Planting Time for Orchard Grass

Wait for fall to arrive and more rain to begin to fall. Avoid planting orchard grass in overly hot or dry seedbeds, which can bake the seeds and lower successful growth rates.

Remove all weeds from the ground using a quick-dissipating herbicide or mechanical methods after fall begins, but before planting orchard grass. Time the weed management to occur a week or two prior to the desired planting date, so that time remains to pull any weeds that sprout back up.

Plant orchard grass after rain storms when the soil is cool and moist, but at least 45 days prior to the first killing frost. Check the weather schedule in your area or consult the local cooperative extension to determine the relative date of the first killing frost, which the University of Missouri Extension lists as 27 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit.