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Why not perennial rye and KBG?

16 years ago

It seems to be a common mix around here.

It must work. Or maybe not?

What's wrong with it?

Not challenging - just asking before I put down seed.

Paul

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Comments (6)

bpgreen
16 years ago
The reason you often see that in a mix is that the Rye comes up very quickly and the KBG takes several weeks. So you get some fast cover from the PR before the KBG starts to germinate.

The benefit is the same as the problem.

Since the PR comes up so quickly, it may be ready to mow before the KBG is strong enough to stand the mowing. Also, I think the PR has something that inhibits other grasses from germinating.

PR and KBG also look different, and some people don't like the mixture of different looking grasses in their lawns.

There may be other advantages and disadvantages, but those are the ones that come to mind.
User
16 years ago
+1 bpgreen. They have different habits, growth rates, water requirements, and fertilizer requirements, too. There's nothing wrong with mixing them, but the results to a Lawn Whacko are somewhat disappointing. The average person would probably be fairly pleased.

Bluegrass lawns require tremendous patience, and even the patient get IMpatient when Day 12 dawns and the stupid lawn has maybe ten percent color and you're pouring water on it and the weather refuses to cooperate...

But I digress. :-) I know I just have to wait and in another week to 10 days I should have the start of a nice lawn.

Now imagine that in the average Joe or Josephine. Joe isn't going to tolerate that, he microwaves his dinner and wants the lawn NOW. Hence the ryegrass, which pops up in five to seven days tops compared to KBG's 14 to 21 days.

At that point, Joe stops watering (we're talking the average person here) and gets some of the KBG but not all of it. That's OK, the rye does well enough.

Rye also fights chemical wars with surrounding plants to make sure it's the only thing growing. It can't kill an established plant, but it will keep other seeds from germinating. New rye probably doesn't do a good job at that, but future overseeding with anything but rye becomes difficult. Look up "alleopathy" if you're interested in learning more.
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rcnaylor
16 years ago
Thanks for some info I hadn't seen before Morph. I have seen many recommendations for mixing P Rye and KGB up to about 10% Rye. The rye, of course, has strenghts like staying greener through the cool months. They are similar textured leaves and growth habits (once up). Different disease susceptability, etc.

In my personal opinion, the main problem most folks will make with mixing P Rye with KGB is getting too much p rye which will make for a pretty noticeable brown out of the lawn in the hot months.

My two cents would be to suggest the old rule "moderation in all things" especially putting some rye in KGB. Good up to a point, but easy to get too much for most folks preferences.
notes
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm confused.
"The rye, of course, has strenghts like staying greener through the cool months. ...getting too much p rye which will make for a pretty noticeable brown out of the lawn in the hot months.
Rye will be greener than KGB in cool months, and browner in the hot months?
rcnaylor
16 years ago
Of course, the climate of your location is a major factor. But, to answer your question, in places that have cold winters and some hot weather in the summer, I would say the answer is yes. Most cool season grasses try to go dormant or somewhat dormant in the hot months. Then, revive in the fall, go dormant in the winter and revive in the spring and get back to dormancy in the summer. P Rye seems to like fall, winter and spring more and summer less than than KBG.

My experience has been it looks nicer in the cool months than KGB and worse in the hot months. A mix kind of balances the two out.
auteck
16 years ago
"My experience has been it looks nicer in the cool months than KGB and worse in the hot months. A mix kind of balances the two out."

That's exactly what I'm thinking about doing in the fall, but I can't decide. I like my 100% KBG lawn, but I also like the beautiful turf that PR creates.

Someone please, talk me out of it!!

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