Tekapo Premium Orchard Grass Seed - 50 Lbs.

Tekapo Premium Orchard Grass features a very low crown and a dense, prostrate growth habit that permits grazing down to near ground level, making it especially well-suited for sheep and horse pastures. Its long, soft leaves increase palatability, and Tekapo establishes a thick, persistent sward that withstands hard, continuous grazing while suppressing many invasive weeds. This variety shows tolerance to heat, moderate drought, low fertility, and most foliar diseases, including rust. Aggressive tillering helps it capture soil nutrients, and under irrigation and high fertility it becomes an abundant producer. With excellent digestibility and strong feed value, Tekapo pairs well with high-yielding grasses for quality hay or grazing and has outperformed many other orchard grasses for feed value, palatability, and digestibility. Establishment & Management: Sow in early Autumn or in Spring into a prepared, firm seedbed. Use a Brillion-type seeder or broadcast and cultipack; optimal planting depth is 1/8-1/4 inch. No-till establishment is recommended only when an herbicide has been applied to sufficiently kill or suppress the existing vegetation. A minimum pH of 6.0 is preferred. Seeding Rate & Companion Crops: For a pure Tekapo pasture, plant at 12 lbs per acre. When mixing with other grasses, use 5-6 lbs per acre of Tekapo. It establishes well with white clover, alfalfa, tetraploid perennial, and other suitable grazing grasses. Apply Nitrogen (25-30 units/acre) 4-6 weeks after sowing to encourage tillering without harming the young plants. Once established, maintain a 3-4" residual when grazing or cutting.