series Grass Seed
  • Hancock's Signature Turkey Food Plot Mix
  • Hancock's Southeast Wildflower Mix
  • Hancock's Southeast Wildflower Mixture
  • Hancock's Specialty Seed Mixes
  • Hancock's Turkey Food Plot Mix
  • Harvest
  • Hats
  • Hay & Clearance
  • Hay Production
  • Herbicide
  • Home Life
  • Home Use
  • Homestead Animal & Garden Seed
  • Horse Seed for Homestead, Animal, & Garden
  • Hybrid Pearl Millet Seed
  • Hydromulch
  • Hydroseeding Fertilizer
  • Hydroseeding Mixtures
  • Hydroseeding Products
  • Indoors
  • Iron Clay Cowpeas
  • Joint Vetch Seed
  • Kale
  • Kale Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Lab Lab Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Lab Lab Forage & Pasture Seed
  • LabLab Seed
  • Lawn & Turf
  • Lawn and Turf
  • Lawn Grass Plugs
  • Lawn Grass Seed
  • Legume Seed
  • Lespedeza
  • Lespedeza
  • Lespedeza Seed
  • Lespedeza Turkey & Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Lovegrass Seed
  • Lupine Cover Crop Seed
  • Lupine Seed
  • Lupine Seed
  • Millet Cover Crop Seed
  • Millet Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Millet Dove Food Plot Seed
  • Millet Duck Food Plot Seed
  • Millet Fodder Seed
  • Millet Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Millet Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Millet Seed
  • Millet Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Miscellaneous/Specialty Seeds
  • Mulato II Grass Seed
  • Mulch Hay
  • Native Grass Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Native Grass Seed
  • Native Grass Seed Mixtures
  • Native Grasses
  • New Fall Products
  • Newest Products
  • Oats Cover Crop Seed
  • Oats Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Oats Duck Food Plot Seed
  • Oats Fodder Seed
  • Oats Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Oats Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Oats Seed
  • Oats Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Orchardgrass Pasture Grass Seed
  • Orchardgrass Seed
  • Ornamental Wildflower Seed
  • Other
  • Other Hancock Seed Products
  • Outdoors
  • Pea Seed
  • Peas Cover Crop Seed
  • Peas Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Peas Fodder Seed
  • Peas Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Peas Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Peas Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Perennial Peanut Seed
  • Pesticides
  • Phacelia Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Pre-Order
  • Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Quinoa Seed
  • Radish Cover Crop Seed
  • Radish Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Radish Seed
  • Rape Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Rape Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Rape Seed
  • Reed Canary Grass Seed
  • Rhodes Grass
  • Rhodes Grass Seed
  • Rice Seed
  • Rye Grain Cover Crop Seed
  • Rye Grass Seed for Golf Courses
  • Rye Grass Seed for Golfers
  • Rye Grass Seed for Lawns
  • Ryegrass
  • Ryegrass Cover Crop Seed
  • Ryegrass Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Ryegrass Lawn Grass Seed
  • Ryegrass Pasture Seed (Annual)
  • Ryegrass Seed
  • Sale Products
  • Sanfoin Seed
  • Seashore Paspalum Golf Course / Athletic Turf Seed
  • Seashore Paspalum Lawn Grass Seed
  • Seashore Paspalum Seed
  • Seashore Paspalum Turf Seed
  • Seed Inoculants
  • Seed Mixtures
  • Seed Mixtures
  • Seed Spreaders
  • Seed Varieties
  • Service Mixtures
  • Sesame Seed - (benne)
  • Sesbania Cover Crop Seed
  • Sesbania Seed
  • Shopify Only
  • Solar & Wind Seed Mixes
  • Sorghum
  • Sorghum Cover Crop Seed
  • Sorghum Cover Crop Seed
  • Sorghum Dove Food Plot Seed
  • Sorghum Duck Food Plot Seed
  • Sorghum Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Sorghum Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Sorghum Seed
  • Sorghum Sudangrass Seed
  • Sorghum Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Soybean Cover Crop Seed
  • Soybean Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Soybean Duck Food Plot Seed
  • Soybean Fodder Seed
  • Soybean Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Soybean Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Soybean Seed
  • Soybeans Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Sprayers
  • Spreaders & Seeders
  • Spring & Summer Wildlife Blends
  • St. Augustine Lawn Plugs
  • Sugar Beets Seed
  • Summer Food Plot Peas
  • Summer Legumes
  • Summer Pasture Legumes
  • Summer Pea Seed
  • Summer Peas
  • Sunflower - Fodder Seed
  • Sunflower Cover Crop Seed
  • Sunflower Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Sunflower Dove Food Plot Seed
  • Sunflower Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Sunflower Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Sunflower Seed
  • Sunflower Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Sunn Hemp
  • Sunn Hemp
  • Sunn Hemp Cover Crop Seed
  • Sunn Hemp Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Sunn Hemp Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Sunn Hemp Seed
  • Supplies
  • Supplies
  • Switchgrass Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Switchgrass Quail Food Plot Seed
  • Switchgrass Seed
  • Tackifier
  • Teff Grass Seed
  • Teff Pasture Grass Seed
  • Timothy Grass Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Timothy Grass Seed
  • Timothy Pasture Grass Seed
  • Tops
  • Transition Climate Cover Crop Seed
  • Transition Climate Food Plot Seed
  • Transition Climate Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Transition Climate Homestead Seed
  • Transition Climate Lawn & Turf Seed
  • Transition Climate Seed
  • Triticale Seed
  • Turf Grass Seed
  • Turkey Food Plot Seed
  • Turnip Cover Crop Seed
  • Turnip Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Turnips Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Turnips Seed
  • Vegetable Seed For Homestead, Animal, & Garden
  • Vetch Cover Crop Seed
  • Vetch Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Vetch Seed
  • Warm Climate Cover Crop Seed
  • Warm Climate Food Plot Seed
  • Warm Climate Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Warm Climate Homestead Seed
  • Warm Climate Lawn & Turf Seed
  • Warm Climate Lawn Seed Mixtures
  • Warm Climate Seed
  • Wetland Seed Mixtures
  • Wetlands Erosion Seed Mixtures
  • Wetlands Erosion Seed Mixtures
  • Wetlands Mixtures
  • Wetlands Seed Mixture
  • Wheat Cover Crop Seed
  • Wheat Deer Food Plot Seed
  • Wheat Forage & Pasture Seed
  • Wheat Seed
  • Wildflower Seed
  • Wildflower Seed Mixes
  • Wildflowers
  • Wildflowers & Native Grasses
  • Wildflowers Ground Cover Seed
  • Wildlife Food Plot Seed
  • Zoysia Grass Seed
  • Zoysia Lawn Grass Seed
  • Zoysia Lawn Plugs
  • Zoysia Turf Grass Seed
  • Shop by Seed Variety
FAST, FREE SHIPPING
on hundreds of items!
Get a Free Quote
Potomac Orchardgrass Seed
Back

