Native Grasses

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One of the things that makes Colorado a uniquely attractive residential destination, is the beauty of its native landscapes.  Most of our metropolitan areas are considered a zone 5 high mountain prairie, where certain plants and landscape features will grow much better than others, like the native grasslands that can be found in undeveloped areas.
Native grasses are used both to create a microcosm of Colorado’s beauty in our communities and conserve a precious natural resource – water.  Due to the vastness of the Southshore landscape, native grasses are used in areas where other turf species are not practical, because of their maintenance requirements and water consumption needs.  Like other landscape features, native grasses must be cared for properly to promote their growth, health, and appearance.
The advantage of utilizing native grasses in Southshore is that with a little help, they will grow in Colorado’s unique conditions. The most important aspect of developing and nurturing native is the maintenance program that follows the seeding and development stage.  Many people look at a newly seeded native area and see an unkempt landscape. In reality, what you are seeing is an early stage of native grass development. These grasses are not meant to be watered or cut regularly, like bluegrass. They need to be allowed to progress and spread naturally, using strategic mowing, weeding and irrigation. Their proper maintenance is all about timing.

Time to establish: 3 to 7 years

After seeding and germination have occurred, bare spots are expected in the native grass. Native grass takes approximately 3-7 years to fill in. This process occurs by avoiding mowing the native grass until after it has dropped its seed into the bare spots.

Do not cut native grasses before they go to seed

Native grasses germinate and develop when the soil is cooler, in the spring and fall. To “go to seed” these grasses must grow seed heads and spread.  Often this is weather dependent, but usually this process occurs through April, May and early June, and again in late September, October and into November.  This means no mowing during the spring and fall when this process occurs. Generally, native areas are moved once or twice during the season, between June and October.  Occasionally, a smaller area will be mowed to perform seeding or other treatment. Our landscape professionals determine when specific areas should be mowed. Long term, the native grass will be mowed as infrequently as once per year.

‘Beauty band’ mowing

Southshore's maintenance policy to mow ‘beauty bands’ along common fences. This is done to manage wildlife, ensure access for fence or landscape maintenance and to provide a neat appearance. The band is one mower width (approximately 4 feet). When mowing occurs, all vegetation along the fence will be cut. This includes any flowers or plants that were installed by homeowners in the common area. Homeowners are not allowed to plant anything in the common areas.

Spray for weeds before mowing

Like mowing, there is also a proper time to weed, based on stage of development. Newer, or less full, native areas should never have pre-emergent (preventative herbicide applications to keep weeds that have not yet become visible from proliferating) applications performed.  These treatments can kill native grasses, preventing growth and germination. Instead applications of post-emergent (controlling weeds that have already surfaced) weed control, 2-3 weeks before mowing, are best.

For newly seeded areas, and those that are still developing, less weed control is required. Unfortunately, this means that undesirable weeds will be present, and will have to be accepted while the native grass develops.  Spot spraying of native weeds can be performed at this time, which targets weeds, and reduces the risk to desirable native.  As native areas develop and improve, additional post-emergent applications can be performed. Generally this means two applications per year, again, performed in conjunction with mowing.
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Older, full, established native can be treated with well-timed pre-emergent applications in the late spring, and can be coupled with a post emergent application in the mid to late summer.

Irrigation is temporary

As with any plant or turf, appropriate irrigation and soil conditions conducive to plant establishment will improve their success.  Adding amended soil when developing new native will significantly increase success, and watering at this stage is also important.  Once native areas are established, watering can be reduced, and in many cases, eliminated.  This can take 3 to 7 years, but once established the native will thrive on natural precipitation, and the cost of irrigating it, eliminated.

By treating native delicately and understanding what is needed for it to develop and thrive, communities throughout Colorado have enjoyed the tremendous beauty that was intended for them.  Few will dispute the impressive appearance that well-established native grasses display on a breezy day.  Like many things, patience is key, and gaining the commitment of the community to follow a well-defined maintenance program will offer the results that lead to an enjoyable open space filled with native grasses.