I recently laid topsoil down and planted winter rye grass on my steep watershed banks of 2 acre pond. The ryegrass achieved 12-18 inch in height and actually went to seed. It is dying now and turning brown and laying over. I'm getting ready to mow it down and plant bermuda grass seed. I was told to mow blowing grass TOWARDS the ponds edge I guess so maybe some seed would grow? If it is winter rye I don't see where it would matter? It did it's job and stopped erosion on that new topsoil and my pond cleared to 18 inch visibility. Please advise what I should do in preperation to spread bermuda seed in this area. I assume I need to cut this rye down as low as I can.

Flame, rye can inhibit the germinations of small seeded plants. So seeding probably isn't the best path. I think my tack were I trying to establish Bermuda would be to purchase sod and split in lengthwise into halves or thirds. I would lay the sod along the boundary of the pond where it will get some wicking moisture from the pond. Keep the sod watered if the water level drops later and allow the Bermuda to grow without mowing. It will spread by stolons and rhizomes up the slopes into the rye. I would probably cut the rye to about 4 or 5 inches. The rye will continue to stabilize the soil even though it's dead. If there is wide swath of bank to cover (I mean from the water's edge) then you might consider more than 1 row of Bermuda sod contoured equidistance from the ponds edge.

As for where the cuttings go. You may consider using your mower in mulch mode. I think I would probably do that or mow away from the pond. With your water clearing ... provided the alkalinity is good ... expect plankton blooms stronger than in the past.

I always have a good algae bloom and dang...I already spent several hundred dollars on 50 pounds of bermuda seed. The rye grass I planted when it is completley dead will not grow back next year. I was thinking of just cutting it very very low to allow my bermuda seed to touch the ground??

Long as the ground temp is 70 it will germinate fine it won’t do much runnering till next year so best to put heavy seed to help with erosion, that’s what we found over west of you.....
If you have any established Bermuda sprigs will grow fast also

Flame, go ahead and sow the seed. I was merely referring to how rye roots give off compounds that inhibit seed germination or establishment success from seed (not really sure which). So it is used in no till agriculture for this purpose and large seeded plants like corn, soybeans, sunflowers can be drilled in the sod. They will sprout but many weedy competitors are inhibited by compounds that the ryegrass left in the soil. I don't know if would prevent, slow, or inhibit the establishment of Bermuda grass from seed so go ahead and do it and cut the rye grass low.

Thanks everyone. IF it ever quits raining I will get that rye grass cut. We got another 6 inches of rain in the last 24 hours!! That puts us at over 35 inch for the year already!! And more to come all week! Very thankful I planted that rye now. It has stopped erosion from all these floods. I would assume ground temps are 70 degrees by now Pat, right? If not just go ahead and mow and spread and then it will lay dormant UNTIL it hits 70?? Do I need to drive the small tractor over the seeds to pack them down some or just let nature take its course? there will be probably one inch tall rye grass still everywhere after mowing.

Plant it! Running over it to make ground contact is better than just throwing it out but don’t think it really matters all that much.....

Thanks Pat. Grandson last week of school. probably get him to help me next week IF it dries up enough.

Dude get out and put the seed out. There ain’t no soap in it! Don’t be scared

Huh??

Mow it low, don't worry about where the seeds go - they will germ but the growth will diminish. After mowing dethatch then overseed with bermuda - wet, let dry, wet, etc. til it germs out

Winter rye is typically an annual mix that will germ in cooler temps. The seeds will continue to germ in the summer but the amount of live grass will taper off as the seeds are reduced each time. If you mow winter rye before it goes to seed it will practically never come back. It makes a great "bed" to support perennial grasses. As it dies off it can reduce nitrogen levels in soil which makes it harder for some weeds/small plants to grow. It can also "fix" dead spots in lawns as it dies off - that is why it is in lawn patch

Great info. Thanks. Got 2 more inches of rain last night!!

You might bury the mower in Deep East Texas right now Flame

I know Tracy, Maybe next week. I'm at 40 inches for the year already!!