Indiana Berry Companion Grasses

Low-Growing Grass Cover Crop
Companion has been the leading performer for more than eight years in the orchard industry and for roadside seeding with its minimal mowing requirement and durability.

Companion is extremely persistent year after year. Its unique ability to recover quickly from heavy traffic and wear in the orchard setting has proven to be a valuable characteristic for many other uses: parking lots, airport runways, low maintenance lawns and roadsides, just to name a few. It contains Elka Perennial Ryegrass, the true genetically dwarf ryegrass. Companion has been the mix of choice for between row seeding and for low maintenance areas where growers consistently report only 2 or 3 mowings per year.

A mixture of Elka Perennial Ryegrass and creeping red fescue, Companion has proven itself vigorously competitive with perennial weeds such as Canada Thistle and Field Bindweed, as well as annual weeds.

Elka Perennial Ryegrass was chosen to play the major role in this low maintenance mixture for its documented low-growing characteristics, durability, and its ability to compete with weeds, while also being non-invasive to its surroundings. Inherently low and extremely dense, creeping red fescue is a ground-hugging type of grass which is drought and shade tolerant.

In combination, the grasses selected for Companion Low-Growing Grass Cover Crop are proven to display a low, durable, fine-bladed grass ground cover where little or no mowing is desired. This mixture requires a minimum amount of naturally occurring moisture after establishment and normally will prosper with the application of 40 lbs. of nitrogen per acre per year. 80% Elka Perennial Ryegrass and 20% Creeping Red Fescue. (Seeding rate is 20 to 40 lbs. per acre.)

Companion Grass for Row Middles

Companion Grass for
Row Middles