Orchardgrass Orchardgrass can be established in either early spring, late summer, or as a frost seeding in late winter before the frost is out. Orchardgrass is vigorous and leafy, producing more summer regrowth than timothy or bromegrass. Orchardgrass heads very early, in late May or early June. Early cutting is important with all orchardgrass varieties, though later-maturing strains hold quality longer. Ryegrasses Forage-type perennial ryegrasses can be grown for hay or pasture, seeded alone or with legumes.
Ryegrasses tend to be finer stemmed than most other forage grasses and so can be highly palatable.
However, they can also be shorter and lower yielding. They tend to stop growth in dry weather and may be winter sensitive, particularly in northern New York. Ryegrass is highly competitive, so seeding rates should be held at 4 pounds or less per acre in mixtures with alfalfa. Or it can be sown up to midsummer as an emergency forage for late summer and fall feed. Italian ryegrass can also serve as a nurse crop with alfalfa or clover.