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| ## orchardgrass {#orchardgrass .Title-Header}                         |
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| *Dactylis glomerata* L.                                               |
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| Plant Symbol = DAGL                                                   |
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*Contributed by: USDA NRCS Pullman Plant Materials Center, Rose Lake
Plant Materials Center, Idaho State Office & Aberdeen Plant Materials
Center; USDA ARS Forage & Range Laboratory*

##### Alternate Names

##### Cocksfoot

##### 

##### Uses

*Grazing/Hayland*: The primary use of orchardgrass is for forage
production. It is used for pasture, hay and silage. It is highly
palatable to all classes of livestock. Orchardgrass is one of the best
forage grasses for use in the Northern states under intensive rotational
grazing systems.

*Erosion control*: Because of its dense network of non-rhizomatous
roots, orchardgrass provides good erosion control on those soils to
which it is adapted.

*Wildlife*: Elk and deer find orchardgrass highly palatable and will
utilize it most of the year. Orchardgrass is sometimes used in
grass-legume

mixes for nesting brood rearing, and escape and winter cover in upland
wildlife and conservation plantings. However, upland birds and waterfowl
prefer taller grasses that develop sparser stands such as basin wildrye
and tall wheatgrass.

##### Status

Consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state
noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### 

##### Description

*Dactylis glomerata*, orchardgrass, is a long-lived, introduced, cool
season bunchgrass. Under dryland conditions, it usually develops
distinct clumps and flower culms 15 to 18 inches tall. Leaves usually
stand less than 12 inches in height. When grown under irrigation or in
moist-fertile situations, it attains a much larger stature and grows in
a more closed stand. Orchardgrass is one of the earliest species to
initiate growth in the spring and makes tremendous growth during cool
conditions. Due to deep roots (most within 2 feet of the surface) it is
also capable of strong summer growth when conditions are favorable (i.e.
somewhat cool). Under extremely hot conditions, orchardgrass will have a
bigger production slump than meadow brome. Orchardgrass has 540,000
seeds per pound.

##### Adaptation

Orchardgrass is found from Maine to the Gulf Coast states and from the
Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast. It is common throughout the
Appalachian Mountains and is especially well adapted to Maryland,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. It is
also found in the high-rainfall regions of the western mountains and in
irrigated areas throughout the West. Areas of greatest adaptability in
the West are soils that had supported the sagebrush, grass,
pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, aspen and Douglas fir communities.

Orchardgrass is winter hardy and is adapted to moderate to well-drained
basic to acidic soils. It will not tolerate soils that are saturated for
extended periods of time. It produces best in areas with very little
frost in the spring. Spring frost will not kill orchardgrass, but it
does reduce overall production. In areas with significant spring frost
such as mountain valleys, meadow brome is a better species selection.

Orchardgrass performs well on soil textures ranging from clay to gravely
loams and on shallow to deep soils. It does not grow well in saline
soils and areas with high water tables within the rooting zone. It has
the ability to establish and persist in areas that receive as little as
16 inches of annual precipitation, but performs best with 18 inches of
rainfall.

Orchardgrass performs best in a pH range of 5.8 -- 7.5, but will
tolerate pH as high as 8.5. It is adapted to shady areas or areas with
reduced light.

##### Establishment

A clean, firm, weed-free seedbed is recommended. Dryland and erosion
control seedings should be made in the late fall or very early spring.
Irrigated seedings should be made in early to mid spring. Do not seed
after the spring moisture period is well advanced or a failure may occur
because of dry seedbed conditions and hot summer temperatures before the
grass is well established. A deep furrow or double disc drill with press
wheels may be used, however, orchardgrass is easily established with
common agricultural drills. The recommended seeding rate for
orchardgrass is 4 pounds pure live seed (PLS) per acre. If broadcast
seeded or planted for critical area treatment, double the seeding rate.
Adjustments in seeding rate should be made when seeding in mixtures.
Seeding depth should be 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

##### Management

Under dryland conditions the new planting should not be grazed until
late summer or fall of the second growing season. The plants may be
severely damaged by overgrazing especially in the seedling year. Under
irrigated conditions the new planting should not be grazed until late
summer or fall of the first growing season. The plants may be severely
damaged by grazing too soon.

Use no more than 60% of the annual growth during the winter season or
50% during the growing season. Close grazing in the fall is consistently
associated with winterkill. This plant responds well to
rotation-deferred grazing systems. Periodically the grass should be
allowed to mature and produce seed for continuation of the stand.

Orchardgrass responds very well to good fertility management. It is one
of the most responsive pasture grasses to nitrogen applications. One
strategy to even out the forage production is to fertilize the stand
after the first and second cutting or grazing period to boost late
spring and summer production. Apply fertilizer based on soil tests.

