If weeds had overtaken your lawn, you may wish to do this twice. Once the weeds have sprouted, then either use solarisation, cardboard sheet mulching, or a hoe to kill the weeds (these methods are also great for removing an existing lawn). When starting a new lawn, water the bare soil to germinate the weed seeds. It’s especially competitive when mixed with Buffalograss.īut like all grasses, Blue Grama is vulnerable to weeds when getting established. So long as you don’t overfertilize or overwater, you may not have to deal with weeds at all. WeedingĮven though Blue Grama is not a highly rhizomatous species, it forms a thick sod that does really well against weeds because it can thrive on low nitrogen and little water. The taller you keep Blue Grama, the less water it will need as the length shades the soil. Left to grow on its own, it’ll grow to 6 to 20 inches tall and is a beautiful grass to behold, including the seed heads. As Blue Grama is a slow-growing grass, you’ll only need to mow once or twice a year. If you mow, cut it to between 3 to 4 inches. Even if you plan to let it grow natural, mowing it a few times when it’s getting established (starting 2 months after planting) will help it thicken up. Mowingīlue Grama works both as a manicured lawn or left to grow to its natural state for a prairie/meadow lawn. Two months after germination, mow your lawn to encourage it to grow thicker. After that, continue to reduce the frequency of watering. Once germinated, water deeper (2 inches of soil should be damp, but not muddy) once a day for up to 10 days. Applying a shallow ground cover will help keep the soil moist for longer. Water shallowly (1 inch of soil should be damp) while the seed is germinated. During germination and establishment, you may need to water mow frequently. Apply 3 – 4 lbs of seed per 1,000 square feet.īlue Grama germinates fast in only 7 to 10 days, but it takes much longer to get established. How To Grow Blue Grama? Seeding/OverseedingĪs a warm-season grass, seeding is best done in the late spring or summer when nighttime temperatures only go down to 60F, up until 6 weeks before the first frost date. Mow once or twice a year or leave it to grow long. Grow well at high elevations, up to 7,500 feet. Prone to weeds if excessively irrigated or fertilized. Grows in a variety of well-drained and nutrient-poor soils requires little fertilizer.Īt its northern range, it’ll turn green for only a short time.Ĭan grow either by itself or paired with Buffalo Grass and/or native wildflowers for an even more eco-friendly lawn. It’s a very niche turfgrass and it may be difficult to find seed locally. Without water, it can survive weeks by going dormant and recover quickly. Pros and Cons of Blue Grama ProsĮxcellent drought hardiness. This grass can also be found at elevations reaching 7000 feet, far above the limits of other warm-season grasses. It also makes for a great erosion-control grass on slopes, where you can allow it to grow without mowing. Otherwise, it’s bunch-forming and does well mixed with Buffalo Grass and native wildflowers. When it gets enough water, it grows into a thick sod that works by itself. Unlike other drought-hardy grasses, Blue Grama has shallow roots with short rhizomes that form a sod. In its more southern range, it stays green from May to October. At its northern range, that means that Blue Grama will only be green for a short time (a turfgrass like Crested Wheatgrass, Fescue, or Perennial Ryegrass may be better suited to your needs). It’s a warm-season grass, staying green during the hottest parts of the year while going dormant during the coolest. You can even let it grow to its natural length or mow it a couple times a year for a manicured look. Like Buffalo Grass, it thrives in nutrient-poor and water scarce regions, and even when irrigated, still takes less than a ⅓ of the water that Kentucky Bluegrass needs. May only need to mow 2 or 3 times a year.Įxcellent resistance to drought, freezing/cold, and nutrient-poor soils.īlue Grama grass is the most common native prairie grass in North America and it’s starting to gain favor as a drought-hardy, low maintenance, and attractive turfgrass. Mow to 3 to 4 inches or leave natural (6 to 20 inches). Requires ⅓ the water that Kentucky Bluegrass does. What Is Blue Grama ( Bouteloua gracilis)? Genusĭoesn’t grow well in purely sandy or heavy clay soils. Is Blue Grama Grass Native To Colorado?.What Is Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)?.
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