Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)-Hort Answers - University of Illinois Extension
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University of Illinois Extension

Hort Answers

Turf

Perennial ryegrass
Lolium perenne

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
 
Life Cycle and Growth Habit
Cool-season perennial with bunch-type growth habit. 
 
Regional Adaptation
Cool humid
Cool semiarid
 
 
Environment
Well-drained, moist, slightly acidic to neutral (pH of 6.0 to 7.0), fertile soils; full sun; avoid temperature extremes; lacks tolerance to excessive heat, cold, and drought.

 

 
Light Requirements
Requires full sunlight
 
 
Best Suited for These Uses/Sites
Generally used with Kentucky bluegrass for home lawns, commercial sites, and other areas requiring attractive turf; perennial ryegrass is also used on golf course fairways, tees, and rough areas, and in other athletic settings because of its wear tolerance, appearance, and rapid germination; large quantities are used to overseed dormant warm season turfgrasses in the southern U. S. each winter. Good soil compaction tolerance.

 

 
Culture
Moderate to high depending on cultivar, use, and environment; mow frequently (depending on use), normal lawn heights are 2 to 3 inches; supply 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft.per growing season; supply 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week during the growing season to maintain green and active growth; thatch is not a major problem due to bunch-type growth habit; most cultivars are susceptible to diseases.

 

 
Establishment
Seeding (7-9 pounds per 1000 sq.ft.).

 

 
Varieties

Refer to the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) website (www.ntep.org) for additional varieties and performance data atvarious locations. Look for trial sites and maintenance levels most similar to your own.

Old non-turf types: Pelo, Norlea, Linn

Improved types: Gator, Tara, Palmer, Prelude, Yorktown, Elka, Barry, Pennfine, Manhattan, Manhattan II, Derby, Regal, Fiesta, Blazer.

 

 
Pests and Problems
 
Additional Notes

Can be difficult to mow; less heat, cold and drought tolerance than Kentucky bluegrass. Rarely used alone; usually combined with Kentucky bluegrass in full sun or with Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue in shady areas; good tolerance to soil compaction; very good for overseeding and renovation; germinates rapidly and strongly; aggressive germination and establishment may out compete other species when planted in a mix; endophytic types available that possess enhanced resistance to some insect pests and improved tolerance to environmental stresses.

 

 
Related Resources
General Lawn Maintenance
Home, Yard & Garden Pest Guide
Illinois Commercial Landscape and Turfgrass Pest Management Handbook
U of IL - Distance Diagnosis through Digital Imaging
U of IL - Plant Clinic