Hi Jim,

Yes, there are some drought tolerant turfs that perform well here in Colorado. When choosing turf, think about your specific needs such as how much traffic your lawn gets, is it mostly in the sun or shade, do you need something that holds up to pet activity, and is having a traditional looking lawn important to you? Below I have provided different options that will help you choose a turf suited to your needs.

Denver water has some great resources about drought tolerant turf. You can check out pgs. 8-10 of this resource to compare different types of grasses and their water needs. You’ll notice that Buffalograss and Blue grama grass both require less water than typical Bluegrass. While these native options are more drought tolerant, they won’t perform exactly the same as a bluegrass lawn. They green up later in the spring, aren’t great in the shade, and don’t tolerate a lot of foot traffic.

Pages 16-17 of this resource from coloradonativegrass.org also have great comparisons of different grass options. You’ll be able to see which varieties are best suited to your specific situation.

Bermuda grass is currently being experimented with in Colorado as low water alternative to bluegrass. A variety of Bermuda grass called Tahoma 31 is considered the best option. Bermuda grass can provide that more “traditional” green lawn look.

Dog Tuff grass is another low-water option that was developed right here in Colorado and stands up to pets and heavy traffic.

Keep in mind that whatever option you choose, you will still need to give your lawn plenty of water while the grass is getting established. Most seeds or plugs will need to stay moist in the first couple weeks which means watering 2-3 times daily. Some of the native options may take a long time to get established, need to be planted in the fall, and won’t give you that “green carpet” look until late next spring. Also, the native/drought tolerant options are usually put in as plugs, not seed, so you won’t have a carpet of grass right away.

There are also hybrids of Texas and Kentucky bluegrass that are more drought tolerant that regular bluegrass. This article from the Denver Post does a great job explaining different turf options and how to prepare your lawn for planting them. It has a small section entitled “Reveille” that discusses these hybrids.

Also, local garden centers typically sell grass seed blends that are formulated for Colorado. These blends will typically have a combination of fescue, bluegrass, and ryegrass. These provide the “green carpet” look of a traditional garden with more drought tolerance. We don’t endorse specific brands or retailers, but you should be able to find a hybrid and/or Colorado blend at local green houses and even big box garden stores.

If in the end you decide that sticking with a traditional bluegrass lawn best fits your needs, take a look at these tips from Denver Water on how minimize water use when watering your lawn.