Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is the main species used for winter overseeding of bermudagrass turf in southern United States. However, the highly persistent perennial ryegrass varieties have slow spring transition and it results in delayed and poor recovery / green-up of the bermudagrass. Annual ryegrass (Lolium multifluorum) is less persistent but has poor turf qualities. In 2002, an annual ryegrass cultivar ‘Panterra' with improved turf characteristics was released. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of varying Panterra percentage (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100) in mixtures with Premier II and Peak perennial ryegrasses at four seeding rates (488, 732, 976 and 1220 kg/ha). Overseeded stands were evaluated for turf quality and subsequent spring transition of bermudagrass.

Overseeded stands that included as little as 25 and 50 percent Panterra in mixtures with perennial ryegrass displayed winter quality ratings more similar to that of perennial ryegrass. Addition of perennial ryegrass also had a positive effect on improving overseeding winter color and texture ratings when compared to pure Panterra stands. Transition from the winter overseeding to bermudagrass was inhibited most in the pure Premier II stands. Pure stands of Peak and Premier II had 70 and 42 percent bermudagrass ground cover, respectfully, by mid-June. Addition of 25, 50 and 75 percent Panterra in seed mixtures with Premier II significantly enhanced bermudagrass spring transition when compared to Premier II only stands.

Results indicate that these types of overseeding mixtures reduce issues common to using pure stands of improved annual ryegrass for winter overseeding when compared to perennial ryegrass; namely winter color, texture and turf quality. This study also suggests there can be benefit in using improved turf-type annual ryegrass in overseeded mixtures with perennial ryegrass to improve bermudagrass spring transition.