Potomac Orchardgrass seed - Certified (Dactylis glomerata L.) is a bunch-type, tall-growing, cool-season perennial grass. It is one of the most productive cool-season grasses, tolerant to shade, fairly drought resistant with moderate Winter hardiness.

Product Information

  • Application or Use: Pasture, Cattle Forage, Livestock Grazing, Hay Production, Erosion Control
  • Germination Time: 21 - 28 days, under optimal conditions
  • Growing Locations: Transition Zone, Cool Season
  • Height: 1 - 3 feet
  • Sunlight Requirements: 6 - 8 hours
  • Advantages: Tolerant to shade, fairly drought resistant with moderate Winter hardiness.
  • When to Plant: Recommended planting time is spring and fall when night time temperatures are consistently below 65 degrees.

 

Product Detail

  • Bunch type, cool season grass
  • Shade Tolerant
  • Fairly drought resistant
  • Moderate winter hardiness
  • Fast growing

 

Product Information

Orchardgrass does not exhibit as much tolerance to drought or winter hardiness as tall fescue and bromegrass. It has been reported growing in the United States since before 1760.

Orchardgrass is fast-growing and matures very early in the Spring. There are some variations but, in general, Orchardgrass matures about one week earlier than Tall Fescue and about two weeks before smooth Bromegrass. It also re-grows quickly after harvest, making it well-suited for seeding with frequently harvested Alfalfa. It produces less Fall growth than Tall Fescue under similar growing conditions. The bunch-type growth characteristic and shade tolerance combine to make Orchardgrass well-adapted to grow with competitive tall growing legumes such as Alfalfa and Red Clover. In a three-year shade tolerance study, yield and stand were not affected by reducing light by 33%.

Orchardgrass is easy to establish and has a more dense root system than smooth Bromegrass, Timothy or Bluegrass. It grows on a wide range of soil types, doing well in low-fertility soils, but also responding well to high-fertility soils. One undesirable trait is that forage quality of Spring growth declines rapidly as maturity increases. However, orchardgrass re-growth, which is mostly leaves, is very high in quality. Temperatures above 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit will greatly reduce the growth and tillering of Orchardgrass. That means that summer productivity is less than in spring and fall.

Orchardgrass is well adapted to grow with legumes such as Alfalfa, Red Clover, Lespedeza and White Clover. It establishes more easily than Bromegrass or Timothy when seeded with other species. Stands will be more productive and last longer than Bromegrass or Timothy when grown with Alfalfa that is cut frequently and heavily fertilized.

Orchardgrass will persist and make reasonable yields on soils that have moderately poor drainage. However, it will not tolerate wet areas as well as Reed Canary Grass or Tall Fescue.

Orchardgrass is well adapted throughout Missouri, but its persistence may be a problem on south slopes in the droughty shallow soils of the Ozark Mountains. However, new disease-resistant varieties and good management techniques should help maintain high-producing stands for several years, even in the more shallow soils in south Missouri.

*Product packaging may appear different than what is pictured.

Back
Climate Zone(s)
Cool Season
Transition Zone
Coated or Raw
Raw
Fertilizer
16-04-08 Slow Release - 250 lbs. per acre
GMO
No
Ideal pH
6.0 - 7.0
Inoculant Needed
No
Life Cycle
Perennial
Overseeding Rate
15 lbs. per acre
Seeding Depth
1/4 - 1/2 inch
Seeding Rate
25 lbs. per acre
When to Plant
Spring & Fall
Back

Establishing a stand:
Freezing temperatures may damage Orchardgrass in the young seedling stage. Thus, Fall seedings should be made about 45 days before the first killing frost (usually about 27 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit) so seedlings can develop well enough to survive the Winter. For this reason, Fall seedings are not recommended in the northern one-third of the state. Late August to early September are considered best Fall seeding dates in most of the state, with mid-September seedings satisfactory in the extreme southern areas. Spring seedings should be successful if made in late March to early April in the southern part of the state, and most of April is considered satisfactory.

A clean, firm seedbed is important to help plants make a more vigorous early growth and resist Winter heaving. Orchardgrass may be seeded with fly-resistant wheat in south Missouri, seeded with Spring oats in north Missouri or interseeded with Winter Wheat in early spring. Competition from small grains should be reduced by using them for pasture, hay or haylage.

Buying a certified variety gives the best assurance of obtaining quality seed. The minimum specifications for certified Orchardgrass seed are 85% purity and 80% germination. Eight lbs. of clean, high germination seed is usually adequate to obtain good stands of Orchardgrass. A pound of Orchardgrass seed will contain about 645,000 seeds, roughly 2 to 2.5 times the number of seeds in one pound of tall fescue.

Seeding Methods:
Drilling Orchardgrass and the companion legume seed is preferred. The use of drills, such as the Brillion type or grain drills, will usually result in better stands at the same seeding rate, more controlled seeding depth and better seed distribution than broadcasting. Good results are obtained with grain drills when Orchardgrass is put through the grain box and the companion legume is seeded from the small legume box. The legume seed should be allowed to drop straight to the ground to prevent covering too deep. Drag chains on the drill will cover the seed adequately. Pull a cultipacker or light roller over the field to give good seed-to-soil contact and promote more vigorous seedling growth.

