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Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Tuff Turf Winter Rye
Cold-weather cover crop germinating at 34°F. Winter erosion control, soil improvement, weed suppression. Secale cereale. Plant September-December.
Growing Guides & Fertilizer Education
The cold-weather cover crop that grows when nothing else will. Winter Rye (Secale cereale) germinates at 34°F soil temperature—the lowest threshold of any commonly planted seed—and actively grows through fall and winter when all other grasses are dormant. It's a cereal grain, not a turfgrass: it grows 3-4 feet tall, produces seed heads, and dies after completing its lifecycle in late spring. Use it for winter erosion control, soil structure improvement, weed suppression, and nutrient scavenging. Winter Rye is the backbone of the Tuff Turf Winter Hold Mix.
Category
Cover Crop
Type
Winter Rye
Scientific Name
Secale cereale
Zones
1-8 (annual—grows and dies in one cycle regardless of zone)
Brand
Wicked Tuff Turf
What Is It ?
The cold-weather cover crop that grows when nothing else will. Winter Rye (Secale cereale) germinates at 34°F soil temperature—the lowest threshold of any commonly planted seed—and actively grows through fall and winter when all other grasses are dormant. It's a cereal grain, not a turfgrass: it grows 3-4 feet tall, produces seed heads, and dies after completing its lifecycle in late spring. Use it for winter erosion control, soil structure improvement, weed suppression, and nutrient scavenging. Winter Rye is the backbone of the Tuff Turf Winter Hold Mix.
How to Apply ?
Step 1
Spread on prepared or unprepared soil
Step 2
No specific fertilizer requirement
Step 3
Spread seed (6-8 lbs/1k sq ft new; 3-4 lbs overseed)
Step 4
Rake lightly if possible and roll/tamp
Step 5
No watering needed for fall/winter planting
Step 6
Mow at 3-4"; terminate in spring before seeding
Best For
Fall/winter cover cropping|Erosion control on bare soil through winter|Soil structure improvement (compaction breaking)|Nutrient scavenging (captures residual nitrogen)|Weed suppression via allelopathy|Late-season planting when nothing else germinates|Garden bed cover between seasons|Component of the Winter Hold Mix
FAQs
1.
What is it used for?
No—winter rye (Secale cereale) and ryegrass are completely different plants. Winter rye is a cereal grain related to wheat and barley that grows 3-5 feet tall and produces a seed head. Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) are turfgrasses that stay short and are used in lawns. Winter rye is planted as a cover crop for erosion control, weed suppression, and soil improvement. It germinates at soil temperatures as low as 34°F—colder than any turfgrass can handle.
2.
What does 85/80 Kentucky bluegrass mean in this mix?
For cover crop applications, seed winter rye at approximately 2-3 lbs per 1,000 sq ft (90-120 lbs per acre) broadcast. For drill seeding, use 60-90 lbs per acre. Winter rye seed is large compared to lawn grass seed, so higher per-pound rates are needed. Broadcast onto the soil surface and rake or roll lightly to ensure seed-to-soil contact. Winter rye is forgiving of imperfect seedbed preparation and germinates readily even on rough, unfinished soil.
3.
How much clover is in the All Purpose Lawn Mix and will it be visible?
Plant winter rye from late August through November in USDA zones 3-7. It is the latest-planted cover crop option available—germinates at soil temperatures as low as 34°F when all other cover crops have stopped germinating. In zones 4-6, the optimal window is September through October for maximum fall growth. November and December plantings (dormant seeding) are viable—seed lies dormant and germinates at first opportunity in early spring.
4.
Does winter rye fix nitrogen?
No. Winter rye is a grass (cereal grain), not a legume, and does not fix atmospheric nitrogen. Its cover crop value comes from scavenging residual soil nitrogen (preventing leaching), massive biomass production (3-6 tons dry matter per acre), weed suppression through allelopathy and canopy shading, and erosion control. Winter rye captures and holds 25-75 lbs of nitrogen per acre that would otherwise leach over winter, recycling it back to the soil when terminated.
5.
How do you terminate winter rye in spring?
The All Purpose Mix performs in 3-8+ hours of direct sunlight. Optimal performance is at 4-6 hours. In shadier spots (3-4 hours), creeping red fescue carries the stand. In full sun (8+ hours), tall fescue tends to dominate over time. For less than 3 hours of direct sun, the Sun & Shade Mix is a better choice with its 65% fine fescue content designed specifically for heavy shade. The All Purpose is best described as a moderate-shade-tolerant blend.
6.
What fertilizer program does the All Purpose Lawn Mix need?
Apply 2-3 lbs nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft annually, with the white clover component providing an additional 0.5-1 lb N through biological fixation. Fall fertilization (September-October in zones 4-6) produces the best results. A simple program: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in September, 1 lb in late October, and optionally 0.5-1 lb in late May. Avoid heavy spring nitrogen which promotes disease and weed pressure. Slow-release or organic fertilizers complement the clover's natural fertility contribution.
7
What are the benefits of winter rye as a cover crop?
Winter rye provides five primary benefits: erosion control (extensive fibrous root system holds soil through winter), weed suppression (allelopathic compounds and dense canopy inhibit weed germination), nitrogen scavenging (captures 25-75 lbs N/acre that would otherwise leach), organic matter addition (3-6 tons dry matter per acre), and soil structure improvement (root channels improve infiltration and aeration). It is the most widely planted cover crop in the United States for good reason—it works in more conditions than any alternative.