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Organic Lawn Care

Animal Feed - 'weed' seed issue?

12 years ago

I purchased a 50 pound bag of multi-species feed (12% protein) from a local farm shop (CAL Ranch in Layton, UT). It appears to contain 4 grains: cracked corn for sure, likely alfafa pellets, possibly wheat seeds/grain, and possibly oat grain (last three are my guesses). The ingredient lists just mentions, "grain products". Here is a link to what I think is the product (brand/description is correct, but the picture of the bag is different).

http://nutrenaworld.com/nutrena/products/more-species/all-stock-feed/index.jsp

Anyway I added some to about 1 square foot of an open dirt area and about 1 week later some sprouts are appearing. The sprouts are all the same: dark green and grass-like (straight-veined), but slightly broader (roughly a 2-3" tall sprout with a width of 1/4"). I googled wheat grass and as far as I can tell, it is a match - but I am not sure.

My concern is adding this to a lawn and introducing this sprout as a weed. I have read that corn doesn't survive one mowing on this forum, but I don't recall any threads regarding wheat (potentially) as a weed.

Any advice?

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Comments (2)

Kimmsr
12 years ago
More than likely what you are seeing growing there is some oats, although it might be wheat also. For most of us that is not a problem. That green growth will add needed organic matter to your soil.
Ruthenium
Original Author
12 years ago
Well, I "planted" each of the grain types in separate areas and the grain I believe to be wheat (narrow, football-shaped, ~1 cm long) is what sprouted.

I did find on google that both oat and wheat are annuals, so if it is a problem, it won't last after this year.

I placed a bunch of the feed on one section of my lawn about 2 weeks ago, but no visible sprouts (hidden in the grass? cannot compete with the grass?).

I'll update results if necessary.
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