| Scientific name: | Poa pratensis L. |
| Cultivars: | Several |
| Origin: | Europe |
| Growth Habit: | Sod-forming, 1 to 2 1/2 ft tall |
| Life Cycle: | Perennial |
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| Use |
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| Production: | Lowest yielding of cool-season grasses used for pasture
Commonly used as a pasture grass. Common in unimproved pastures in Wisconsin. Well adapted to less-managed pastures if they have a low stocking rate. |
| Nutritive Value: | Good quality, highly palatable to livestockInferior to early-cut timothy |
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| Identification |
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| Seed Head: | Panicle (open type) |
| Seed: | 1/8" in size |
| Shoot: | Slightly flat stem
Creeping rhizomes (underground stems) present |
| Leaf: | Narrow, boat-shaped tip, 2 to 12 in long, smooth, green to dark green |
| Auricles: | Absent |
| Ligule: | Small, membranous |
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| Adaptation |
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| Soil: | Fertile, moist, well drained |
| pH: | 6 to 7 |
| Moisture: | 20 to 50 inches of rainfall. Requires adequate moisture.Low drought tolerance |
| Temperature: | Grows most in spring and fall Semi-dormant in hot summers. Does better in cool summers (60 to 90°F) Winter hardy. |
| Other: | One of the most cold tolerant grasses |
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| Establishment - Management |
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| Seeding rate: | 8 to 15 lb/acre (seeded alone)
2 to 8 lb/acre (in mixtures), lower rate for multiple species; higher rate when 1 or 2 species in mixture
4 weeks to germinate |
| Seed cost: | $120 to 200+/50 lb |
| Planting date: | Late summer: mid August to mid September
Spring: as early as weather allows and seedbed can be prepared. |
| Planting depth: | <1/4 inch
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| Frost seeding: | Not recommended due to long time to germination |
| Fertilization: | Apply P and K according to soil test. Nitrogen should be applied directly before or with planting if not following a crop heavily fertilized with N, or planted with legumes. |
| Grazing: | Do not graze close, but it can tolerates occasional close grazing. Allow for a stubble of 2-4 inchesTolerates heavy traffic when allowed to form a thick sod.Recovers quickly from trampling |
| Hay: | Low yielding for hay production
Commonly used in hay production for horses due to high fiber content. |
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| Notes |
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| Photos |
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