How to Grow Rye Grass Seeds

Rye grass is a popular cool-season turf that grows in numerous lawns in the northern United States. There are two types of rye grass: perennial and annual. Perennial will die back in the late spring as temperatures begin to climb and grow back in the late fall. Annual rye grass will grow for one planting season and is typically grown in areas that have mild winters. Plant rye grass seeds in the late fall to maintain a green yard for the fall and spring months.

Things You'll Need

• Soil pH test
• Shovel
• Bucket
• Lime
• Tiller
• Sulfur
• Lawn roller
• Seeder
• Compost
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Conduct a soil pH test on your lawn. Perennial rye grass prefers to grow in a pH range of 5.1 to 8.4, while annual rye grass requires a range of 5.0 to 7.8. Purchase a soil-testing kit from your county extension office. Dig 10 6-inch holes throughout the yard to collect half a quart of soil samples. Mix in a bucket and mail off half a quart to the laboratory's address located on the kit. Amend the soil based on the results. Lawns that are too acidic need lime, while alkaline soils must have sulfur.

2. Till the soil in the yard to break up any clumps that are larger than a half dollar. Remove any weeds or other vegetation from the planting area. Smooth over the lawn with a lawn roller and add dirt to low-lying areas.

3. Choose a time to plant perennial rye grass when temperatures have cooled to 68 and 77 degrees F. Annual rye grass must be planted when temperatures have hit between 50 to 87 degrees F.

4. Water the lawn area thoroughly, so the soil is moist but not saturated. Pour rye grass seed into a seed spreader. Annual rye grass must be distributed 5 to 10 pounds every 1,000 square feet. Perennial rye grass should be dispersed 3 1/2 to 5 pounds every 1,000 square feet.

5. Push the seeder back and forth horizontally over the yard. Go back over the yard vertically to get and even spread. Cover the rye grass with 1/8 of an inch of compost. Spray a mist of water over the seeded area.

Tips & Warnings

• Give your rye grass five to seven weeks to establish before applying a fertilizer. Use a balanced fertilizer with a NPK (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) ratio of 10-10-10.

• Avoid planting perennial rye grass if you have a Bermuda lawn, because the rye grass releases a toxin that kills Bermuda grass.

References

• Oregon State University: Annual Rye Grass
• Oregon State University: Perennial Rye Grass
• Seedland: Rye Grass