🌿 Native Grass Installation · Front Range, Colorado
Colorado Native Grass —
Beautiful, Low-Water
Lawn Alternatives
Replace your water-hungry Kentucky bluegrass with Colorado native grasses that use 25–75% less water — and look stunning all season long. We design, install and establish native grass landscapes across the Front Range with 25 years of plant expertise.
25+ Years Colorado plant expertise
HOA-approved native grass designs
Resource Central experience
Water rebate program coordination
Why native grass?
Colorado is naturally
a grassland — not a lawn.
Much of Colorado is naturally a grassland — yet most Front Range homeowners maintain Kentucky bluegrass lawns that require 24–30 inches of supplemental irrigation every year. Native grasses evolved here over thousands of years and are perfectly adapted to Colorado's semi-arid climate, clay soils and temperature extremes.
Native grasses can survive irrigation failure, drought and pauses in maintenance that would destroy traditional turf. Resiliency is their superpower. They don't suffer from winter kill because they're adapted to Colorado's weather extremes — and they get more beautiful each year as they establish deeper root systems.
At Colorado Native Landscapes & Design, we bring 25 years of Colorado plant expertise to every native grass project — selecting the right species for your specific site, coordinating HOA approvals and establishing your native grass with proper installation techniques that set it up for long-term success.
75%
Less water than Kentucky bluegrass — for some native species
25%+
Minimum water savings with any Colorado native grass species
Less
Mowing — most native grasses need far less frequent cutting
Zero
Winter kill — native grasses are adapted to Colorado's extremes
🌿 Colorado Native Grass Working Group partner
We stay current with the latest best practices for native grass installation and maintenance through our professional network — bringing you the most up-to-date expertise available on the Front Range.
Why make the switch
Six reasons native grass
is the smarter choice for Colorado
Dramatically lower water bills
Switching to native grass saves 25–75% of your outdoor water use depending on the species. Along Colorado's Front Range, Kentucky bluegrass requires 24–30 inches of supplemental irrigation. Most native grasses need a fraction of that — and look great doing it.
Built for Colorado's climate
Native grasses evolved to handle Colorado's summer heat, dry spells, dramatic temperature swings and hard freezes. They survive irrigation failure and drought stress that would kill traditional turf — and don't suffer from winter kill like bluegrass does.
Supports local wildlife
Native grasses provide critical habitat and food sources for Colorado's birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators. A yard full of native grass is a living ecosystem — connecting your property to Colorado's natural grassland heritage.
Less maintenance required
Most native and water-wise grasses require less frequent irrigation, mowing and fertilization than traditional turf. To maximize savings, we choose species known to thrive with minimal time-and-money investment specific to your site conditions.
Water rebate programs available
Many Front Range municipalities offer water conservation rebates for native grass installations. We're familiar with Resource Central's programs and local utility rebate opportunities — and help you take advantage of available incentives as part of your project.
Beautiful Colorado character
Much of Colorado is naturally a grassland — and native grasses create landscapes that reflect the beauty of Colorado's natural environment right in your own yard. When properly designed and maintained, native grass landscapes become the most beautiful yards on the block.
Species guide
Colorado native grass species
we install on the Front Range
We select the right species for your specific site — your soil type, elevation, sun exposure, water budget and HOA requirements. Here are the primary native grass species we work with across the Front Range.
Buffalograss
Bouteloua dactyloides
Most Popular
⅓ Water of Traditional Lawn
Low Maintenance
Buffalograss is the gold standard for Colorado lawn replacements. It's an excellent choice where a short-growing grass is desired — needs at least 6 hours of sun, grows up to 6,800 feet elevation and thrives in clay soils. It turns green mid-May and brown in early October. Requires about ⅓ of the water of a traditional lawn — water once per week or less from May to October once established.
Full sun — 6+ hours required
Up to 6,800 ft elevation
⅓ water of traditional lawn
Minimal mowing required
Thrives in Colorado clay soils
HOA approved options available
Blue Grama Grass
Bouteloua gracilis
Colorado Native
Drought Tolerant
Wildlife Friendly
Blue Grama is one of Colorado's most iconic native grasses — naturally found across the Front Range shortgrass prairie. It produces beautiful eyelash-shaped seed heads that add ornamental interest while providing food for birds and wildlife. Highly drought tolerant once established, it pairs beautifully with buffalograss in mixed plantings. Mow no shorter than 4–6 inches to maintain health and appearance.
Full sun required
Adapted to Front Range elevation
Very low water needs when established
Excellent wildlife and pollinator habitat
Mow to 4–6 inches if needed
Beautiful ornamental seed heads
Buffalograss / Blue Grama Mix
Mixed native planting
Most Resilient
Colorado's Natural Prairie
Best for HOAs
The combination of buffalograss and blue grama mirrors Colorado's natural shortgrass prairie — providing the best of both species. Buffalograss fills in with a carpet-like coverage while blue grama adds texture and ornamental interest. Together they create a resilient, beautiful low-water lawn alternative that performs better than either species alone in most Front Range conditions.
Full sun required
Mirrors natural Front Range prairie
Significant water savings vs turf
Most resilient combination for CO
Native Shortgrass Prairie Mix
Multiple native species
Best for Wildlife
Low Maintenance
Habitat Garden
Native shortgrass prairie mixtures include shorter grasses found naturally east of the Colorado foothills — creating a low-water, low-maintenance groundcover that maximizes ecological value. Seeds of different species germinate at different times, creating a dynamic, naturalistic landscape. Can be planted from seed anytime May through September. Requires about 2 lbs per 1,000 sq ft for irrigated landscape projects.
