Lolium Perenne - Cultivation and Uses

Cultivation and Uses

Perennial ryegrass is an important pasture and forage plant, and is used in many pasture seed mixes. In fertile soil it produces a high grass yield, and in Britain and Ireland is frequently sown for short-term ley grassland, often with red or white clover (Trifolium).

In Britain, it is also used as an indicator of non-species rich grassland, as it out-competes the more rare plants and grasses, especially in fertile soils. Agri-environment scheme such as the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme, and Environmental Stewardship give funding to species rich grasslands that does not have an abundance of ryegrass.

Selected seed mixes are used extensively for sports pitches, especially winter sports in temperate climates, because of its wear resistance and its ability to regenerate.

It is commonly used in the southwest United States to overseed winter lawns. Bermudagrass is a typical summertime grass in states like Arizona, since it is able to withstand the high temperatures. However, Bermudagrass goes dormant during the cooler winter months. Rather than have brown lawns, many homeowners, public areas, and golf courses overseed these lawns with Perennial Ryegrass in early- to mid- September.

Turf-type Perennial Ryegrass can be grown as a permanent home lawn in the US and typically found as part of a mix with Fine Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass. However, its adaptation range is limited to areas with moderate winters and mild summers. Full sun to light shade, good yearly rainfall, and proper fertilization are the key to a successful perennial ryegrass lawn.

Perennial Ryegrass forms a very dense, dark green, fine bladed turf with the proper maintenance, and it can be successfully grown as a permanent lawn in the Pacific North West and costal areas in California. In the East, from North Carolina to Southern New England.

Yearly overseeding might be needed to replace damaged grass caused by excessive heat during the summer. Maximum daytime temperature should not regularly reach 90°F (32°C). Night time temperatures should hover around 14-17 C . Avoid planting in arid areas if irrigation is not available, or places where extreme temperatures are the norm.