Organic Orchardgrass is a cool-season perennial for irrigated pasture and forage plantings that need productive growth without full-day sun. Dactylis glomerata tolerates partial shade better than many pasture grasses, making it useful near orchard rows, along field edges, or in mixed stands where taller plants create changing light conditions. This Niva orchardgrass is a late-maturing selection with good fall growth and winter hardiness after establishment. It performs best where rainfall is moderate to high or supplemental irrigation is available. Compared with timothy, orchardgrass handles more heat, although it is less heat tolerant than tall fescue. Under favorable moisture and fertility, plants can reach 4½–5 feet and produce strong seasonal forage yields. Seed into a firm, prepared seedbed and maintain consistent moisture while seedlings establish. Because orchardgrass is a bunchgrass, protect young crowns from close grazing and repeated cutting until the stand is well rooted. In established pasture, coordinate mowing or grazing so plants retain enough leaf area for regrowth. This product supplies organic grass seed rather than a nitrogen-fixing legume, so no Rhizobium inoculant is required. A compatible inoculant would still be needed for any clover or other legume planted with it. Scientific Name: Dactylis glomerata Variety: Niva, a late-maturing orchardgrass Growth Habit: Cool-season perennial bunchgrass Application Rate: 20 lb per acre or 1–2 lb per 1,000 sq ft Inoculant: Not required. This is a nonlegume cover crop and does not rely on Rhizobium bacteria for nitrogen fixation. Germination: Approximately 5–7 days under suitable conditions Plant Height: Approximately 4½–5 feet Time to Maturity: Approximately 8 weeks Uses: Irrigated pasture, forage, erosion control, shaded grass plantings, and mixed pasture Site Preference: Partial shade, moderate to high rainfall, or supplemental irrigation Establishment: Protect young plants from close grazing until the stand is well rooted
