Orchardgrass

Orchardgrass is more digestible and palatable than most other grasses, making it a valuable hay and pasture plant. It thrives best on well-drained soils and is somewhat tolerant to salt. Orchardgrass is the most shade tolerant of the grasses. It has a dense, deep, fibrous root system, making it more drought tolerant than timothy but less than bromegrass. It can withstand short periods of drought. Although it is aggressive, its bunch habit of growth allows legumes to grow in a mixture.

Orchardgrass is a preferred pasture forage because it grows very rapidly after grazing. It begins growth early in the spring and gives a very high yield and excellent regrowth during the hot summer months. Fall growth is good.