Fertilizer and Lime:
Seedings of Orchardgrass can also be made with broadcast equipment such as fertilizer trucks, buggies or tractor-mounted distribution. Broadcast equipment will not throw Orchardgrass seed as far as it will throw fertilizer or heavier seeds such as fescue. To help avoid uneven stands, drive the equipment close enough to overlap the previous spread pattern to ensure even seed distribution. Orchardgrass seed should be covered with about 1/4 to 1/2 in. of soil. Spike tooth harrows or "brush type" drags make good tools for covering broadcast seed. The use of a cultipacker or lightweight roller is very important for the same reasons cited above.

Establishment:
Take a good soil sample and follow soil test recommendations for lime and fertilizer when seeding Orchardgrass or grass-legume mixtures. Best results occur after incorporating recommended limestone in advance of final seedbed preparation. Companion legumes will require lime applications to be worked into the soil at least six months preceding planting. This is especially true when preparing soils with high lime requirements or when Alfalfa will be in the forage mixture. Orchardgrass is more tolerant of acid soils than Timothy or Bromegrass but will respond to limestone that is applied for a companion legume.

Phosphorus is very important for good root development. When soils are extremely low in phosphorus (10 lbs. P or less), it is a good practice to apply and incorporate the major portion of recommended phosphorus, then apply some as a starter. Band seeding with some phosphorus-starter fertilizer markedly improves seedling vigor of grasses or grass-legume mixtures. Soil test recommendations for establishment of Orchardgrass or Orchardgrass-legume mixtures will normally require 20 to 30 lbs. N, 50 to 120 lbs. P2O5 and 40 to 60 lbs. K2O per acre.

Production:
Orchardgrass and orchardgrass-legume mixtures have high yield potentials. Various studies have shown that Orchardgrass will respond to high levels of fertility.

The following fertility practices should be applied to realize the top potential of pure stands of Orchardgrass. Soil test reports should be used as a guide in determining rates of N, P2O52O to apply for desired yield goals. In the absence of a soil test, 80 to 120 lbs. N plus 40 to 60 lbs. P2O5 plus 100 to 140 lbs. K2O should be used. When using the heavier rates of N, apply 65 to 70% of the N with the Winter application. The remainder of the N should be applied immediately after the first cutting in August to encourage late Summer growth. Make the Winter application of fertilizer from early February to about mid-March in south Missouri and about two weeks later in the northern part of the state.

Normally, the top annual yields in south Missouri will range from 2.5 to 3 tons per acre. North Missouri yields may reach 3 to 4 tons per acre due to better moisture-holding ability of soils and slightly lower temperatures. Yields of Orchardgrass can be seriously reduced by high temperatures, low moisture supplies and the presence of plant diseases.

Nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied when the stand contains 30% or more of Alfalfa, Red Clover or Ladino Clover. Mixtures of Orchardgrass Alfalfa will remove about 10 to 12 lbs. of P2O5 and 35 to 45 lbs. of K2O for each ton of forage. Potassium fertility is especially important when Orchardgrass is grown with Alfalfa, and should not be allowed to become limiting. Orchardgrass competes vigorously with Alfalfa for potassium, potentially reducing the yield and persistence of Alfalfa.

Orchardgrass produces heavy growth during April and May. This growth can be used for pasture, hay, greenchop or silage. Graze it heavily or mechanically harvest it early to promote high yields of high quality forage.

Pasture Management:
When managed properly, Orchardgrass will produce excellent results in pasture programs for dairy and beef. Properly managed Orchardgrass plants will have a higher leaf-to-stem ratio than Tall Fescue. Several research studies have demonstrated higher animal intake and better animal performance from Orchardgrass pasture as compared with Tall Fescue pasture, especially during Spring and early Summer. During a three-year study in Missouri, yearling steers gained 1.75 lbs. per day on Orchardgrass pasture, 1.16 lbs. on Tall Fescue, and 1.84 lbs. on Bromegrass. In the study, the carrying capacity of Orchardgrass was well above Bromegrass and slightly less than Fescue. In a similar study involving cow/calf pairs, calves gained 1.80 lbs. per day on Orchardgrass and 1.51 lbs. per day on Fescue.

Mixtures of Orchardgrass and Clover (Red or Ladino) are very popular for pasture in Missouri. Rotational grazing with heavy stocking rates of cattle will give better animal performance and reduce spot grazing. If plants are continually grazed short, they will be weakened and stands may be depleted. Close grazing can be especially detrimental during hot weather. Heavy grazing of Orchardgrass during October can decrease carbohydrate storage and lead to some Winter kill of plants. Stands of Orchardgrass will often be more persistent when grown with a companion legume.

Hay Management:
Orchardgrass will produce excellent yields when grown in pure stands or with legumes. When using pure stands for hay, it is imperative that nitrogen be applied in combination with adequate phosphorus and potassium.

Harvesting the spring growth of Orchardgrass at late-boot to early-head stage will produce higher-quality forage than allowing the plant to mature further. This early harvest will also help increase yield of high quality re-growth. Forage researchers and several Missouri farmers have observed less damage to plants from Summer heat and drought when the first harvest is made early and plants have time to re-grow before the stress. Some south Missouri farmers have reported almost 100% loss of stands when harvest was delayed to the late bloom stage. This can be more of a concern when late harvest is followed by high temperatures and low moisture supply.

As with close grazing, close cutting can lead to stand reduction. Harvesting at a height of four in. will help maintain strong root reserves, leading to fast recovery of re-growth and better stand persistence. Mixtures of Orchardgrass with Alfalfa or Red Clover should be managed to favor the legume. This is especially true with reference to fertilizer application and stage of maturity to harvest. Alfalfa Orchardgrass mixtures should normally be harvested when Alfalfa is at early bloom to one tenth bloom. This harvest state will produce good dry-matter yields, quality forage and favor stand persistence of the Alfalfa.

Many diseases attack Orchardgrass. Stem rust, leaf spots, brown stripe and scald are among the most prevalent in Missouri and surrounding states. Recent evidence from the University of Missouri's Orchardgrass breeding program showed that the presence of rust on leaves lowered animal digestibility of the forage. Three years of grazing studies have documented that rust-infected Orchardgrass varieties gave 0.2 to 0.3 lbs. per day less average daily gains than varieties having little or no infection.

