Timothy Grass
Uses
Timothy can be planted alone or in mixtures. It can be utilized as hay, silage or pasture. When used for hay or silage, timothy is usually planted in combination with alfalfa. When used for pasture, timothy is usually planted with red clover and/or birdsfoot trefoil. Other forage grasses like orchardgrass or perennial may also be used in timothy mixtures. Timothy is capable of producing forage on wet soils but will have optimum production on well drained soils.
Description
Timothy, Phleum pratense L., is a shallow rooted, winter hardy, perennial forage bunch grass. It is well adapted to cold, wet environments with the ability to survive harsh winters and ice encasement. It does not tolerate drought. Timothy produces a corm (carbohydrate storage area that looks like a small bulge in the lowest part of the stem and is usually found below ground) from which new tillers originate and new shoots develop. Although it can be grown alone, timothy is most commonly grown in combination with the legumes including alfalfa, red clover or birdsfoot trefoil and occasionally other forage grasses. Timothy can be utilized for pasture, hay or silage. Timothy has very good forage quality. Most forage yield occurs in the spring and fall with summer re-growth being highly dependent on available soil moisture and temperature. The timothy maturity type is important when considering variety selection. Typically, later maturing varieties are used in northern areas and early maturing types are used more frequently for southern areas. The maturity issue is related to the timing of the first harvest when timothy is planted with alfalfa. There is a wide overlap in the use of timothy maturities.
Establishment
➤ Soil pH should be adjusted to an optimum of 6-7. Timothy can be productive over a wide pH range.➤ Use pre-emergent herbicides if necessary. Follow label directions and precautions.
➤ Soil type: Varied
➤ Fertilizer: Proper levels of N, P and K must be supplied.
➤ Seed bed: Fine, granular, and firm
➤ Seeding rate: 2-6 pounds/acre in mixtures and 6-12 pounds/acre straight.
➤ Seeding time: Early spring, late summer to early fall.
➤ Seeding depth: 3/8-1 inch
Management Timothy is a very flexible and forgiving crop making it a favored forage grass of many producers.➤ In the absence of legumes, timothy will respond to nitrogen fertilizer applied in split applications.
➤ Frequent harvest (more than 3 or 4 times per year) or grazing may cause stand decline. Rotational grazing is advised.
➤ Letting timothy “rest” in the fall prior to the onset of winter will allow time for adequate carbohydrate reserves to be accumulated ensuring winter survival and vigorous spring growth.
➤ Cutting or grazing height should be no less than 1-2 inches to protect the corms which are vital for both re- growth and stand persistence.