Learn About Grasses
Grasses – Well Drained Sites
Bromegrass
The bromes are long-lived perennials producing an abundance of quality forage. With the exception of meadow and mountain bromes, all bromes are strongly rhizomatous. Generally the bromes are best adapted to irrigated production; however, varieties such as Lincoln or Carlton can be used under dryland conditions. Bromegrass can be utilized as hay or pasture, however, most varieties will become sodbound quite rapidly and therefore their use in combination with alfalfa should be studied. (See meadow brome below.) All bromes are heavy users of nitrogen. Consistent application of N in proper combination with other required nutrients will increase yield and reduce sodbinding.
Lincoln and Other Adaptable Varieties
Lincoln can be used for dryland plantings or in areas where irrigation water may not consistently be available. It is often used in blends intended for soil stabilization, because of its sod forming capability.
Meadow Brome (several varieties)
Meadow brome varieties offer great potential for irrigated pasture but also Page 4 Page 21 have a place in dryland situations with better moisture. There are several varieties of meadow brome, all offering much better recovery after cutting or grazing as compared to smooth brome. Meadow Brome will not go into dormancy with summer heat as does smooth brome. Another main attribute of meadow brome is a much less aggressive root system, (short rhizomes) therefore stands will not become sod bound as quick which is an advantage when planting with alfalfa. Meadow Bromes are early, with good fall regrowth, and they tolerate grazing pressure.
Mountain Brome
A shorter lived, native bunchgrass generally used for erosion control on fire sites, residences, etc. Can also be used on higher elevation sites where a natural look is preferred. Works well in combination with other native species.
Orchardgrass
The orchardgrasses are hardy, long-lived perennial bunchgrasses that produce a rather open sod. Due to the open nature of the sod, planting in combination with a sod-former may be desirable. Generally, the orchardgrasses are not as drought tolerant as brome (with the exception of Paiute). Therefore, their use will in most cases be restricted to irrigated production. An exception is Paiute which is adapted to limited moisture areas. Orchardgrass works very well in combination with alfalfa but, like alfalfa, it requires a well-drained soil. Generally this grass is not as productive as smooth brome in the early season, but is more productive during the mid-summer and early fall. Orchardgrass is subject to winter injury in certain areas.
Proprietory Orchard varieties
There are several privately developed varieties that offer better production, cold tolerance, quality, and recovery after cutting or grazing. Such varieties can offer different maturities compared to public varieties, and have better winter-survival. Select a variety that has the highest winter-hardiness for your area. Ask us about those varieties.
Potomac Orchardgrass
This variety, although the least winter hardy of the orchards, will do very well in areas where winter injury is not a problem. It is a leafy variety, which responds very well to fertilizer. It is of medium maturity and therefore can be used for either hay or pasture.
Latar Orchardgrass
An older improved variety, having good production and leafiness. Its winterhardiness rating is superior to Potomac. It works well in combination with alfalfa, and has a later maturity than Potomac.
Paiute Orchardgrass
A drought tolerant orchardgrass variety which will survive and produce in areas of 10-12” of annual rainfall. In addition to its use for reclamation plantings, Paiute is also adapted to rotation grazing systems, and grass-hay mixtures. Under dryland conditions Paiute will produce forage to about 14” height. Compared to crested wheatgrass it will green up about one week earlier in the spring and remain green about two weeks later in the summer.
Fescues
Tall Fescues
These fescues encompass several varieties most commonly used for irrigated pasture. The tall fescues, all bunchgrasses, are well adapted to moist soils and will tolerate moderate amounts of alkali or salts often associated with wet soils. One of the desirable qualities of Tall Fescue is its ability to produce and stay green during the summer and early fall. Generally the tall fescues are very high producing grasses; however they are not as palatable as brome and orchard. Although most seed lots of Tall Fescue now sold are “Endophyte Free”, we suggest checking to make sure the seed lot is Endophyte Free. Endophytes are a microscopic fungus that grow in the plant, producing alkaloids that can sicken livestock.
Alta and Fawn Tall Fescue
These two varieties are very similar in characteristics and production. Both are high producing varieties with the attributes outlined above.
