Native grass seed for Colorado and the Western Slope

Native grasses are adapted to Colorado's dry, high-elevation conditions, so once established they need far less water and care than traditional turf. They root deeply, which helps them handle drought, hold soil on slopes and recover from heat. Most native stands also need very little mowing, and many support pollinators and local wildlife.

What that means for your site:

• Low water use once established, a real advantage during watering restrictions
• Erosion control on slopes and disturbed ground through deep, fibrous roots
• Low maintenance, with little to no mowing on most native stands
• Pollinator and wildlife habitat from the flowering natives in the mixes

Native grass seed mixes for the Western Slope

Our native grass seed mixes are blended for Western Slope conditions, so you are not buying a generic national blend that struggles at elevation. Choose the mix that matches how you plan to use the space.

Native Low Grow Seed Mix

If you want a native lawn that stays short, the Native Low Grow Seed Mix is a low grow grass seed option that gives you a softer, shorter stand with far less mowing than turf. It suits home lawns, open areas and low-traffic spaces where you want green cover without weekly upkeep.

Native Perennial Mix

The Native Perennial Mix leans toward taller grasses and perennials for meadows, borders and natural areas. It is a good fit when you want habitat and seasonal color rather than a manicured lawn.

Looking for something different? A traditional cool-season lawn starts with turf grass seed, and for pure color you can add wildflower seed.

Native grass seed for erosion control and disturbed ground

For slopes, reclamation sites and disturbed ground, erosion control grass seed is the fastest way to lock soil in place. Native grasses send down deep, fibrous roots that bind the surface and hold up through wind, runoff and dry spells, which makes them a common choice for reclamation, roadsides, pasture repair and construction cleanup.

On steeper or bare areas, pair your seed with an erosion control blanket to keep seed and soil in place while roots take hold. For larger acreage, hydroseeding spreads seed, mulch and tackifier in one pass. For grazing and field repair, see our farm and pasture seed.

How much native grass seed you need

Native grass seeding rates are given in pounds per acre, and they vary by mix and goal. A native lawn or low-grow stand is usually seeded heavier for quicker cover, while a reclamation or meadow planting on open ground often goes down lighter. Because rates differ, check the seeding rate on each product page before you order.

Measure your site first. Multiply length by width to get square footage, and for larger jobs divide total square feet by 43,560 to get acres. Ordering about 5 to 10 percent extra covers edges, slopes and thin spots.

When and how to plant native grass seed in Colorado

The two best windows for planting native grass seed in Colorado are fall and early spring. Fall dormant seeding, where you sow before the ground freezes and let the seed overwinter, works well on the Western Slope because winter moisture and the freeze-thaw cycle settle seed into the soil for spring germination. Early spring, once the soil can be worked, is the other reliable window.

Native grasses establish more slowly than bluegrass, so patience matters. Good seed-to-soil contact is the biggest factor: rake the seed in lightly, firm the surface, and keep bare slopes covered so seed does not wash or blow away. For a month-by-month Colorado timing guide, see our fall lawn care schedule.