Knowledgebase
Grass seeding following a wildfire #729440
Asked October 08, 2020, 8:25 AM EDT
i own 36 acres in Larimer county that have recently been burned by the Cameron Peak Fire. My property is from 8100-8500 feet in altitude. It was previously covered with some grass and a lot of sage. The damage was extensive, there is no vegetation remaining, and I expect I will loose most of the few remaining trees (a lot of the property was sparsely treed anyway, mainly due to beetle kill). The ground is not level, there are shallow to medium slopes and ravines. I am very concerned about erosion.
Should I plant a grass Immediately before the snows begin? If so, what should I plant, and where could I obtain it in the quantities I’d need?
thanks, Don
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Don,
I am sorry to learn that your property was affected by the Cameron Peak fire. Wildfires are a different beast! You will find the following resources helpful as you begin the process of managing your property.
Depending on the intensity of the fire, you will find many of the grasses and plants will recover come spring. What comes up will look different than what you saw pre-fire. Here is the link to the Colorado State Forest Service fact sheet, Vegetative Recovery After a Wildfire: https://static.colostate.edu/client-files/csfs/pdfs/06307.pdf
The main concern will be monitoring and managing the weeds, which will take advantage of the open space and increased nutrients left by the fire. The Larimer County Weed District is an excellent source of herbicides, should you decide to go that route. They are located in Fort Collins and here is the link to their website: https://www.larimer.org/naturalresources/weeds
Soil erosion will be a concern. Here is a publication to help mitigate erosion: CSU Extension, Soil Erosion Control After a Wildfire -- https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/natres/06308.pdf
If you are considering planting seeding trees next spring, I would recommend contacting the Colorado State Forest Service Seedling Tree Nursery -- https://csfs.colostate.edu/seedling-tree-nursery/. The CSFS Seedling Tree Nursery is located in West Fort Collins. Seedling trees can be obtained directly from the nursery and their order list typically becomes available in January.
Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), Replanting in Burn Areas: Tips for Safety and Success -- https://static.colostate.edu/client-files/csfs/pdfs/FINAL-Post-FireReplanting-andSafetyTips-2013Feb11.pdf
I have resources on seeding recommendations and seeding companies in Northern Colorado that I cannot attach here. Please contact me directly at <personal data hidden> and I will send you these resources.
I am confident you will be pleasantly surprised by what comes up in the spring! All my best.