Hard Fescue
A hardy, drought tolerant bunchgrass growing to a height of 12-24”. Even though a bunchgrass, it has a very dense, fibrous root system and therefore it is often used for erosion control and for dryland turf. Several improved varieties are available including Durar, Scaldis and Aurora Gold.
Sheep Fescue
Similar in many respects to Hard Fescue in relation to growth habit, height, etc. One advantage of Sheep Fescue over Hard Fescue is better drought tolerance. Among improved varieties are Covar, MX86 and Quattro.
Ryegrasses
Tetraploid Perennial Ryegrass
Genetically, these ryegrasses have double the chromosome count of standard perennial ryegrasses. These genetically improved varieties have quick recovery after cutting or grazing, and are high yielding and have substantially improved palatability over the older varieties. Since some perennial ryegrasses lack winter-hardiness, be sure a variety you choose has adequate winter-hardiness for your area. They work well in irrigated pasture blends.
Annual Ryegrass
A low growing annual, or occasionally, biennial grass often used in small percentages in turf blends to provide quick cover for developing fine leaf varieties. It has also been used in larger percentages as filler in Bargain Turf Blends. In the northwest, Annual Rye will generally winterkill the first year. Occasionally it will survive a second season. It can also be used as part of reclamation mixes. With several proprietary pasture varieties available, Annual Ryegrass could be used to interseed into a thinning alfalfa or grass Page 6 Page 19 stand to extend life of stand one more year. These varieties establish quickly and have the potential to deliver good forage yield.
Other Forage Grasses
Festulolium
A genetic cross between meadow fescue or tall fescue and tetraploid perennial ryegrass. The cross provides a plant with deep, strong roots that provide increased drought tolerance, summer stress tolerance, and winter hardiness. It offers good production and palatability. It is best used in combination with other irrigated grasses and can be used with alfalfa.
Timothy
A short-lived bunchgrass adapted to irrigated areas or where 16 inches or more of precipitation is received per year. Although it likes moist sites it is not salt tolerant. It is very palatable at all growth stages, but protein content drops markedly with maturity. Timothy does very well in mixtures with alfalfa, Alsike or Red Clover and other irrigated grasses. Climax is an older Canadian, tall, fine-stemmed variety. It is a well adapted variety for planting in Montana and other areas in the northwest. There are also several private varieties available. Timothy is often used for horse hay in pure or mixed stands. Timothy should not be planted alone on wet sites but does well on wetter areas, when used along with similar adapted grasses.
Meadow Fescue
A palatable bunchgrass with similar adaptability to timothy on wetter soils. It can be short lived in certain areas.
Redtop
A very small seeded sod-forming vigorous grass which is well adapted to poorly drained, acidic soils. It is found on many wetter meadows in western Montana. It also is successfully used in areas with contaminated soils.
Grasses – Poorly Drained Sites
Garrison Creeping Foxtail
A long-lived perennial sod-former. Garrison is ideally suited for use on wet areas for either pasture or hay use. It will tolerate short periods of flooding. Garrison initiates growth early in the spring, and matures about three weeks earlier than timothy. Generally this variety will be more productive than Timothy on wet sites. It is a leafy and very palatable grass, with high protein if cut at the proper stage. Seed of Garrison germinates rapidly, however the seedlings are weak, therefore competitive growth should be kept to a minimum. Coated seed is also available for easier seeding and possibly quicker establishment. Note that Garrison is slow to establish.
Reed Canarygrass
A rather coarse growing sod-forming grass, very well adapted to most poorly drained soils. It will withstand submergence in water for an extended period of time. If properly managed this grass will produce an abundance of good quality forage. To maintain palatability for grazing purposes it should be cut prior to reaching a height of 12 to 13 inches. For hay production it should be cut when the first seed heads emerge. Seedlings of this variety are not aggressive, therefore competition from other crops or weeds should be minimize. If available, choose a “low alkaloid” variety for better palatability and quality. Tall Fescue, Meadow Fescue, and Redtop also work well in wetter soils. It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.