Equine Pasture Summer Grasses© (No Rye) version

This is the rye-free version of our Equine Pasture Summer Grasses©. It has the same seeds as the original blend, with the rye grass taken out. It's made for horse owners who need to avoid rye, whether that's a horse with a rye allergy or sensitivity, or you'd simply rather keep rye out of your paddocks.

It's a summer-active mix of grasses, a legume, a herb and a flowering broadleaf, each with a different root and a different job. Without rye as the early nurse plant, the millet and teff do the job of covering bare ground quickly while the perennials settle in underneath.

Good for

• Horses that can't have rye grass, or owners who want a rye-free paddock
• Summer grazing for horses
• Paddocks where weeds keep getting up before the grasses do
• Compacted, tired soils
• Paddocks recovering after drought or overgrazing

What's in the mix and why

• Rhodes grass, fine cut and Katambora: the backbone. Two varieties of this summer perennial. They send out runners to knit bare ground together and handle dry spells. This is the grass we want to stay long term.
• Teff: the fine summer grass. A soft, leafy summer grass that establishes quickly and gives good grazing through the warmer months.
• Millet: the fast starter. Up and covering bare soil within weeks, shading and protecting it from summer heat while the slower plants get going.
• Lucerne: the deep feeder. Its taproot reaches minerals and moisture the grasses can't, and it feeds nitrogen to the plants around it. Great quality grazing that horses love.
• Plantain: the mineral miner. A hardy perennial herb with a strong taproot that opens up tight soil and brings minerals up from deeper down. Adds variety to the grazing too.
• Black sunflower: the soil opener. A strong taproot that pushes through compaction, and flowers that bring in bees and beneficial insects.

Bare seed with high germination, not coated in synthetic chemicals.

How to sow

• Rates: 10 kg/ha into existing pasture, or 15 to 25 kg/ha on its own. For example, a 2 acre paddock oversown needs about 8 kg.
• Methods: hand broadcast, a 12 volt spreader or direct drilled, depending on your paddock and set-up.
• Paddock prep is a must. Don't skip the basics. Seed is only as good as the ground it goes into, so get the foundations right before you sow.
• Every order includes our sowing and grazing guide.

Grazing notes

• Keep horses off until plants are well anchored, usually 8 to 12 weeks. If a plant pulls out when you tug it, give it longer.
• Graze lightly the first time, then give the paddock a recovery period so the perennials can build roots.
• Introduce horses gradually to new, lush pasture.

Pairs well with

• Rhodes Grass Pasture Seed: Extra Rhodes for larger bare areas where you want more long-term perennial grass cover.
• Biocast: A liquid vermicast to apply at sowing, feeding soil biology while seedlings establish.

Questions growers ask

What's the difference between this and the original Summer Grasses blend?
Only the rye. The original uses a small amount of rye grass as a quick growth plant. This version has the same seeds without it.

Can I sow it into my existing paddock?
Yes. Graze or slash the paddock short, oversow at 10 kg/ha, then keep horses off while it establishes.

Will it come back next year?
Rhodes grass, lucerne and plantain are perennials and stay with good grazing management. Teff, millet and sunflower are annuals that do their job in the first season and add organic matter as they break down.

Dispatch and delivery

• Sold in pre-order rounds and sent out in scheduled dispatch runs
• Available in 2 kg, 5 kg and 10 kg bags
• Not available for post to WA or TAS due to quarantine rules
• Dispatch dates may change due to freight delays outside our control