How Much Orchard Grass Seed Per Acre?

Orchard grass makes an excellent animal forage.

A cool-season perennial bunch grass, orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) attains a height of approximately 4 feet. It tolerates moderate winters, periods of drought and shade well. Seed orchard grass in the fall from August to September or from March to April.

Seeding Applications

Broadcast or drill orchard seeds into a prepared seed bed. Apply at a ratio of 8 to 10 pounds of seed per acre, according to the Penn State College of Agricultural Science website. Make sure the seeds have a soil covering of approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

Seeding Ratio

Mix 2 to 6 pounds of orchard grass with legumes, such as alfalfa red clover, white clover and birdsfoot trifoil. Avoid mixing orchard grass with other grass varieties due to the variations in the growth rates.

Planting Requirements

Plant orchard grass in soil that has a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Apply nitrogen fertilizer at the time of seeding for the best seed germination and growth results from orchard grass.

References

• University of Missouri: Orchard Grass
• Penn State College of Agricultural Science: Orchard Grass
• University of Kentucky: Orchard Grass

Resources

• University of Tennessee: Tall Fescue, Orchard Grass and Timothy