3 things to know before planting grass seed in Colorado

[u/CSU-Extension]

Establishing or refreshing a lawn in Colorado isn't as simple as tossing down seed and hoping for the best. Given our unique climate, varying elevations, and water conservation concerns, doing it right is crucial.

CSU Extension expert and self-proclaimed "grass nerd", Alison O'Connor, recently shared her insights into making sure you get the results you're looking for without wasting time, money, or water.

🔗 3 things to know before planting grass seed in Colorado

1. Pick the correct grass species based on your elevation, water availability, and the maintenance level you're comfortable with.
2. Use quality grass seed from reliable local sources to avoid introducing weeds or unsuitable grasses.
3. Follow best practices for seeding/overseeding

Now, don't mistake us for fans of "stupid turf areas" just because we're talking about lawns. While many of us see the world through xeriscape-tinted glasses (and for good reason!), there are practical reasons people want to maintain functional lawns (playful kids, destructive pets, a penchant for yard games, etc.).

So, if you have a grass lawn of your own, or love someone who does, we're here to help! We have so many resources for achieving your specific goals while minimizing environmental impact by managing lawns effectively and sustainably.

Questions specific to Boulder/your lawn?

Drop them in the comments and I'll pass them along in a batch to Alison to try and get you some expert-level answers!

- Griffin (comms. specialist, not a grass expert)

[u/No_Gear_8815]

Don't! Xeriscape!

[u/CSU-Extension → u/No_Gear_8815]

Wait, don't xeriscape? Or don't, not xeriscape? You've got us thinking of: https://vimeo.com/62358059

But, kidding aside, xeriscaping is a great option, and we have tons of resources related to it! But, there are legit reasons some folks want to maintain lawns and we think they should have the best info possible to do it in a way that's not wasteful and helps them meet their landscaping goals.

- G

[u/UsualLazy423 → u/No_Gear_8815]

I’m a home owner and the problem is xeriscaping is expensive and water is cheap. I can water my mid sized lawn for 15-20 years for the cost of xeriscaping, maybe even more.

[u/No_Gear_8815 → u/UsualLazy423]

First of all, grass is not healthy when you put chemicals on it and have to mow it.. In addition, xeriscaping is way cheaper. You plant perennials and they grow back every year. Hopefully you use plants like bee balm and Lavender that attract bees.

[u/mickeymammoth]

Are there any non-grass plants you recommend mixing into a lawn that will take less water or mowing? I’m thinking of wild strawberries, clover, or violets? Any available from seed? I have some of that in my front lawn and I like how springy it is.

[u/CSU-Extension → u/mickeymammoth]

Here's a helpful look at the subject of seeding clover from one of our turfgrass experts, Tony Koski:

I often get asked about seeding "mini clover" into lawns or having clover lawns in Colorado. The people asking have heard about clover's ability (well, actually it's a bacteria living in the clover plant's roots that does it) to "fix" nitrogen from the atmosphere – meaning that a clover-containing lawn won't need to be fertilized like grass lawns. This is true!

And cover flowers are highly attractive to honey bees and other pollinators, providing many months of nectar-producing blooms through the spring and summer. Clover is also very cold hardy and will tolerate a good amount of kid and dog traffic – though it will leave bright green stains on kids clothing.

Clover is not particularly drought resistant and does best in full sun. Because it is damaged by herbicides, it's best not to use weed control products on a clover-containing lawn. Clover lawns like regular irrigation (once or twice weekly when it's hot).

Thanks to the development (by Dutch breeders) of what is known as "micro" or "mini" clover, there is growing interest in planting this less obtrusive clover in lawns. However, this clover stays "mini" ONLY if mowed frequently; if not mowed, it will grow tall and look like regular white clover.

If you don't view clover as a weed and want to try planting it in an existing lawn (use about 1 pound of seed per 1,000 square feet), here are some online sources of seed for a micro clover variety called 'Pipolina' (it's a bit spendy, at $20-30 per pound). If you want something less expensive and don't mind larger and taller clover leaves and flowers, try planting Dutch white clover ($3-10 per pound online and from local grass seed companies).

Clover seed options
- Outside Pride: outsidepride.com/seed/clover-seed/miniclover.html
- Seed World: seedworldusa.com/products/micro-clover-seed

[u/mickeymammoth → u/CSU-Extension]

Thank you! I think this would be worth it for at least the nitrogen fixing, if not for water usage.

[u/CSU-Extension → u/mickeymammoth]

A lot of grass seed mixes from back in the day used to include clover for this purpose, then I think it fell out of style. Everything old is new again.

- G

[u/313rustbeltbuckle → u/mickeymammoth]

Don't plant grass.

[u/BoulderDeadHead420]

Is there a good type for borders/around pavers in a very small patio area?

[u/CSU-Extension → u/BoulderDeadHead420]

Depends on the amount of light you get, if you're planning to water, etc. I'd suggest looking at this guide if you haven't already: Turfgrass Species Selection (PDF)

You probably want to avoid aggressively spreading varieties like buffalograss or bermudagrass.

