Knowledgebase
Growing Grass in Oak Creek #864918
Asked April 17, 2024, 5:50 PM EDT
Hi there!
I live in Oak Creek Colorado (elevation 7600'). I still have two feet of snow in the yard but some ground patches are starting to show up and I want to be prepared to help my lawn be as healthy and lush as possible. What grass seed would you recommend. The yard is in two sections: one with heavier sun exposure south/west facing and the other is east facing with the southern side blocked by tree so higher shade there and also higher trafficked.
A little extra info:
Two years ago we had the yard releveled to help with some drainage away from the house and since then I've been trying to grow grass in the yard. Before hand the previous owner didn't do the best maintenance and eventually I'd like to develop a healthy lawn. Last year I tried multiple grasses (tall fescue, fine leaf fescue, buffalo grass, clover, Kentucky Blue) and had some success even though I started later in the year but it was still pretty spotchy and there was still some weeds. This year I've got the automated lawn system in place (oto Lawn so I can customize it somewhat) and I'm still waiting for the snow to melt before I seed.
Advice I've gotten from others is to use buffalo grass but something I saw on the CSU extension that does not recommend warm-season grasses which would contradict that. I'm willing to try a few different things but not trying to break the bank either.
If you have any recommendations or advice I'd greatly appreciate it!
Thanks!
Kevin
Routt County Colorado
Expert Response
Great information! You've made it easy to understand your situation and make a recommendation.
First, do NOT use buffalograss in our area- as a warm season grass, it would only be green for a few weeks in late July to early August. As warm as our summers can be, it takes us a long time to accumulate enough heat to get buffalograss to grow; cool-season grasses are definitely what will do best here.
I recommend a mix of 'improved' Kentucky Bluegrass and fine fescues. Chewings and Sheep fescues seem to do well here but note that they are a bunch grass and not a sod-former, so their density may be a bit less than you'd like. By mixing the two seeds, you hedge your bets, too, and will find that the grass itself may 'choose' which of these variable areas in yard which will do the best.
Note that cool-season grasses like these will brown in the middle of summer if not watered regularly by nature or by irrigation. This does NOT mean the grass is dying; it is simply going into dormancy for the hottest part of summer and will green up again when temperatures fall. Keeping it green is a choice you (and your wallet) will have to make.
Dr. Tony Koski, our Extension Turf Specialist, has a great piece he's written that gives the pros and cons of the common lawn types we can use in Colorado. Of course, Colorado has exceptionally variable weather and temps as you go across the state, so you'll note that he mentions what is a good cool-season choice vs. what is a good warm-season choice. You can see that information here: https://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/Gardennotes/561.pdf
One last thing about seeding, too: the old adage on seeding is "The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, the third year it leaps." Note that you might find you have a better lawn this spring after it warms up than you think you will. That is assuming, of course, that voles and pocket gophers haven't had a hay day under the snow this past winter!
Let me know if you have any other questions. You can email me directly at <personal data hidden> or stop by the office at 136 6th Street in Steamboat Springs.
Have a good weekend-
Todd
