During much of the year, grasses ignite easily and burn rapidly. Tall grass will quickly carry fire to your house. Plant "FireWise" grasses in the defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a structure where fuels and vegetation are treated, cleared or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire. See fact sheet 6.302, Creating Wildfire-Defensible Zones.
Grass seed mixes developed for Colorado use native or a combination of native and non-native grass species. While the basic mixes (Tables 1 and 3) work reasonably well on all sites, they were modified for moist sites and/or those with northern exposures (Tables 2 and 4).
Grasses included in these mixes have the following characteristics:
Grass seed mixes made up entirely of native seed may take longer to establish -- up to three years -- than those with a percentage of non-native seed.
Use either a drop or a cyclone seeder to seed your defensible space.
A drop seeder is more accurate in placing seed, especially if wind is a problem. However, if the ground is rough or rocky, the cyclone seeder will be easier to use.
Seed at the rates shown in the tables below. Divide seed into two equal parts. Sow half of the seed by crossing the area north to south and the other half by crossing east to west.
Rake seed into the soil as soon as possible after sowing to reduce the chances of it blowing or washing out. Soil cover also helps to protect the young seedlings from drying out. When sowing on slopes prone to erosion, cover the seeded area with mulch. Recommended mulches include clean straw (straw with no seeds in it), netting or matting of some kind.
If you have water from a central community system or a well permit that allows outside irrigation, water the newly seeded areas frequently and lightly. Water enough to keep the soil moist but not so heavily as to cause soil washing and loss of the grass seed.
Even "FireWise" grasses need proper maintenance. See 6.303, Fire-Resistant Landscaping, for tips on proper mowing and other maintenance and landscaping suggestions.
| Table 1: All exposures. | |||
| Species | Variety | Percent of Mix | Broadcast Rate PLS* Lbs/Acre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona fescue | Redondo | 20 | 9.0 x .20 = 1.80 |
| Western wheatgrass | Barton/Rosana | 20 | 32.0 x .20 = 6.40 |
| Streambank wheatgrass | Sodar | 20 | 22.0 x .20 = 4.40 |
| Indian ricegrass | Nezpar | 20 | 25.0 x .20 = 5.00 |
| Blue grama | Lovington | 20 | 6.0 x .20 = 1.20 |
| TOTALS | 100% | 18.80 | |
| Table 2: Northerly exposures and/or moist sites. | |||
| Species | Variety | Percent of Mix | Broadcast Rate PLS* Lbs/Acre |
| Arizona fescue | Redondo | 25 | 9.0 x .25 = 2.25 |
| Western wheatgrass | Barton/Rosana | 25 | 32.0 x .25 = 8.00 |
| Streambank wheatgrass | Sodar | 25 | 22.0 x .25 = 5.50 |
| Indian ricegrass | Nezpar | 25 | 25.0 x .25 = 6.25 |
| TOTALS | 100% | 22.00 | |
Non-Native/Native Grass "Fire Mixes" |
| Table 3: All exposures. | |||
| Species | Variety | Percent of Mix | Broadcast Rate PLS* Lbs/Acre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada bluegrass | Reubens | 10 | 2.0 x .10 = 0.20 |
| Western wheatgrass | Barton/Rosana | 20 | 32.0 x .20 = 6.40 |
| Streambank wheatgrass | Sodar | 15 | 22.0 x .15 = 3.30 |
| Indian ricegrass | Nezpar | 15 | 25.0 x .15 = 3.75 |
| Sheep fescue | Covar | 20 | 8.0 x .20 = 1.60 |
| Blue grama | Lovington | 20 | 6.0 x .20 = 1.20 |
| TOTALS | 100% | 16.45 | |
| Table 4: Northerly exposures and/or moist sites. | |||
| Species | Variety | Percent of Mix | Broadcast Rate PLS* Lbs/Acre |
| Canada bluegrass | Reubens | 15 | 2.0 x .15 = 0.30 |
| Western wheatgrass | Barton/Rosana | 20 | 32.0 x .20 = 6.40 |
| Streambank wheatgrass | Sodar | 20 | 22.0 x .20 = 4.40 |
| Indian ricegrass | Nezpar | 15 | 25.0 x .15 = 3.75 |
| Sheep fescue | Covar | 30 | 8.0 x .30 = 2.40 |
| TOTALS | 100% | 17.25 | |
*Pure Live Seed.
1 Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Coordinator, Colorado State Forest Service. This fact sheet was produced in cooperation with the Colorado State Forest Service. 8/99.
Updated Wednesday, May 02, 2001.
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