I have a vacation cabin in the mountains of NC, at 4200 feet elevation.

In early June, I planted annual ryegrass, in a partly shaded area. It came
up in about 15-20 days, and was *real* thick and green.

We then left the mountain and returned in early August. The ryegrass was
all gone !!

Why didn't the grass last all summer? Did it have enough sunlight to
germinate, but then die back because of too much shade ?

There was a drought of several weeks in early July, but that was after the
seed had germinated, and looked good.

What is the most likely reason the ryegrass was strong and thick in early
June, but totally gone by early August ?

Thanks !!

James

On Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:39:46 -0500, "James" no
wrote:

I have a vacation cabin in the mountains of NC, at 4200 feet elevation.

In early June, I planted annual ryegrass, in a partly shaded area. It came
up in about 15-20 days, and was *real* thick and green.

We then left the mountain and returned in early August. The ryegrass was
all gone !!

Why didn't the grass last all summer? Did it have enough sunlight to
germinate, but then die back because of too much shade ?

There was a drought of several weeks in early July, but that was after the
seed had germinated, and looked good.

What is the most likely reason the ryegrass was strong and thick in early
June, but totally gone by early August ?

Critter salad.

Hmmmmmmmmmm... you think a lot of common critters eat ryegrass ? What type
of critters might do this ?

I had not thought of this, but it is food for thought...


James

James wrote:
Hmmmmmmmmmm... you think a lot of common critters eat ryegrass ? What type
of critters might do this ?

I had not thought of this, but it is food for thought...


James




I'm not disagreeing with Brooklyn but it could also be due to
the heat and drought.

gloria p

No, sorry, critters aren't the real issue - annual rye grass is a cool
weather grass that dies as soon as it has gone to seed. It may come
back from seed next year, depending on water, etc. I live in NC, and
can tell you that you have a few options -
1) bermuda grass - it is completely dormant in the winter, and green
once it warms up to ~50 F in the spring. It's aggresive and will
spread everywhere there is enough light.
2) fescue - it needs a fair amount of water in the heat of the summer,
but thrives in spring and fall. It needs to be frequently cut at 2.5
- 3" to thrive and look its best.
3)zoysia - it does not need anywhere near as much mowing as the other
two, but also spreads everywhere.


On Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:52:18 -0500, "James" no
wrote:

Hmmmmmmmmmm... you think a lot of common critters eat ryegrass ? What type
of critters might do this ?

I had not thought of this, but it is food for thought...


James

On Aug 19, 9:39*pm, "James" no wrote:
I have a vacation cabin in the mountains of NC, at 4200 feet elevation.

In early June, I planted annual ryegrass, in a partly shaded area. *It came
up in about *15-20 days, and was **real* *thick and green.

We then left the mountain and returned in early August. *The ryegrass was
all gone !!

Why didn't the grass last all summer? * Did it have enough sunlight to
germinate, but then die back because of too much shade ?

There was a drought of several weeks in early July, but that was after the
seed had germinated, and looked good.

What is the most likely reason the ryegrass was strong and thick in early
June, but totally gone by early August ?

Thanks !!

James

Deer will eat grass but it would not be a favorite food and in the
summer, the whole world is one big salad bar to them. I, too, doubt
that critters are your problem.

On Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:12:32 -0700 (PDT), Frank
wrote:

On Aug 19, 9:39*pm, "James" no wrote:
I have a vacation cabin in the mountains of NC, at 4200 feet elevation.

In early June, I planted annual ryegrass, in a partly shaded area. *It came
up in about *15-20 days, and was **real* *thick and green.

We then left the mountain and returned in early August. *The ryegrass was
all gone !!

Why didn't the grass last all summer? * Did it have enough sunlight to
germinate, but then die back because of too much shade ?

There was a drought of several weeks in early July, but that was after the
seed had germinated, and looked good.

What is the most likely reason the ryegrass was strong and thick in early
June, but totally gone by early August ?

Thanks !!

James

Deer will eat grass but it would not be a favorite food and in the
summer, the whole world is one big salad bar to them. I, too, doubt
that critters are your problem.

If not grass what do you think is the main diet of deer during summer,
and rye grass is one of their favorites... rabbits love it too, so do
woodchucks, and of course Canada geese. Dairy farmers plant rye grass
as a forage crop. Foraging critters will eat most anything green but
rye grass is a favorite. In early August in South Carolina it
wouldn't have gotten cold enough to kill off annual rye. And I know
from living most of my life on Long Island that rye grass handles
drought very well. Unless yoose can prove with eyeball documentation
that the rye grass disappeared otherwise I'm sticking to critters. The
deer near the cabin likely wouldn't have eaten the grass while someone
was living there but be certain they were just waiting for an
opportunity... and then yoose left... that grass patch probably lasted
maybe three days.

In article ,
"James" no wrote:

I have a vacation cabin in the mountains of NC, at 4200 feet elevation.

In early June, I planted annual ryegrass, in a partly shaded area. It came
up in about 15-20 days, and was *real* thick and green.

We then left the mountain and returned in early August. The ryegrass was
all gone !!

Why didn't the grass last all summer? Did it have enough sunlight to
germinate, but then die back because of too much shade ?

There was a drought of several weeks in early July, but that was after the
seed had germinated, and looked good.

What is the most likely reason the ryegrass was strong and thick in early
June, but totally gone by early August ?

Thanks !!

James

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/covercrop.html

Info on tomatoes from above site.

http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/quest...t-information-
can-you-give-me-on-factors-that-affect-the-flavor-of-tomatoes


OR http://tinyurl.com/24mcm8x

--
Bill S. Jersey USA zone 5 shade garden
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