Diseases of Orchardgrass are also partly responsible for stand depletions. Data from the University of Missouri showed that when the stem rust pathogen is present, Orchardgrass stands are severely depleted during late July and throughout the month of August. The best and most practical means of controlling diseases, hence improving animal performance and stand persistence, is to plant varieties that are resistant or highly tolerant to foliar diseases.

Seed production:

The production of Orchardgrass seed has not been a big business in Missouri. This is probably due to less demand than for Tall Fescue seed and because very few acres of Orchardgrass are grown alone, making them suitable for seed harvest. Some producers have experienced difficulty in producing well-filled, high-quality seed. With the release of a more persistent, better performing variety, some Missouri farmers may be interested in seed production.

Good seed yields should be expected when farmers apply fertilizer according to soil test recommendations. This will usually include 60 to 80 lbs. N applied in December or January. Higher rates of N will tend to encourage lodging. Nitrogen needs to be applied earlier than for hay production, as early applications form reproductive growth over leafy growth.

Seed yields also can be increased by clipping and removing the stubble shortly after each year's seed harvest. The Summer re-growth may be used for grazing, but avoid heavy grazing during September and October. Forage can be grazed later in the fall when plants have become more Winter hardy. However, this late fall growth will be less acceptable to cattle than tall fescue.

Potomac Orchardgrass Seed

Potomac Orchardgrass Seed Potomac Orchardgrass Seed

Potomac Orchardgrass seed - Certified (Dactylis glomerata L.) is a bunch-type, tall-growing, cool-season perennial grass. It is one of the most productive cool-season grasses, tolerant to shade, fairly drought resistant with moderate Winter hardiness.

Show All
Select Size
Price:
Ships Free!
Choose Quantity
Out Of Stock
BULK SAVINGS
on orders over 250 lbs!
Ordering a lot of seed? Let us offer you our best Farmer Direct pricing! Click the button below to get your free quote started.
More Info
Potomac Orchardgrass seed - Certified (Dactylis glomerata L.) is a bunch-type, tall-growing, cool-season perennial grass. It is one of the most productive cool-season grasses, tolerant to shade, fairly drought resistant with moderate Winter hardiness. Product Information Application or Use: Pasture, Cattle Forage,...
Potomac Orchardgrass seed - Certified (Dactylis glomerata L.) is a bunch-type, tall-growing, cool-season perennial grass. It is one of the most productive cool-season grasses, tolerant to shade, fairly drought resistant with moderate Winter hardiness. Product Information Application or Use: Pasture, Cattle Forage, Livestock Grazing, Hay Production, Erosion Control Germination Time: 21 - 28 days, under optimal conditions Growing Locations: Transition Zone, Cool Season Height: 1 - 3 feet Sunlight Requirements: 6 - 8 hours Advantages: Tolerant to shade, fairly drought resistant with moderate Winter hardiness. When to Plant: Recommended planting time is spring and fall when night time temperatures are consistently below 65 degrees.   Product Detail Bunch type, cool season grass Shade Tolerant Fairly drought resistant Moderate winter hardiness Fast growing   Product Information Orchardgrass does not exhibit as much tolerance to drought or winter hardiness as tall fescue and bromegrass. It has been reported growing in the United States since before 1760. Orchardgrass is fast-growing and matures very early in the Spring. There are some variations but, in general, Orchardgrass matures about one week earlier than Tall Fescue and about two weeks before smooth Bromegrass. It also re-grows quickly after harvest, making it well-suited for seeding with frequently harvested Alfalfa. It produces less Fall growth than Tall Fescue under similar growing conditions. The bunch-type growth characteristic and shade tolerance combine to make Orchardgrass well-adapted to grow with competitive tall growing legumes such as Alfalfa and Red Clover. In a three-year shade tolerance study, yield and stand were not affected by reducing light by 33%. Orchardgrass is easy to establish and has a more dense root system than smooth Bromegrass, Timothy or Bluegrass. It grows on a wide range of soil types, doing well in low-fertility soils, but also responding well to high-fertility soils. One undesirable trait is that forage quality of Spring growth declines rapidly as maturity increases. However, orchardgrass re-growth, which is mostly leaves, is very high in quality. Temperatures above 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit will greatly reduce the growth and tillering of Orchardgrass. That means that summer productivity is less than in spring and fall. Orchardgrass is well adapted to grow with legumes such as Alfalfa, Red Clover, Lespedeza and White Clover. It establishes more easily than Bromegrass or Timothy when seeded with other species. Stands will be more productive and last longer than Bromegrass or Timothy when grown with Alfalfa that is cut frequently and heavily fertilized. Orchardgrass will persist and make reasonable yields on soils that have moderately poor drainage. However, it will not tolerate wet areas as well as Reed Canary Grass or Tall Fescue. Orchardgrass is well adapted throughout Missouri, but its persistence may be a problem on south slopes in the droughty shallow soils of the Ozark Mountains. However, new disease-resistant varieties and good management techniques should help maintain high-producing stands for several years, even in the more shallow soils in south Missouri. *Product packaging may appear different than what is pictured.
Climate Zone(s)
Cool Season
Transition Zone
Coated or Raw
Raw
Fertilizer
16-04-08 Slow Release - 250 lbs. per acre
GMO
No
Ideal pH
6.0 - 7.0
Inoculant Needed
No
Life Cycle
Perennial
Overseeding Rate
15 lbs. per acre
Seeding Depth
1/4 - 1/2 inch
Seeding Rate
25 lbs. per acre
When to Plant
Spring & Fall

Instructions

For more info on planting instructions and tips for the best results – check out our Warranty & Planting Information here!

