We are planning to build a backcountry strip at about 8500 feet in Colorado and need to know the best type of grass to use for a grass strip at this altitude.
Any feedback would be appreciated
many thanks

You might contact Montana Dept. of Aeronautics... they take care of our strips around here. The grass we used is called (don't quote me on the spelling) Sodar Streambank Wheatgrass, and it's very hardy and puts down long roots, requires very little care, and the animals don't seem to like the taste much.
JH

RockyMountainHigh wrote:We are planning to build a backcountry strip at about 8500 feet in Colorado and need to know the best type of grass

I'd recommend the kind with funny leaves.
tom

I'd also check with the State of Colorado as to what they would recommend. There may well be types (like the one with funny leaves) which they frown on you introducing into their environment. And, sometimes there are good reasons for that.

MTV

why dont you just find out what kind of grass it is that grows natually in feilds at that altitude in your location and use it? Just keep it well maintained and your shure to have a good preformer that will also get help from nature in replenishing itself every year.

Ask your local Ag Dept or golf course.

Look for a sodding grass, not a clumping grass.

The variety you choose should be native to your geographical location, elevation and weather patterns. Or at least related to a native variety.

For comparison, we use Fairway Crested Wheat Grass up here for airstrips and golf courses. It is winter hardy, drought tolerant, sod forming and therefore self healing. (needs to heal itself from pilots who always do there run up in the same place. And golfers who hit more sod than ball.) If it rains or is irrigated, its beautiful.

How are you going to seed it?

Bill

Shop around for the best price.

If I buy 1000 lbs its $1.10 per lb. If I buy 100lbs its $2.03 per lb.

Bunch of Pirates

Bill

Thank you all for your responses - I will do my research based on the replies and let you know how our airstrip construction proceeds!