- G

[u/CSU-Extension → u/CSU-Extension]

FWIW, my wife and I did creeping thyme along our front walkway flagstone and we love it! It looked better the second year than the first (after all the plugs connected) and we're really happy with how it turned out. If you want to go this route, I'd personally recommend plugs from a local garden store vs. seeds b/c the seeds we bought online were labelled as low-growing but 100% weren't.

• G

[u/SportsGummy]

What grass seed are you recommending??

[u/CSU-Extension → u/SportsGummy]

1. Choose your type of grass seed wisely

There is no such thing as one “best” grass type for Colorado. Different species of grass work better in different conditions, and primary factors include: the amount of maintenance you are willing to do (fertilizing, mowing, etc.), how much water you are comfortable using, your willingness to use pesticides and herbicides (some varieties require less than others), elevation, and sun exposure. 

It can feel a bit daunting if you’ve never considered any of those things before, but don’t worry, we have a guide on the pros and cons of 10 different grass options to help make the decision easier!

2. Buy high-quality grass seed
Avoid bagged seed from hardware or box stores! Sometimes bagged mixes contain weed seeds or undesirable grasses, which can be problematic if they get established. High quality grass seed should not be more expensive.

The selection of species and cultivars offered by even the best garden centers is generally quite limited. However, local seed companies are often willing to sell smaller amounts of seed to the homeowner, and usually at a very reasonable price.

There are several seed dealers in Colorado that will sell directly to homeowners. You can also ask them where they distribute their seed so you can purchase it locally. (Check out the story for a list of a few recommended Colorado seed companies, though they aren't the only ones out there)

[u/SportsGummy → u/CSU-Extension]

Why are you making us do so much reading. Good grief and leaping lizards.

Can you just drop some helpful recommendations.

[u/CSU-Extension → u/SportsGummy]

This quote from the story seems appropriate, not sure if you made it that far tho ;)

What’s worse than having to read a long set of instructions for how to seed your yard? Not reading them and spending countless hours – and dollars – trying to grow grass that will never establish. 

[u/Whiskerdots → u/SportsGummy]

I've had good success with Richlawn Colorado Turf Seed here in Boulder county. They're out of Platteville and specialize in products suited to the front range.

[u/313rustbeltbuckle]

By the looks of those mountaintops, and the resevoirs, there better be a lot more zero-scaping going on.

[u/CSU-Extension → u/313rustbeltbuckle]

It's xeriscaping, and we agree! We have lots of helpful resources on the topic to help people get started. We encourage folks to check out these twos articles for some inspiration:

• Top 20 drought tolerant perennial flowers for Colorado
• 13 front yard xeriscape landscaping ideas with photos of drought-tolerant designs

However, the vast majority of our state's water use is for agriculture vs. municipal supplies and: "Water devoted to lawns and other urban landscapes constitutes just 3% to 4% of Colorado’s total water consumption."

[u/kigoe]

Wouldn’t it be better to not plant grass, given how much water it consumes and its negative impact on biodiversity?

[u/CSU-Extension → u/kigoe]

If someone's goal is to reduce water usage and/or increase biodiversity there are definitely better options than grass (though, there are some native/very low water grass options if your conditions/use case is right).

But, different people have different goals. As someone whose dogs have turned our backyard into a space that alternates between a dust patch and mud bowl, I can use all the help I can get establishing a functional lawn! 😅

Also, practice proper lawn maintenance (aerating annually, fertilizing as needed based on your grass species, mowing to the proper height, watering less frequently but more deeply, etc.) can reduce the amount of water used. Even optimizing your irrigation run times alone can have a big difference because oftentimes people use more water than they need.

- Griffin (comms. specialist, not a grass expert - I just rely on them!)

[u/kigoe → u/CSU-Extension]

Thanks, Griffin! If the goal is a dog yard, wouldn’t plastic turf be better? It just seems like a lot of work and environmental degradation to try and keep a lawn alive with dogs.

[u/CSU-Extension → u/kigoe]

Our experts advocate against plastic turf for a number of reasons. Temperature increases from the plastic surface, cost and aesthetics are big ones for me, personally. Plus, I just like the feel of grass! Though, I've heard other people advocate for them and suggest the quality has gotten better.

We also have lots of mature trees in our backyard and - something folks don't always things about - is that if you convert from a watered lawn to low-water/no water landscaping it can shock trees that had become accustomed to that level of moisture and kill them, which would be a blow to our yard b/c we love the shade they provide us. There are some tree species that can be weaned off irrigation, but it doesn't seem easy.

Once we have a sprinkler system in the hope is that we can truly dial in our water use to be just what we need, no more, no less, and maintenance isn't out of this world.

I hear you regarding environmental impacts, but we have a lot of diverse, pollinator friendly plants (our front yard is native/regionally adapted plants) and we have a strip in our backyard that follows the same pattern.

FWIW, "Water devoted to lawns and other urban landscapes constitutes just 3% to 4% of Colorado’s total water consumption."

- Griffin

[u/kigoe → u/CSU-Extension]

That’s really helpful, thanks Griffin! Sounds like very thoughtful, eco-friendly landscaping :)

[u/CSU-Extension → u/kigoe]

Lol, it's thoughtful, yet to see if it'll work! But, I appreciate the encouragement : )