Lolium Perenne Facts

Features

• Lolium perenne grows in clumps, to a height of 1 to 2 feet and bears narrow leaves, giving it a fine texture. This is a dark green grass that, when overseeded onto a warm season turfgrass, provides winter color. L. perenne is prized for its resistance to insects and disease and its rugged durability.

Cultivation

• Lolium perenne grows in regions with lots of humidity and mild temperatures. It does, in fact, die back when it's hot and dry or in areas with excessively cold winters. L. perenne requires nutrient-rich soils and flourishes in wet, heavy soils as long as surface drainage is adequate. The ideal soil pH for growing perennial ryegrass is between 6 and 7.

Planting

• Plant the perennial ryegrass seed in either spring or fall. Obtaining a soil test is always a good idea before planting any type of grass and Lolium perenne is no exception. In lieu of a test, ensure that you use plenty of manure to enrich the topsoil and till it until it's fine. Firm the seedbed before spreading the seed and apply a light layer of mulch over the seeds after planting. Peat moss is ideal for small areas and straw works for large plantings. Seeds typically germinate within five to seven days.

Considerations

• Turfgrass breeders select plants that provide the things homeowners most value, including disease and pest resistance. Because they are producing ornamental turfgrass, it doesn't matter to them that the grass may contain endophytes -- organisms that live inside other plants. These endopytes produce toxins that may be poisonous to livestock. It is vitally important then to choose varieties proven safe if you are planting Lolium perenne as forage. Some of these forage-type varieties include Remington and Barsprinter.