Orchardgrass....

Wildnegg · Jun 15, 2023

My grass is KBG and Tall Fescue. I've been overseeding with tall fescue blend.

So with this drought, I have some noticeable grass spots in the yard. They stand out a little by color and then by grass blade size.

So what I'm finding are patches of grass with mix of tall fescue that have much wider blades. Mixed in is a lot of orchard grass. So mixed with my KBG and then tall fescue that is narrow bladed are these patches and I can't stand it.

So I'm working on getting rid of the orchardgrass. I'm reading glysohate or pulling. So I've started pulling the orchardgrass after this last rain (per suggestions). It's coming out pretty well. Once I clean up a patch, it looks much better and these fescue patches with the wider blades of grass. Blends better anyway and I'll work on the 'rough' fescue.

So with the orchardgrass, how did it just appear so much this year? Is it true it only spreads by seed? I put pre emergent down every 3 months so I'm confused on that.

I oversees with Jonathan green seed. I would be shocked if that is what introduced it but you never know... I'm also getting this wide bladed rough tall fescue too... So maybe their seed isn't as good as I thought. May switch to something different... Guaranteed and has spreading fescue...

When I overseed I typically lay a small amount of peat moss on top of the very bare spots to help the seed grab hold (and watering). Could the peat moss have carried it the seed with it?

I'm also reading Fusilade may work or help kill it? Can anyone confirm? I'll still pull but I could use a light dose to hit the newer growth. I just didn't want to waste time or money if it is proven not to work.

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

2L8 · Jun 15, 2023

Wildnegg said:
Mixed in is a lot of orchard grass.

Are you sure it is orchard grass? Orchard grass has
very flattened stems and sharply keeled leaves. The ligule is relatively long. Here is a picture:

Wildnegg said:
I would be shocked if that is what introduced it but you never know...

Contamination of the seed is possible. The seeds of orchard grass are not much smaller than tall fescue. If you didn't reseed all the areas, then there shouldn't be anything in the non-reseeded areas.

Wildnegg said:
Could the peat moss have carried it the seed with it?

I have not observed this here yet. If you have peat left over, you can put it in shallow trays, water it and see if anything germinates in it.

Wildnegg · Jun 15, 2023

So I have 2.5 acres. I overseeded (focusing on) just the side portion for now. That is where all this orchard grass is. So could be the seed.

It isn't everywhere though in that overseeded area (from what I can tell). It SEEMS to be in those spots that were bare enough that I put peat moss down on the seed to help give it a change to germinate. At least it feels like that. I don't recall every spot that was kind of bare. Though the large spot by the oak tree ... I used a lot of peat moss since that was just About an entire reseed. I don't recall much, if any orchard there. But it also filled in much thicker then some of these other areas I have the orchard grass.

I will double check the grass weed. I thought I went through and it has to be orchard cause of its bunching, ligual and no hairs. But I want to say it had a pointed tip not the boat shaped (like KBG). Though can't remember for sure. I haven't mowed this week so I'm sure I have new growth I can double check.

Thanks!

Orchardgrass....

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