Absolutely!! Protect it with straw if you can and it will be slow to germinate but it will come up. I've seen PRG grow in the middle of January in divot mix on a tee. Super slow if it's freezing and thawing every night, but keep it moist and it will come up. Pre-germinating it inside can save you weeks of waiting and I would recommend it if it's feasible for your situation.

 

I am having a pool put in the backyard and they are doing the final grade today. A good portion of that area is on a pretty good slope. I'm not ready to put in mulch/landspace and Bermuda sod. So in an effort to minimize erosion till I'm ready I was going to put down Annual Ryegrass and then kill it off when I'm ready to landscape and put down sod. But - the next two weeks are mid 50's for highs and mid 30's at night. So soil temp will float around that 45-degree mark. Will annual rye even germinate?

Absolutely!! Protect it with straw if you can and it will be slow to germinate but it will come up. I've seen PRG grow in the middle of January in divot mix on a tee. Super slow if it's freezing and thawing every night, but keep it moist and it will come up. Pre-germinating it inside can save you weeks of waiting and I would recommend it if it's feasible for your situation.

@CarolinaCuttin Thank you very much!

 

I would also recommend using perennial instead of annual if you can find it.

 

I would also recommend using perennial instead of annual if you can find it.

Should I use perennial, even if I'm planning to kill it in a couple of months?

 

I would. Annual rye grass is messy. You can kill PRG easy as well, especially if you're not trying to save anything else mixed in with it.

 

I would. Annual rye grass is messy. You can kill PRG easy as well, especially if you're not trying to save anything else mixed in with it.

Thanks!

 

You may find it difficult to find rye seed this late in the year. Good luck!