By Abby Butler GUEST COLUMNIST
Grow Wild is all about cultivating a sustainably managed and intentional landscape filled with native and ecologically beneficial vegetation. This often leads to the belief that if you haven’t replaced every inch of your turfgrass, you are committing a cardinal landscaping sin. Thankfully, we are here today to set the record straight and banish this notion from your gardening minds. Our hope is to make you aware of the benefits of turfgrass, the reality of how it has been historically mismanaged and finally, how you can intentionally manage it to achieve the greatest benefits for the environment and your wallet.
The words “Kentucky bluegrass” can usher in a whole host of feelings: anger, frustration or even apathy. Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most widely planted cool-season grasses in North America, found in all 50 states and extending into Canada and Mexico, according to research from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Kentucky bluegrass gets a bad rap because it is often found growing as a monoculture that sucks up large inputs of water. With much of the West experiencing historically significant drought conditions, water usage has become an increasingly hot button topic—one deserving of attention and action. Still, turfgrass is valuable in our landscapes even with current and future drought conditions.
When managed correctly, turfgrass has the structural ability to prevent erosion and improve water and nutrient uptake into the soil. As a perennial plant, its deep, fibrous roots continue to grow and deepen throughout its lifetime, binding the soil together and preventing it from being carried away as sediment under rainy or windy conditions, according to National Park Service research.
Healthy and extensive root systems also serve as vital habitat for microbial populations. These microbes break down pollutants commonly found in runoff, such as hydrocarbons and heavy metals, thus keeping our water systems safer and reducing the need for additional chemical treatment. Aboveground, grass blades serve as “catchments and filtration zones for polluted runoff water,” according to a 2023 National Park Service study, as well as obstacles for sediment carried by flowing water. Turfgrass also increases the moisture content of soil by slowing the speed and force of flowing water on the landscape, allowing for deeper groundwater recharge.
For our data-driven gardeners, Utah State University research showed that 5,000 square feet of lawn can capture between 2,000 and 27,000 gallons of water.
Turfgrass also produces oxygen and can help trap dust and airborne allergens including pollen, while preventing weedy, pollen-producing plants from growing.
While large swaths of forest may be the first thing that springs to mind when considering carbon sequestration—the uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere into a stable form of carbon—let us take a break from this tree-centric perspective and consider the sequestration capacity of a primarily grass-based ecosystem. As mentioned earlier, the perennial nature of grasses means that their roots, stems and leaves periodically shed, adding large amounts of decayed organic matter to the soil. This organic matter started as CO2 in the atmosphere and has now been converted to a more stable form of carbon with the potential to be stored in the soil for decades and even centuries. This cycle of grass growth and decay is essential to the continued removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. However, maintenance practices requiring fossil fuels, such as mowing or the production of fertilizers negates some of the positive carbon sequestration provided by turfgrass. Sustainable management like leaving grass clippings after mowing and conservative watering and feeding can increase turf’s ability to sequester carbon, according to research by University of Minnesota.
So there you have it, turfgrass is not entirely deserving of scorn and ridicule. In fact, when managed intentionally in combination with a variety of native plants, it can produce a drought-tolerant haven for microbes that protects Big Sky’s water supply, provides clean air and even sequesters carbon.
Key improvements to make
Below are some best practices for a drought-tolerant, water-wise lawn.
Irrigate in the evening or early in the morning to avoid evaporation or uneven watering due to wind.
Get in the habit of long, infrequent waterings that allow the water to seep deep into the ground. Short, frequent waterings make for “lazy” roots that do not have to work hard to reach moisture deep in the soil.
Set your mower to a higher cutting height—2 to 4 inches ideally, but the higher the better. Mowing is actually known to stimulate grass growth, but cutting too low will cause a longer cessation of root growth, resulting in shallow roots. Remember to keep those blades sharpened so as not to damage the tips of the grass.
Keep in mind that promoting deep root growth does not necessarily mean that you will use less water overall. The deeper the roots, the more water it takes to recharge the rooting zone. The best way to use less water is careful and intentional management of your lawn.
Speaking of careful and intentional management, installing technology like weather-based smart irrigation controllers, rain sensors or soil moisture meters are prime examples of how an upfront cost can more than make up for itself in water-use savings. Furthermore, the Gallatin River Task Force can help you with some of those costs through its rebate programs.
Be wary of over-fertilizing. Many landowners live by products like Weed & Feed that promise to control nuisance weeds like dandelions and keep your turfgrass lush and green—without realizing the negative impacts of fertilizer runoff and excessive herbicide use. Fertilizer can sometimes exacerbate your weed problem as well as lead to excess nutrients landing in your water source. If you have more questions about this topic, reach out to our team at Grow Wild, we’d love to get into the nitty gritty with you about herbicides and fertilizers.
Not all landscapes are made equal. Turfgrass will require more intensive management with limited results in areas that are highly trafficked, have a steep slope—less water uptake, more runoff—or are narrow or very shaded. These areas can be replaced with creative alternatives like terraced flower beds, decorative rocks or hardscaping, according to Colorado State University research.
In high stages of drought—ideally level three, but definitely four or higher—best practice is not irrigating at all. In the summer months your water utility company will have specific restrictions, and those should be followed to conserve water in those periods of high stress.
Strong species picks for Big Sky
Not all grass is made equal, so your landscaping goals will dictate the best grass species for you. For high elevation areas like Big Sky where the growing season is short, cool-season grasses are the best choice. These green up faster and can withstand the cold. Taking the time to consult with local experts will ensure that your seeding matches your planting goals, as not all mixes result in the same kind of turfgrass.
Here are some examples of native and introduced cool-season grass mixes: Common dryland lawn species like sheep fescue, Canada bluegrass and hard fescue; Pioneer Mountain Mix (especially formulated for Big Sky); mountain brome, slender wheatgrass, snake river wheatgrass, hard fescue and streambank wheatgrass; and a native mix of slender wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, thickspike wheatgrass, mountain brome and bluebunch wheatgrass.
With all this in mind, it is important to recognize that converting your Kentucky bluegrass is not always the best choice. The water-wise management practices mentioned above can still apply to your Kentucky bluegrass. In addition, small steps like replacing patches of grass with native wildflower mixes adds to the biodiversity of the landscape and benefits wildlife and pollinators alike. Another option is choosing to let your turfgrass go dormant in the summer months. Now you might ask, “Won’t that ruin my grass and cause me even more problems?”
Our answer to that is an emphatic “Nope!”
Kentucky bluegrass naturally goes dormant during dry, hot conditions, but will return to normal when the temperature cools and precipitation increases. So, if a beautifully manicured lawn isn’t a necessity, letting your lawn go dormant for the summer saves you money and water—remember to pay attention to drought conditions.
We know making big landscape changes can be overwhelming, but always remember that the team at Grow Wild is here to support your endeavors and connect you with resources. Additionally, Alpenscapes—a joint partnership with Big Sky Fire Department, Big Sky SNO, GRTF and Grow Wild—offers resources and tools to educate and equip homeowners to make their landscapes in Big Sky water-wise, fire-safe and ecosystem-friendly. Their website has all the information you need to get started.
