Here in Michigan we've been taught that rye GRASS, in the context of food for deer, is practically useless and even harmful to plant because it can take over. We strongly prefer Winter Rye grain for planting. I'm happy to hear the benefits of rye grass if anyone has had good use of it. Might benefit hard, compacted ground as a cover crop it suggests in the link below. We are taught to strictly avoid it. Happy to hear any merits I'm missing. http://ryegrasscovercrop.com/portfolio-view/arggrowin/

What seed are you trying to cover Mark?

Was painful! https://youtu.be/98SazDZMe2Q

We used a Ranger and did each tree by hand. No good suggestions here.

That was mulch we put around the 110 hybrid Salix we planted along the road that will serve as a screen hopefully; assuming they survive! Watered them a ton last year due to a serious drought and fresh planting. I don't plan to water them this year. A ton of work! Hope they took good.

I'm just not familiar with no-till planting. Could use some pointers on getting this ground ready for seed. Clearing the trees now, then planning to spray gly once I see a sign of green-up, then maybe spray one more time, then maybe rake it a bit to loosen the dirt some, then seed and mow any dead vegetation standing to cover the seed to hold moisture? Or should I just mow the dead vegetation and rake a bit to loosen the soil, and then seed and pack it?

Ready to learn! Southern Michigan.