- The first condition that must be met before annual rye grass will reach 2 to 3 inches in less than 20 days is the climate. Annual rye grass does best in cool to cold weather, which is why so many choose to plant it right before winter arrives in early to mid-September. Annual rye grass will not grow in warmer temperatures. In fact, when the warm weather begins to approach, annual rye grass begins to die out. Therefore, you must plant it when cool weather arrives (between the 1st and 20th of September) if you want it to reach the optimal height.
- Due to the weather conditions and cooler temperatures, the best regions to plant annual rye grass include the Southeastern states, Northeastern states and the Pacific Northwest. The states within these regions experience cooler weather in the early fall, whereas those in other regions do not, making it difficult for the annual rye grass to be established before the brunt of winter, which also makes it hard for the grass to reach 2 to 3 inches in as little as 18 days.
- Fertilizing is an important factor when determining how high annual rye grass can grow in 18 days. Annual rye grass needs nitrogen based fertilizers in order to flourish, but it must be given in the right amounts. Studies have shown that just as you can inhibit the growth rate of annual rye grass by giving it too little fertilizer, you can also prevent it from growing properly when fertilizing too much. Before you plant, use a starter fertilizer with 1/2 lb. nitrogen per 1,000 feet. Then after planting, in 3-week intervals, use a soluble nitrogen fertilizer with 1/2 lb. nitrogen per 1,000 feet.
- As with all grasses, annual rye grass needs the appropriate amount of water in order to reach its projected 2 to 3 inch height in 18 days. Once the seed has been planted, it needs to be watered regularly for approximately 14 days. This keeps the soil moist and promotes better germination rates. After this time, you can water it on an as-needed basis to maintain healthy growth rates.
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