Elevation decides which grasses are options here before anything else does. Colorado State
University Extension states the threshold plainly.
The elevation cutoff
At high elevations, greater than 7,000 feet, warm-season grasses are not to be used. Properties in
the foothills can sit above that line while others nearby sit below it, so site elevation is the first
thing to establish, not the last.
What each group contains
| Group | Species named by CSU Extension |
|---|---|
| Cool-season | Bluegrass, ryegrass, fescues |
| Warm-season | Buffalograss, blue grama |
Seeding windows
Cool-season grasses can be seeded anytime from March through September, and along the Front Range
the optimal time is mid-August to mid-September. Warm-season grasses are seeded April through July,
where elevation permits them at all.
Mowing a new lawn
Mowing begins when a new lawn has grown to about 2 1/2 inches, after which it is mown to a height
of 2 to 3 inches.
Sources
- Colorado State University Extension fact sheet 7.241 (Wilson & Koski) — extension.colostate.edu 7.241 (read 2026-07-30)
By the Peak City Landscaping Editorial Team. Reviewed for Front Range landscaping accuracy.
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