**Seed Production**

When planting for seed increase, recommended row spacing is 28 to 40
inches. Seeding rate is 1.5 to 2 pounds PLS per acre to seed 25 to 30
PLS per linear foot of row. Irrigated seed yields are commonly 250 to
300 pounds per acre. Seed matures evenly and is ready for harvest in
mid-July. Windrowing followed by combining is the preferred method of
harvest. When direct combining the seed should be dried to 12 percent
moisture in bins and 15 percent moisture in sacks before storing.

##### Pests and Potential Problems

Brown stripe, scald, rust and leaf spot are the most prevalent and
destructive disease in orchardgrass. Resistance to these varies among
cultivars. Japanese and green June beetle larvae feed on orchardgrass
roots; sawflies feed on their tops. Little is known, however, about the
economic loss caused by these insects.

Orchardgrass does not spread vegetatively and is much less invasive than
many other grasses. Consult the PLANTS Plant Profile for references
pertaining to invasive qualities. Seeds can collect on animal coats and
be transported long distances. Watering and bedding areas are typical
sites where orchardgrass may colonize.

Orchardgrass seed is a common contaminant of turfgrass seed. While
mowing prevents further spread, individual orchardgrass plants persist
and lower the aesthetic value of the turf.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

There are many orchardgrass releases available. Consult local experts to
select the best release for your area. Orchardgrass cultivars fall into
two types: early maturing and late maturing. The late maturing cultivars
are more common. The most common releases used in the Intermountain West
are described below.

**'Latar'** was released in 1957 and is still commonly seeded in pasture
and hayland plantings. It has a low lignin (fiber) content and
digestibility is very high. It matures 10 to 14 days later than common
orchardgrass and is usually in the pre-bloom stage when alfalfa is at
the optimum growth stage for cutting hay. Therefore a mixture of 'Latar'
and alfalfa makes a high quality hay. Forage yields of 'Latar' are at
least as much per acre as the earlier maturing varieties and forage
quality is generally superior. The venerable old 'Latar' has lost some
of its market-share to newer cultivars, which exhibit disease tolerance
and winter hardiness. \'Latar\' Breeder seed is maintained by the
Pullman, Washington Plant Materials Center.

**'Paiute'** is a cultivar that produces an abundance of basal leaves
and leafy upright stems. Its intended use is for forage production on
arid lands. \'Paiute\' is considered somewhat more drought tolerant than
other varieties of orchardgrass. However, it generally does not perform
well below 16-inch rainfall areas. At very high elevations (6500 feet
plus), it may perform well at slightly lower rainfall amounts. It
matures too early to be compatible with alfalfa. \'Paiute\' Breeder and
Foundation seed is maintained by the Aberdeen, Idaho Plant Materials
Center.

**'Potomac'** is a productive, persistent, rust-resistant cultivar that
produces good yields but matures too early to be compatible with alfalfa
for hay. When alfalfa is ready to cut, 'Potomac' is too mature to
produce good quality hay. When seeded in a monoculture, \'Potomac\'
often produces very high yields. This variety should be used where early
maturity is needed and as a single species hay. Oregon Foundation Seed
and Plant Materials Project and Washington Crop Improvement Station
maintain Breeder and Foundation seed.

'**Berber**' is a long lived, drought resistant, cool season perennial
bunchgrass, native to Europe. It has been tested in the mediterranean
climate area of California for erosion control on natural and man-made
disturbed areas, and for dryland range use. It appears that Berber could
be used for erosion control and fire control in areas adjacent to
housing developments. It is very drought tolerant and would remain green
throughout the summer with small amounts of supplemental water.  Berber
seed is maintained by the Lockeford Plant Materials Center in
California.

##### Control

##### Contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Always read and follow label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named and other products may be equally effective.

##### Prepared By: 

*Tony Bush*

USDA NRCS Rose Lake PMC

East Lansing, Michigan

*Dan Ogle*

USDA NRCS Idaho State Office

Boise, Idaho

*Loren St. John*

USDA NRCS Aberdeen PMC

Aberdeen, Idaho

*Mark Stannard*

USDA NRCS Pullman PMC

Pullman, Washington

*Dr. Kevin B. Jensen*

USDA ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory Utah State University,
Logan, Utah

##### Species Coordinator: 

*Mark Stannard*

USDA NRCS Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington

##### Edited: 10Aug00 jlk; 24septo2 lsj; 22oct02 ms; 24jan03 kbj; 03jan03 dgo; 11feb03 jsp; 27apr05 rln; 25may06jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
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*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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