Warm Season Native Grass Seed Mix, With Wildflower Seed Mix To Replace Existing Lawn - Ask Extension
Hi...I am replacing my existing yard with a warm season native grass seed mix in late May to early June. I am seeking to use a mix of Buffalo Grass, ...
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Warm Season Native Grass Seed Mix, With Wildflower Seed Mix To Replace Existing Lawn #868326
Asked May 14, 2024, 2:08 AM EDT
Hi...I am replacing my existing yard with a warm season native grass seed mix in late May to early June. I am seeking to use a mix of Buffalo Grass, Blue Grama, Sideoats Grama, Little Bluestem, and a Wildflower seed mix. My question is what is the highest percentage of Buffalo Grass that would be recommended for this mix? I would like the Buffalo grass to act to fill in the bare areas, but am also concerned that if I plant too high a percentage I could potentially crowd out the other grasses and wildflowers. What would be a recommended seed mix with a percentage for each provided, including the Wildflower seeds? What range of seed mix, in pounds, should I use for 1000 sf, if I broadcast seed? I will have rototilled what is left of my old grass to a depth of 4", and removed what remains of my dead grass which has received two applications of Roundup this Spring. Finally, what Wildflower seed mix would you recommend of the two mixes shown in the attached images? I'm looking for the mix that would have the same drought tolerance as the grass seed mix identified above. Also, I live in Boulder County, east of Boulder.
Thank you very much for your help
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello,
Our apologies for the slow response. Many of our emails inadvertently went into the junk file and we've just now discovered them.
You've got a wonderful project underway and have already done a great job preparing the area. I'll try to answer your questions.
Here's a great reference for you: https://planttalk.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Native-Lawn-Establishment.pdf
Buffalo grass and the other grasses you mentioned will grow to be 12"-36" high. While it looks like your two choices of wildflowers will grow 24" - 36" (Pioneer) or 48" (Bit 'O Prairie). It sounds like an aesthetic question...either would work well.
The mixture of grasses is intended for meadows and each of the seed mixtures you're considering are xeric so either should do well together.
The mixture would work best with the wildflower seeds being the higher percentage, but none of the grasses in the mix you're using are considered aggressive grasses. Be sure to mix the seeds together well before broadcasting to get the best results and avoid crowding out.
When you purchase each of your seed mixtures, I'd ask the company what they recommend regarding the amounts to use together, but what I've seen most often is about a pound per 1000 square feet. Generally the amount may vary as the wildflowers have a mix of fast and slow growing seeds. I'd caution against overseeding so that the fast growing seeds don't overpower the slower ones.
Hope this is helpful, but please let us know if you have more questions.
Our apologies for the slow response. Many of our emails inadvertently went into the junk file and we've just now discovered them.
You've got a wonderful project underway and have already done a great job preparing the area. I'll try to answer your questions.
Here's a great reference for you: https://planttalk.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Native-Lawn-Establishment.pdf
Buffalo grass and the other grasses you mentioned will grow to be 12"-36" high. While it looks like your two choices of wildflowers will grow 24" - 36" (Pioneer) or 48" (Bit 'O Prairie). It sounds like an aesthetic question...either would work well.
The mixture of grasses is intended for meadows and each of the seed mixtures you're considering are xeric so either should do well together.
The mixture would work best with the wildflower seeds being the higher percentage, but none of the grasses in the mix you're using are considered aggressive grasses. Be sure to mix the seeds together well before broadcasting to get the best results and avoid crowding out.
When you purchase each of your seed mixtures, I'd ask the company what they recommend regarding the amounts to use together, but what I've seen most often is about a pound per 1000 square feet. Generally the amount may vary as the wildflowers have a mix of fast and slow growing seeds. I'd caution against overseeding so that the fast growing seeds don't overpower the slower ones.
Hope this is helpful, but please let us know if you have more questions.
