Orchardgrass, Dryland (lb)

Dryland Orchardgrass is a long-lived perennial bunchgrass selected for dependable establishment where moisture is limited. Its strong seedling vigor helps it establish on dry sites, and mature plants provide persistent forage and soil-holding roots without requiring the regular reseeding associated with annual grasses. It is particularly well suited to higher-elevation plantings where a drought-tolerant perennial grass is needed.

This orchardgrass adapts to a range of soil types but performs especially well in clay and loam. Growth responds noticeably to available moisture: plants may remain around 18 inches tall under dryland conditions yet reach 4½–5 feet with irrigation and favorable fertility. That flexibility allows it to serve in dry pasture, erosion-control plantings, or areas that receive occasional supplemental water.

Prepare a firm, weed-free seedbed and provide consistent moisture during germination and early establishment. Drought tolerance improves after the root system is established; newly seeded stands should not be expected to withstand the same moisture stress as mature plants. Because orchardgrass grows in bunches, allow adequate establishment before close grazing or mowing. It is a grass rather than a legume, so Rhizobium inoculant is unnecessary.

• Growth Habit: Long-lived perennial bunchgrass
• Application Rate: 15–20 lb per acre or 1–2 lb per 1,000 sq ft
• Inoculant: Not required. This is a nonlegume cover crop and does not rely on Rhizobium bacteria for nitrogen fixation.
• Germination: Approximately 6–7 days under suitable conditions
• Plant Height: Approximately 18 inches under dryland conditions or 4½–5 feet when irrigated
• Soil Adaptation: Adaptable to several soil types; especially suited to clay and loam
• Uses: Perennial forage, dry pasture, erosion control, and higher-elevation grass plantings
• Size: Sold in quantities of 1 pound or greater
• Establishment: Provide moisture while seedlings develop; drought tolerance is strongest after establishment