Establishing a stand: Freezing temperatures may damage Orchardgrass in the young seedling stage. Thus, Fall seedings should be made about 45 days before the first killing frost (usually about 27 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit) so seedlings can develop well enough to...
Establishing a stand: Freezing temperatures may damage Orchardgrass in the young seedling stage. Thus, Fall seedings should be made about 45 days before the first killing frost (usually about 27 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit) so seedlings can develop well enough to survive the Winter. For this reason, Fall seedings are not recommended in the northern one-third of the state. Late August to early September are considered best Fall seeding dates in most of the state, with mid-September seedings satisfactory in the extreme southern areas. Spring seedings should be successful if made in late March to early April in the southern part of the state, and most of April is considered satisfactory. A clean, firm seedbed is important to help plants make a more vigorous early growth and resist Winter heaving. Orchardgrass may be seeded with fly-resistant wheat in south Missouri, seeded with Spring oats in north Missouri or interseeded with Winter Wheat in early spring. Competition from small grains should be reduced by using them for pasture, hay or haylage. Buying a certified variety gives the best assurance of obtaining quality seed. The minimum specifications for certified Orchardgrass seed are 85% purity and 80% germination. Eight lbs. of clean, high germination seed is usually adequate to obtain good stands of Orchardgrass. A pound of Orchardgrass seed will contain about 645,000 seeds, roughly 2 to 2.5 times the number of seeds in one pound of tall fescue. Seeding Methods: Drilling Orchardgrass and the companion legume seed is preferred. The use of drills, such as the Brillion type or grain drills, will usually result in better stands at the same seeding rate, more controlled seeding depth and better seed distribution than broadcasting. Good results are obtained with grain drills when Orchardgrass is put through the grain box and the companion legume is seeded from the small legume box. The legume seed should be allowed to drop straight to the ground to prevent covering too deep. Drag chains on the drill will cover the seed adequately. Pull a cultipacker or light roller over the field to give good seed-to-soil contact and promote more vigorous seedling growth. Fertilizer and Lime: Seedings of Orchardgrass can also be made with broadcast equipment such as fertilizer trucks, buggies or tractor-mounted distribution. Broadcast equipment will not throw Orchardgrass seed as far as it will throw fertilizer or heavier seeds such as fescue. To help avoid uneven stands, drive the equipment close enough to overlap the previous spread pattern to ensure even seed distribution. Orchardgrass seed should be covered with about 1/4 to 1/2 in. of soil. Spike tooth harrows or "brush type" drags make good tools for covering broadcast seed. The use of a cultipacker or lightweight roller is very important for the same reasons cited above. Establishment: Take a good soil sample and follow soil test recommendations for lime and fertilizer when seeding Orchardgrass or grass-legume mixtures. Best results occur after incorporating recommended limestone in advance of final seedbed preparation. Companion legumes will require lime applications to be worked into the soil at least six months preceding planting. This is especially true when preparing soils with high lime requirements or when Alfalfa will be in the forage mixture. Orchardgrass is more tolerant of acid soils than Timothy or Bromegrass but will respond to limestone that is applied for a companion legume. Phosphorus is very important for good root development. When soils are extremely low in phosphorus (10 lbs. P or less), it is a good practice to apply and incorporate the major portion of recommended phosphorus, then apply some as a starter. Band seeding with some phosphorus-starter fertilizer markedly improves seedling vigor of grasses or grass-legume mixtures. Soil test recommendations for establishment of Orchardgrass or Orchardgrass-legume mixtures will normally require 20 to 30 lbs. N, 50 to 120 lbs. P2O5 and 40 to 60 lbs. K2O per acre. Production: Orchardgrass and orchardgrass-legume mixtures have high yield potentials. Various studies have shown that Orchardgrass will respond to high levels of fertility. The following fertility practices should be applied to realize the top potential of pure stands of Orchardgrass. Soil test reports should be used as a guide in determining rates of N, P2O52O to apply for desired yield goals. In the absence of a soil test, 80 to 120 lbs. N plus 40 to 60 lbs. P2O5 plus 100 to 140 lbs. K2O should be used. When using the heavier rates of N, apply 65 to 70% of the N with the Winter application. The remainder of the N should be applied immediately after the first cutting in August to encourage late Summer growth. Make the Winter application of fertilizer from early February to about mid-March in south Missouri and about two weeks later in the northern part of the state. Normally, the top annual yields in south Missouri will range from 2.5 to 3 tons per acre. North Missouri yields may reach 3 to 4 tons per acre due to better moisture-holding ability of soils and slightly lower temperatures. Yields of Orchardgrass can be seriously reduced by high temperatures, low moisture supplies and the presence of plant diseases. Nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied when the stand contains 30% or more of Alfalfa, Red Clover or Ladino Clover. Mixtures of Orchardgrass Alfalfa will remove about 10 to 12 lbs. of P2O5 and 35 to 45 lbs. of K2O for each ton of forage. Potassium fertility is especially important when Orchardgrass is grown with Alfalfa, and should not be allowed to become limiting. Orchardgrass competes vigorously with Alfalfa for potassium, potentially reducing the yield and persistence of Alfalfa. Orchardgrass produces heavy growth during April and May. This growth can be used for pasture, hay, greenchop or silage. Graze it heavily or mechanically harvest it early to promote high yields of high quality forage. Pasture Management: When managed properly, Orchardgrass will produce excellent results in pasture programs for dairy and beef. Properly managed Orchardgrass plants will have a higher leaf-to-stem ratio than Tall Fescue. Several research studies have demonstrated higher animal intake and better animal performance from Orchardgrass pasture as compared with Tall Fescue pasture, especially during Spring and early Summer. During a three-year study in Missouri, yearling steers gained 1.75 lbs. per day on Orchardgrass pasture, 1.16 lbs. on Tall Fescue, and 1.84 lbs. on Bromegrass. In the study, the carrying capacity of Orchardgrass was well above Bromegrass and slightly less than Fescue. In a similar study involving cow/calf pairs, calves gained 1.80 lbs. per day on Orchardgrass and 1.51 lbs. per day on Fescue. Mixtures of Orchardgrass and Clover (Red or Ladino) are very popular for pasture in Missouri. Rotational grazing with heavy stocking rates of cattle will give better animal performance and reduce spot grazing. If plants are continually grazed short, they will be weakened and stands may be depleted. Close grazing can be especially detrimental during hot weather. Heavy grazing of Orchardgrass during October can decrease carbohydrate storage and lead to some Winter kill of plants. Stands of Orchardgrass will often be more persistent when grown with a companion legume. Hay Management: Orchardgrass will produce excellent yields when grown in pure stands or with legumes. When using pure stands for hay, it is imperative that nitrogen be applied in combination with adequate phosphorus and potassium. Harvesting the spring growth of Orchardgrass at late-boot to early-head stage will produce higher-quality forage than allowing the plant to mature further. This early harvest will also help increase yield of high quality re-growth. Forage researchers and several Missouri farmers have observed less damage to plants from Summer heat and drought when the first harvest is made early and plants have time to re-grow before the stress. Some south Missouri farmers have reported almost 100% loss of stands when harvest was delayed to the late bloom stage. This can be more of a concern when late harvest is followed by high temperatures and low moisture supply. As with close grazing, close cutting can lead to stand reduction. Harvesting at a height of four in. will help maintain strong root reserves, leading to fast recovery of re-growth and better stand persistence. Mixtures of Orchardgrass with Alfalfa or Red Clover should be managed to favor the legume. This is especially true with reference to fertilizer application and stage of maturity to harvest. Alfalfa Orchardgrass mixtures should normally be harvested when Alfalfa is at early bloom to one tenth bloom. This harvest state will produce good dry-matter yields, quality forage and favor stand persistence of the Alfalfa. Many diseases attack Orchardgrass. Stem rust, leaf spots, brown stripe and scald are among the most prevalent in Missouri and surrounding states. Recent evidence from the University of Missouri's Orchardgrass breeding program showed that the presence of rust on leaves lowered animal digestibility of the forage. Three years of grazing studies have documented that rust-infected Orchardgrass varieties gave 0.2 to 0.3 lbs. per day less average daily gains than varieties having little or no infection. Diseases of Orchardgrass are also partly responsible for stand depletions. Data from the University of Missouri showed that when the stem rust pathogen is present, Orchardgrass stands are severely depleted during late July and throughout the month of August. The best and most practical means of controlling diseases, hence improving animal performance and stand persistence, is to plant varieties that are resistant or highly tolerant to foliar diseases. Seed production: The production of Orchardgrass seed has not been a big business in Missouri. This is probably due to less demand than for Tall Fescue seed and because very few acres of Orchardgrass are grown alone, making them suitable for seed harvest. Some producers have experienced difficulty in producing well-filled, high-quality seed. With the release of a more persistent, better performing variety, some Missouri farmers may be interested in seed production. Good seed yields should be expected when farmers apply fertilizer according to soil test recommendations. This will usually include 60 to 80 lbs. N applied in December or January. Higher rates of N will tend to encourage lodging. Nitrogen needs to be applied earlier than for hay production, as early applications form reproductive growth over leafy growth. Seed yields also can be increased by clipping and removing the stubble shortly after each year's seed harvest. The Summer re-growth may be used for grazing, but avoid heavy grazing during September and October. Forage can be grazed later in the fall when plants have become more Winter hardy. However, this late fall growth will be less acceptable to cattle than tall fescue.
Similar Products

