Drought and establishing native grass
Even under current Stage 1 drought conditions, we continue to support and encourage native grass projects. Establishing native grass requires less total water over the course of the first irrigation season than maintaining established Kentucky bluegrass. However, successful establishment does require more frequent watering than is typically permitted under current restrictions.
Customers planning to seed native grass must submit a watering exemption request to allow for the temporary increased irrigation needed during the establishment phase.
We recommend planting this seed mix when soil temperatures are consistently above 65°F through establishment — typically between June 1 and July 31. With warmer conditions this year, planting earlier may be possible.
For best results, refer to the Colorado State University Climate Center soil temperature map to confirm that soil temperatures remain above 65°F.
Native and water-wise grasses are a valuable landscaping option for Colorado communities because they use less water than traditional bluegrass lawns, attract pollinators, and require less input and maintenance needs. While native and water-wise grasses require time and energy to establish, they result in low-maintenance attractive landscapes that are integral to our sustainable future.
When in stock, Denver Water is excited to offer customers a FREE bag of native grass seed to help transform landscapes throughout the city! The seed is a mix of Sundancer buffalograss and Alma blue grama.
Limit one bag per household. Seed requests are approved only for addresses within Denver Water’s service area and for projects that receive at least 6–8 hours of sunlight daily. The recommended planting window for warm-season grasses is June 1 through July 31.
Follow the establishment information below to successfully install your grass seed. Email us if you have questions.
Due to overwhelming demand, our water-wise grass seed is currently out of stock. Join the waitlist to be notified when more becomes available.
Program Participant Photos
Water-wise grass during the germination phase
Established customer projects
Instructions for planting your seed
First, it’s important to pick the right spot. This mixture of Sundance buffalograss and Alma blue grama needs at least six hours of full sun to thrive. The grass is not suitable in shady areas or under tree canopy. Additionally, you will want to remove the bluegrass that is already in your chosen location or clear it of rock and other material before planting the water-wise grass seed mix.
Before planting, check with your local land use authority (municipality, county, HOA, etc.) about the need for a permit to establish your native grass seed. Some land use authorities may require a permit or variance to use more water to establish seed.
Native grass will germinate and root best if planted between June 1 and July 31, when the soil temperature is warm. Seeding too late in the year may result in small seedlings that are likely to be killed in the winter.
Remove weeds regularly during establishment to give seedlings the best chance for success.
Follow Resource Central’s tips on successfully removing turfgrass.
There are a few different approaches to removing existing bluegrass:
- Sod cutter — This method is the quickest but may not prevent 100% of the bluegrass from growing back. Don’t panic if some of the bluegrass starts to grow back with your new grass mix. The native grass will eventually take over the bluegrass.
- Here is a great video of this process from our partners at Resource Central.
- Chemical herbicide — If you choose to kill your lawn with chemicals, use a non-selective herbicide, ALWAYS follow label instructions and protect yourself with personal protective equipment. We recommend following these instructions on lawn renovation from CSU Extension.
- “Lasagna method” — Layer cardboard and mulch over the grass to block sunlight and encourage decomposition. This is not a quick option and requires planning ahead as it will take a couple of months to kill your existing bluegrass. If you are planning to plant your seed this year, this may not be the best method.
- Solarization — Cover the lawn in plastic to kill it off. Like the lasagna method, this will take time and requires planning.
Soil testing — Water-wise grasses usually do not require soil amendments, but getting a soil test is never a bad idea. If your soil’s organic matter is below 1%-2%, soil amendments should be considered.
You can get a soil test through CSU Extension’s Soil Testing lab.
You will need to decide if your soil should be tilled, aerated or left as-is prior to seeding your water-wise grass lawn. If your soil is heavily compacted, tilling or aeration is recommended.
Pro tip: Tilling improves airflow in the soil, but it also promotes weed growth if there are weed seeds lying dormant in the top layers of your soil. Some people choose to avoid tilling because of this. We recommend using an aerator to avoid weed growth unless your soil is extremely compacted.
- Scatter the seeds by hand evenly over the area you’ve chosen and prepared. Then, rake them into the soil.
- The unusual size and shape of this water-wise grass seed makes it difficult for the seeds to pass through a traditional seeder. Spreading the seed by hand is more effective.
- The seeding rate for this mix is 3 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Your bag of seed mix from Denver Water is 1.5 pounds and should be sufficient for a 500-square-foot area.
- Once you have spread the seeds evenly over the area, rake them to help the seeds settle into the soil for optimal growth.
- Fence off the newly planted area. Do not allow humans or pets to walk on seeded area through germination.