Multiple warm & cool season species
Maximum wildlife habitat value
Mowing optional — especially year one
HOA education & outreach often needed
Western Wheatgrass
Pascopyrum smithii
Cool Season
Clay Soil Champion
Erosion Control
Western wheatgrass is a cool-season native grass that thrives in Colorado's clay-heavy soils — making it an excellent choice for many Front Range properties. It stays green earlier in spring and later in fall than warm-season natives, providing extended visual interest. Excellent for erosion control on slopes and areas with challenging drainage. Works well in combination with warm-season species.
Full sun to partial shade
Excellent in Colorado clay soils
Good drought tolerance when established
Great for slopes & erosion control
Fine Fescue
Festuca spp.
Shade Tolerant
Cool Season
Best for Shade
Fine fescue is the go-to water-wise grass for Colorado properties with significant shade — where buffalograss and blue grama won't thrive. It stays green through Colorado's cooler months and requires significantly less water than Kentucky bluegrass. An excellent choice for properties with mature trees or north-facing areas that get limited direct sun throughout the day.
Tolerates shade better than other natives
Lower water than Kentucky bluegrass
Less frequent mowing than turf
Best for north-facing or shaded areas
Side by side comparison
Native grass vs. Kentucky bluegrass —
the numbers tell the story
Feature
Kentucky Bluegrass
🌿 Native Grass
Annual irrigation needed
24–30 inches of supplemental water
6–10 inches (buffalograss/blue grama)
Water savings
Baseline — most water-intensive option
25–75% less water depending on species
Mowing frequency
Weekly throughout growing season
Monthly or less — or optional for some species
Fertilization
Regular fertilization required
Little to none once established
Winter kill risk
Susceptible in harsh Colorado winters
Zero — adapted to Colorado's extremes
Drought resilience
Dies or goes dormant in drought
Survives irrigation failure and drought
Wildlife value
Minimal ecological value
Habitat and food source for birds and pollinators
Long-term cost
High — ongoing water, mowing, fertilizing
Low — minimal inputs once established
Our process
How we install your
native grass landscape
Native grass projects require more planning and expertise than a standard sod installation — but when done right, they create landscapes that perform better every year. We follow the most current best practices from Colorado's Native Grass Working Group combined with our own 25 years of Front Range experience.
📅 Book a free consultation01
Site assessment & species selection
We evaluate your site's sun exposure, soil type, elevation, existing irrigation and HOA requirements — then recommend the specific native grass species best suited to your conditions.
02
Irrigation evaluation & optimization
Before any native grass installation, we evaluate your existing irrigation system. Native grasses need to be on separate irrigation zones from trees and shrubs — watered on a different schedule than traditional turf.
03
HOA approval coordination
If you have an HOA, we prepare and submit a complete design package on your behalf — including species information, maintenance plan and visual examples to help boards approve native grass projects confidently.
04
Proper soil prep & installation
Existing turf is removed and soil is properly prepared. We plant at the right time of year for each species (buffalograss: late spring; cool-season species: spring or fall) and use establishment techniques that maximize success.
05
Establishment monitoring & care guide
The establishment period is critical. We provide a detailed written care guide specific to your species selection — including establishment watering schedules, fertilization timing and what to expect as your native grass fills in.
06
Follow-up visit
Janice personally follows up after your native grass installation to assess establishment progress, answer questions and make any adjustments needed for long-term success.
Common questions
Native grass FAQ
Will native grass look as good as my current bluegrass lawn?
Native grasses look different than traditional turf — and that's the point. They reflect Colorado's natural grassland beauty rather than a water-intensive monoculture. When properly designed and maintained, native grass landscapes consistently become the most-admired yards in the neighborhood. The key is proper species selection, good installation and realistic expectations during the establishment period.
How long does it take for native grass to establish?
Buffalograss often takes three weeks to germinate. The first growing season is the establishment period — during which supplemental irrigation is more frequent than it will be long-term. By year two, most native grasses are fully established and performing as promised. During establishment, keeping the soil consistently moist is critical — we provide a detailed schedule.
Will my HOA approve a native grass lawn?
Many Colorado HOAs now allow — and even encourage — native grass due to water conservation requirements. Education and outreach is a critical component of any native grass project — and we prepare complete HOA packages including species information, visual examples and maintenance plans that help boards approve native grass projects confidently and quickly.
What if my yard has shade? Can I still use native grass?
Most common native species (buffalograss, blue grama) need at least 6 hours of direct sun to thrive. For shaded areas, we recommend fine fescue — a water-wise cool-season grass that tolerates shade far better than warm-season natives. We assess your specific sun exposure during our consultation and recommend the right species for every zone of your property.
Are there water rebates available for native grass installation?
Yes — many Front Range water providers offer rebates for converting traditional turf to native or water-wise grasses. We're familiar with Resource Central's programs and local utility rebate opportunities across Arvada, Denver, Westminster, Boulder and surrounding communities. We help you identify and apply for available incentives as part of your project planning.
Do native grasses need to be mowed?
Much less than traditional lawns! Buffalograss rarely needs mowing — and when it does, mow as high as possible (4–6 inches). Leaving native grasses taller, especially during the establishment year, allows them to develop deeper root systems. If your HOA requires regular mowing, we discuss appropriate species and height requirements during our consultation.
Ready to make the switch?
Let’s design your
native grass landscape
Free consultation, written estimate and 25 years of Colorado plant expertise. We assess your specific site, recommend the right species and handle everything from HOA approval to establishment care.
Free consultation · Written estimates · 25 years experience · HOA coordination · BBB A+