Potomac Orchardgrass Seed

2 reviews

Potomac Orchardgrass seed - Certified (Dactylis glomerata L.) is a bunch-type, tall-growing, cool-season perennial grass. It is one of the most productive cool-season grasses, tolerant to shade, fairly drought resistant with moderate Winter hardiness.

Size
Price
Quantity
Available?
50 lbs.
$229.99 $137.99 41% Off
In Stock
Please enter a quantity
before adding to cart.
Tier price discounts will automatically apply to your shopping cart when you purchase the necessary quantity. The price shown is per 50 lb. bag.
BULK SAVINGS  on orders over 250 lbs!
Ordering a lot of seed? Let us offer you our best Farmer Direct pricing! Click the link below to get your free quote started.
Potomac Orchardgrass Seed Description

Potomac Orchardgrass seed - Certified (Dactylis glomerata L.) is a bunch-type, tall-growing, cool-season perennial grass. It is one of the most productive cool-season grasses, tolerant to shade, fairly drought resistant with moderate Winter hardiness.

Product Information

  • Application or Use: Pasture, Cattle Forage, Livestock Grazing, Hay Production, Erosion Control
  • Germination Time: 21 - 28 days, under optimal conditions
  • Growing Locations: Transition Zone, Cool Season
  • Height: 1 - 3 feet
  • Sunlight Requirements: 6 - 8 hours
  • Advantages: Tolerant to shade, fairly drought resistant with moderate Winter hardiness.
  • When to Plant: Recommended planting time is spring and fall when night time temperatures are consistently below 65 degrees.

 

Product Detail

  • Bunch type, cool season grass
  • Shade Tolerant
  • Fairly drought resistant
  • Moderate winter hardiness
  • Fast growing

 

Product Information

Orchardgrass does not exhibit as much tolerance to drought or winter hardiness as tall fescue and bromegrass. It has been reported growing in the United States since before 1760.

Orchardgrass is fast-growing and matures very early in the Spring. There are some variations but, in general, Orchardgrass matures about one week earlier than Tall Fescue and about two weeks before smooth Bromegrass. It also re-grows quickly after harvest, making it well-suited for seeding with frequently harvested Alfalfa. It produces less Fall growth than Tall Fescue under similar growing conditions. The bunch-type growth characteristic and shade tolerance combine to make Orchardgrass well-adapted to grow with competitive tall growing legumes such as Alfalfa and Red Clover. In a three-year shade tolerance study, yield and stand were not affected by reducing light by 33%.

Orchardgrass is easy to establish and has a more dense root system than smooth Bromegrass, Timothy or Bluegrass. It grows on a wide range of soil types, doing well in low-fertility soils, but also responding well to high-fertility soils. One undesirable trait is that forage quality of Spring growth declines rapidly as maturity increases. However, orchardgrass re-growth, which is mostly leaves, is very high in quality. Temperatures above 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit will greatly reduce the growth and tillering of Orchardgrass. That means that summer productivity is less than in spring and fall.

Orchardgrass is well adapted to grow with legumes such as Alfalfa, Red Clover, Lespedeza and White Clover. It establishes more easily than Bromegrass or Timothy when seeded with other species. Stands will be more productive and last longer than Bromegrass or Timothy when grown with Alfalfa that is cut frequently and heavily fertilized.

Orchardgrass will persist and make reasonable yields on soils that have moderately poor drainage. However, it will not tolerate wet areas as well as Reed Canary Grass or Tall Fescue.

