How to Plant Blue Grama From Seeds

Blue grama grass seeds are used to grow turf lawns, ornamental grass and grazing fields for livestock. Blue grama is a warm-season, short grass that will self-seed if allowed to grow. It thrives in the arid interior of the West and does not do well in wet areas or areas with high humidity. Blue grama grass is frequently mixed in with wildflower gardens or in clumps alone as an ornamental grass. It makes for a low maintenance lawn and doesn't require the watering of most turf grasses.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blue grama grass seed
• Sand
• Bucket
• Round-Up herbicide
• Rake
• Tiller
• Compost
• Seed broadcaster or drill
• Clean straw

1. Prepare the soil for the seed by killing off weeds and/or existing lawns. Use Round-Up herbicide according to directions for the size of your area to be seeded. Weeds can then be raked out in two weeks; if it was a full lawn, wait one month and till.

2. Water the soil well every few days and wait two or three weeks for weed seeds to germinate and start to come up. They can then be pulled, hoed or be sprayed with Round-Up to kill them. This will give you a nice weed-free lawn when your blue grama comes up.

3. Rake through the soil, breaking up any clumps and removing any rocks or debris. Then till in ½ cubic yard of compost per 100 square feet of soil. This will give the new lawn nutrition and ensure good drainage.

4. Rake the soil out to leave shallow gullies for the seed. Mix half the seed in a bucket with sand. You will need 3 to 4 lb. of seed per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Broadcast the seed and sand over the entire lawn in late spring or early summer.

5. Mix the second half of seed with sand and sow the entire lawn again. Sand not only helps to distribute the seed evenly, but will show you areas that have not been completely covered.

6. Use the flat side of the rake to pull the soil back over the seed. Then cover with a light coating of clean straw to hold the seed in place and help keep moisture in while the seed is germinating.

7. Water the newly sown area to keep moist. Seed should germinate and start to show in seven to 10 days. If it is very dry or you have a cold weather period, it may take the seed longer to germinate.

References

• LawnCare.net: All About Blue Grama Grass
• USDA: Blue Grama Plant Fact Sheet
• High Country Gardens: Planting a Grama Grass Lawn From Seed