Installing Montane Shortgrass

• Installed by seed only
• Can be seeded April 1 to September 15
• Should be seeded at a depth of 0.25 inches; seeding too deep can result in poor germination
• Seeding rate for landscape projects is 2 to 3 lbs per 1,000 square feet of area
• Cultivars and notes:
  • A common mixture consists of Rocky Mountain fescue, Sandberg bluegrass, prairie Junegrass, and blue grama

General

Montane short grasses mixtures can germinate quickly, as little as five days after seeding.

Weed Management

Proactive weed management during establishment will result in healthy grass stands with minimal weed issues over time and is highly recommended.

Watering for Establishment

It’s important for uniform, successful germination that the soil is kept moist until seedlings emerge. In the first three weeks, keep the soil consistently moist but avoid runoff and pooling. In weeks four and five, moisten the soil daily to prevent new seedlings from dehydrating. Fix any irrigation problems as quickly as possible to prevent seedlings from drying out and dying.

Fertilizer During Establishment

Fertilizing new seedling stands helps them grow quickly so that their leaves fully cover the soil. Apply a controlled-release or organic fertilizer at planting OR fertilize regularly with a very light dose of quickly available fertilizer. A light dose of fertilizer can be applied as often as weekly, but at a significantly lower rate than standard lawn fertilization. Apply 0.1-0.2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet each time the area is fertilized during the establishment period. Do not fertilize after mid-August.

Mowing During Establishment

These shorter grasses are unlikely to need mowing the year they are planted. If the grass grows tall enough to look unsightly or cause concern, mow it as high as possible, ideally so the grass is four to six inches tall after mowing. Mowing can be beneficial to create a more tidy appearance and help with weed suppression.

Long-Term Watering

Montane shortgrass mixtures require about 15 inches of water per growing season or can be watered less if it is acceptable for them to turn brown during hotter, drier weather. 

Mowing

Montane short grasses mixtures contain bunchgrasses that stay shorter, so it needs infrequent mowing. If you don’t like the appearance of the seedheads, it can be mowed infrequently to create a more uniform appearance.

Weed Control

Long-term weed control keeps grass healthy and attractive. Use weed control products that are safe for both cool- and warm-season grasses on this type of mixture.

Ideally, with proactive weed control early in the project, long-term weed control efforts can be minimal: spot-spraying troublesome plants. Pre-emergent weed control products can help prevent new weeds from growing—however, since they’ll also prevent new grass seed from germinating, only use them in established grass stands where you aren’t planning any overseeding or germination of additional grass seed.

Identify the weed species appearing in the area and include specific weed-control strategies for those types of weeds.

Fertilizing

For areas where montane short grasses mixture is used as a low-water groundcover, fertilize once or twice in spring when the grass is growing rapidly. Apply nitrogen at 1 lb/1000 square feet of area. Low-input, naturalized, or restored areas do not need to be fertilized at all, but may be less dense and develop some spaces between plants over time.