Orchardgrass is well adapted throughout Missouri, but its persistence may be a problem on south slopes in the droughty shallow soils of the Ozark Mountains. However, new disease-resistant varieties and good management techniques should help maintain high-producing stands for several years, even in the more shallow soils in south Missouri.

*Product packaging may appear different than what is pictured.

Climate Zone(s)
Cool Season
Transition Zone
Coated or Raw
Raw
Fertilizer
16-04-08 Slow Release - 250 lbs. per acre
GMO
No
Ideal pH
6.0 - 7.0
Inoculant Needed
No
Life Cycle
Perennial
Overseeding Rate
15 lbs. per acre
Seeding Depth
1/4 - 1/2 inch
Seeding Rate
25 lbs. per acre
When to Plant
Spring & Fall
For more info on planting instructions and tips for the best results – check out our Warranty & Planting Information here!

Establishing a stand:
Freezing temperatures may damage Orchardgrass in the young seedling stage. Thus, Fall seedings should be made about 45 days before the first killing frost (usually about 27 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit) so seedlings can develop well enough to survive the Winter. For this reason, Fall seedings are not recommended in the northern one-third of the state. Late August to early September are considered best Fall seeding dates in most of the state, with mid-September seedings satisfactory in the extreme southern areas. Spring seedings should be successful if made in late March to early April in the southern part of the state, and most of April is considered satisfactory.

A clean, firm seedbed is important to help plants make a more vigorous early growth and resist Winter heaving. Orchardgrass may be seeded with fly-resistant wheat in south Missouri, seeded with Spring oats in north Missouri or interseeded with Winter Wheat in early spring. Competition from small grains should be reduced by using them for pasture, hay or haylage.

Buying a certified variety gives the best assurance of obtaining quality seed. The minimum specifications for certified Orchardgrass seed are 85% purity and 80% germination. Eight lbs. of clean, high germination seed is usually adequate to obtain good stands of Orchardgrass. A pound of Orchardgrass seed will contain about 645,000 seeds, roughly 2 to 2.5 times the number of seeds in one pound of tall fescue.

Seeding Methods:
Drilling Orchardgrass and the companion legume seed is preferred. The use of drills, such as the Brillion type or grain drills, will usually result in better stands at the same seeding rate, more controlled seeding depth and better seed distribution than broadcasting. Good results are obtained with grain drills when Orchardgrass is put through the grain box and the companion legume is seeded from the small legume box. The legume seed should be allowed to drop straight to the ground to prevent covering too deep. Drag chains on the drill will cover the seed adequately. Pull a cultipacker or light roller over the field to give good seed-to-soil contact and promote more vigorous seedling growth.

Fertilizer and Lime:
Seedings of Orchardgrass can also be made with broadcast equipment such as fertilizer trucks, buggies or tractor-mounted distribution. Broadcast equipment will not throw Orchardgrass seed as far as it will throw fertilizer or heavier seeds such as fescue. To help avoid uneven stands, drive the equipment close enough to overlap the previous spread pattern to ensure even seed distribution. Orchardgrass seed should be covered with about 1/4 to 1/2 in. of soil. Spike tooth harrows or "brush type" drags make good tools for covering broadcast seed. The use of a cultipacker or lightweight roller is very important for the same reasons cited above.

Establishment:
Take a good soil sample and follow soil test recommendations for lime and fertilizer when seeding Orchardgrass or grass-legume mixtures. Best results occur after incorporating recommended limestone in advance of final seedbed preparation. Companion legumes will require lime applications to be worked into the soil at least six months preceding planting. This is especially true when preparing soils with high lime requirements or when Alfalfa will be in the forage mixture. Orchardgrass is more tolerant of acid soils than Timothy or Bromegrass but will respond to limestone that is applied for a companion legume.

Phosphorus is very important for good root development. When soils are extremely low in phosphorus (10 lbs. P or less), it is a good practice to apply and incorporate the major portion of recommended phosphorus, then apply some as a starter. Band seeding with some phosphorus-starter fertilizer markedly improves seedling vigor of grasses or grass-legume mixtures. Soil test recommendations for establishment of Orchardgrass or Orchardgrass-legume mixtures will normally require 20 to 30 lbs. N, 50 to 120 lbs. P2O5 and 40 to 60 lbs. K2O per acre.

Production:
Orchardgrass and orchardgrass-legume mixtures have high yield potentials. Various studies have shown that Orchardgrass will respond to high levels of fertility.

The following fertility practices should be applied to realize the top potential of pure stands of Orchardgrass. Soil test reports should be used as a guide in determining rates of N, P2O52O to apply for desired yield goals. In the absence of a soil test, 80 to 120 lbs. N plus 40 to 60 lbs. P2O5 plus 100 to 140 lbs. K2O should be used. When using the heavier rates of N, apply 65 to 70% of the N with the Winter application. The remainder of the N should be applied immediately after the first cutting in August to encourage late Summer growth. Make the Winter application of fertilizer from early February to about mid-March in south Missouri and about two weeks later in the northern part of the state.

Normally, the top annual yields in south Missouri will range from 2.5 to 3 tons per acre. North Missouri yields may reach 3 to 4 tons per acre due to better moisture-holding ability of soils and slightly lower temperatures. Yields of Orchardgrass can be seriously reduced by high temperatures, low moisture supplies and the presence of plant diseases.

Nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied when the stand contains 30% or more of Alfalfa, Red Clover or Ladino Clover. Mixtures of Orchardgrass Alfalfa will remove about 10 to 12 lbs. of P2O5 and 35 to 45 lbs. of K2O for each ton of forage. Potassium fertility is especially important when Orchardgrass is grown with Alfalfa, and should not be allowed to become limiting. Orchardgrass competes vigorously with Alfalfa for potassium, potentially reducing the yield and persistence of Alfalfa.

Orchardgrass produces heavy growth during April and May. This growth can be used for pasture, hay, greenchop or silage. Graze it heavily or mechanically harvest it early to promote high yields of high quality forage.

