Hello Linda and Steve,

It sounds like an exciting project that you are working on. It can be daunting to figure out what seed type(s) to use and how to plant and maintain it. Are you hoping to achieve a turfgrass look or will you let the grass be taller and more ornamental in this area?

In order to give you the best recommendations, can you tell me a little more about the area? How much sun does it get? Is is flat or sloped? Do you provide irrigation in that area?

Thank you,

Allisa Linfield
Horticulture Program Coordinator
CSU Extension El Paso County

Hello Allisa,

Sorry about the delay, I thought I would be receiving a regular email in response to my question. To answer yours, it is sloped at about 20% and most gets full sun. We don't want a turf look at all. There are a lot of native grasses growing throughout the property and we want it blend in, although we would probably be mowing it once a year because it's right near the house. We have three 25' long straw wattles staggered down the hill to help with water mitigation. We don't want anything that gets super tall, probably between one to at the very tallest, three feet.

Thanks for getting back with us.

Linda Duggins

Hi Linda and Steve,

I apologize for the delay in my response! 

What may be useful is to identify the grasses you have on the periphery that you want the planted grasses to blend with. You are welcome to send photos or bring samples into our El Paso County office if you would like us to help identify those grasses. We are located at 17 N. Spruce St., Col. Springs, CO 80905 and our help desk will be open Mondays and Wednesdays 9-12 and 1-4 through mid October.

As you are considering grass seed options, decide if you would like cool or warm season grasses. It sounds like the grasses you may have seeded with were cool season grasses. They green up early and can go dormant in the heat of summer. They may return with cooler temperatures or you may see them green up again in the spring.

Of the species you listed, Western wheatgrass, Arizona fescue, and June grass are cool season grasses. Mountain muhly and blue grama are warm season. For the best success, I would not mix your cool and warm season grasses. Another warm season grass you may want to consider is little bluestem, which has beautiful seed heads and stems that turn reddish in fall. It will grow 1-2 feet tall. 

Given your description of the area you want to seed and that you've already had issues with seed grasses dying or going dormant in the heat, you may want to lean towards the warm season grasses.

Feel free to send photos if you need assistance with identify the grasses that are already there. If you have more questions, you can reopen this question.

Best,

Allisa Linfield
Horticulture Program Coordinator
CSU Extension El Paso County