See the chart below for suggested watering times and frequency for the seeds and seedlings. After your seed is spread and raked in, water it consistently and evenly, two-to-three times per day for the first two weeks. The surface should be saturated, but the water should not pool or run off. Make sure the soil stays consistently moist to encourage the seeds to germinate. After germination, water once a day.
The grasses’ irrigation needs will gradually taper off over the first few months after planting. In general, water frequently and in short cycles during the first two weeks. After that, gradually increase the length of time for each watering cycle while decreasing how often you water.
Make sure your trees get enough water. Trees located in native grass areas may need a separate irrigation system.
KEEP FOOT TRAFFIC TO A MINIMUM DURING THIS PERIOD.
Consider swapping out your sprinkler heads for taller versions at least 6 inches tall to accommodate the new height potential of your native grasses.
Please reference the detailed watering guide below from the Native Grass Manual:
| Weeks after seeding | Application Rate per Watering Cycle | Frequency | ||||
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| 0-2 | 0.1 inches | Two to three times per day | 4 | 9 | 12 | Keep soil surface consistently moist but avoid runoff and puddling |
| 3-4 | 0.2 inches | Once per day | 8 | 18 | 24 | Moisten soil daily to prevent new seedlings from dehydrating |
| 5-6 | 0.3 inches | Every other day | 12 | 27 | 36 | Allow soil surface to dry out between waterings but maintain consistent moisture farther down. |
| 7-8 | 0.3 inches | Three times per week | 12 | 27 | 36 | Top inch of soil can dry out between waterings. Moisture in soil profile will encourage healthy roots. |
| 9-12 | 0.5 inches | Twice per week | 20 | 45 | 60 | As seedlings grow longer roots they can gradually be watered less often. |
| 13-16 | 0.5 inches | Once per week | 20 | 45 | 60 | Water regularly to encourage health of new seedlings. |
| Year 2 and beyond | 0.5 inches | Once per month or as needed | 20 | 45 | 60 | Schedule water to achieve project goals and desired grass appearance. |
This part takes patience and imagination. You are literally watching grass grow! If you start to notice bare spots and want to speed up the process a bit, add fertilizer to boost growth. You can apply a natural organic or slow-release synthetic fertilizer at seeding if you want to get a head start.
Weed control:
It will be important to keep an eye out for weeds as your grasses establish. You can do this manually by pulling weeds or by responsibly applying chemicals if you choose. If you go the chemical route, you must remember that herbicides meant for cool season Kentucky bluegrass are not appropriate for your native grass. For instance, you should NOT use any pre-emergent herbicides on your new lawn.
Reseeding:
If you notice bare spots after your grass begins to establish, you can reseed in the bare patches to fill in. Follow the steps above.
Q: Can I plant my water-wise grass with wildflower seeds?
A: If broadleaf herbicides are not broadcast across the site, wildflowers can be planted with seed mix for more ecological value.
Q: Will the water-wise grass take over my mulch beds?
A: Some native or water-wise grasses can spread depending on their growth habits. Use edging to separate out mulch beds from the native grass area. Kentucky bluegrass can easily come back and spread if not entirely removed from the water-wise grass project area prior to planting.
Q: Do I need to mow my water-wise grass? If so, to what height?
A: Depending on the type of desired look, you may choose whether or not to mow your native grass. Buffalograss is shorter than traditional turfgrasses, while other native grasses are typically higher and prefer infrequent mowing. Mow native grasses no shorter than 6 inches if possible. Please check with your homeowners association or local land use authority to verify local requirements for mow height to ensure compliance.
Q: Will my water-wise grass landscape look similar to my previous Kentucky bluegrass lawn?
A: Native and water-wise grasses can look different from Kentucky bluegrass due to their leaf color, active growth season, seedheads, height and uniformity. Water-wise grass projects can be managed to look more uniform; please read through the Colorado Native Grass Guide for more information.
Q: Can I plant my water-wise grass project in phases?
A: Yes, if planting in phases is a practical approach for your project. Denver Water is providing you with enough low-water-use grass for 500 square-feet of landscaping; be sure to measure the correct amount of grass needed for each phase.
Q: Can I plant native grass seed among my existing Kentucky bluegrass lawn?
A: No, we do not recommend doing this. It is best to start with a blank slate by killing or physically removing your Kentucky bluegrass. Seedlings cannot outcompete existing grasses as they are trying to establish. For the most successful conversion, follow instructions that came with your native grass seed and remove or kill your existing weeds and grass.
Q: Where can I find more of this seed mix?
A: Denver Water purchases our seed mix (Sundancer buffalograss and Alma blue grama) from Western Native Seed. If you would like to purchase more of our seed mix for your project, please visit the Western Native Seed website.