Pasture Management:
When managed properly, Orchardgrass will produce excellent results in pasture programs for dairy and beef. Properly managed Orchardgrass plants will have a higher leaf-to-stem ratio than Tall Fescue. Several research studies have demonstrated higher animal intake and better animal performance from Orchardgrass pasture as compared with Tall Fescue pasture, especially during Spring and early Summer. During a three-year study in Missouri, yearling steers gained 1.75 lbs. per day on Orchardgrass pasture, 1.16 lbs. on Tall Fescue, and 1.84 lbs. on Bromegrass. In the study, the carrying capacity of Orchardgrass was well above Bromegrass and slightly less than Fescue. In a similar study involving cow/calf pairs, calves gained 1.80 lbs. per day on Orchardgrass and 1.51 lbs. per day on Fescue.

Mixtures of Orchardgrass and Clover (Red or Ladino) are very popular for pasture in Missouri. Rotational grazing with heavy stocking rates of cattle will give better animal performance and reduce spot grazing. If plants are continually grazed short, they will be weakened and stands may be depleted. Close grazing can be especially detrimental during hot weather. Heavy grazing of Orchardgrass during October can decrease carbohydrate storage and lead to some Winter kill of plants. Stands of Orchardgrass will often be more persistent when grown with a companion legume.

Hay Management:
Orchardgrass will produce excellent yields when grown in pure stands or with legumes. When using pure stands for hay, it is imperative that nitrogen be applied in combination with adequate phosphorus and potassium.

Harvesting the spring growth of Orchardgrass at late-boot to early-head stage will produce higher-quality forage than allowing the plant to mature further. This early harvest will also help increase yield of high quality re-growth. Forage researchers and several Missouri farmers have observed less damage to plants from Summer heat and drought when the first harvest is made early and plants have time to re-grow before the stress. Some south Missouri farmers have reported almost 100% loss of stands when harvest was delayed to the late bloom stage. This can be more of a concern when late harvest is followed by high temperatures and low moisture supply.

As with close grazing, close cutting can lead to stand reduction. Harvesting at a height of four in. will help maintain strong root reserves, leading to fast recovery of re-growth and better stand persistence. Mixtures of Orchardgrass with Alfalfa or Red Clover should be managed to favor the legume. This is especially true with reference to fertilizer application and stage of maturity to harvest. Alfalfa Orchardgrass mixtures should normally be harvested when Alfalfa is at early bloom to one tenth bloom. This harvest state will produce good dry-matter yields, quality forage and favor stand persistence of the Alfalfa.

Many diseases attack Orchardgrass. Stem rust, leaf spots, brown stripe and scald are among the most prevalent in Missouri and surrounding states. Recent evidence from the University of Missouri's Orchardgrass breeding program showed that the presence of rust on leaves lowered animal digestibility of the forage. Three years of grazing studies have documented that rust-infected Orchardgrass varieties gave 0.2 to 0.3 lbs. per day less average daily gains than varieties having little or no infection.

Diseases of Orchardgrass are also partly responsible for stand depletions. Data from the University of Missouri showed that when the stem rust pathogen is present, Orchardgrass stands are severely depleted during late July and throughout the month of August. The best and most practical means of controlling diseases, hence improving animal performance and stand persistence, is to plant varieties that are resistant or highly tolerant to foliar diseases.

Seed production:

The production of Orchardgrass seed has not been a big business in Missouri. This is probably due to less demand than for Tall Fescue seed and because very few acres of Orchardgrass are grown alone, making them suitable for seed harvest. Some producers have experienced difficulty in producing well-filled, high-quality seed. With the release of a more persistent, better performing variety, some Missouri farmers may be interested in seed production.

Good seed yields should be expected when farmers apply fertilizer according to soil test recommendations. This will usually include 60 to 80 lbs. N applied in December or January. Higher rates of N will tend to encourage lodging. Nitrogen needs to be applied earlier than for hay production, as early applications form reproductive growth over leafy growth.

Seed yields also can be increased by clipping and removing the stubble shortly after each year's seed harvest. The Summer re-growth may be used for grazing, but avoid heavy grazing during September and October. Forage can be grazed later in the fall when plants have become more Winter hardy. However, this late fall growth will be less acceptable to cattle than tall fescue.

Customer Reviews
5.0 Based on 2 Reviews
5 ★
100% 
2
4 ★
0% 
0
3 ★
0% 
0
2 ★
0% 
0
1 ★
0% 
0
Write a Review Ask a Question

Thank you for submitting a review!

Your input is very much appreciated. Share it with your friends so they can enjoy it too!

Filter Reviews:
ED
11/30/2023
Eric D.
United States United States

So far, So good

Looks like good seed. Shipped quickly. Just planted. Hopefully it grows.

SV
03/22/2021
Steve V.
United States United States

Potomac

Delivered quickly and nice clean seed

05/22/2021

Hancock Seed

Thank you for allowing us to be your seed provider!

Customers Also Bought
Need Help?
If you have any questions feel free to conctact us below.
Customer Service
Got questions? We don’t blame you! There are many things to consider when buying seed, and Hancock’s staff is happy to help you find the perfect solution for your needs!
Direct Order Line for 250 lbs. or More
1(800) 552-1027
Mon.-Fri. (8AM-5PM)
Sat. (9AM-12PM)
Sun. (Closed)
The Farm
18724 Hancock Farm Rd.
Dade City, FL 33523
Get a Quote

Fill Out the Form Below & Receive a Discounted Bulk Quote Today!

Hancock Seed offers its eQuote system to provide bulk customers with the best rates possible, for both seeds and shipping.  If you need to purchase 250lbs. of seed or more, please fill out the form below and indicate what product (or products) you are interested in, and how much you require. We will send you a quote within 24 hours of receiving your request. If you do not receive a response within 24 hours, please check your email’s spam folder, or call 1(800) 552-1027 during regular business hours. Thank you!

Get Exclusive Offers
Sign up for Hancock Seed’s email service for exclusive offers and more!



Recipients can opt out of Hancock Seed’s email service at any time.
We Can Ship Worldwide!
Hancock Seed harvests, produces & exports the highest quality seed. No matter the project, our international sales team is happy to provide you with a quick quote for bulk seeds delivered anywhere in the world!
INTERNATIONAL QUOTE

Sale

Unavailable

Sold Out