My runway is mostly weeds, two dirt tracks where several semi trucks drove down it to unload cattle, compressed it to where nothing is growning, not even weeds. And there are shallow ruts from the trucks, that I will deal with slowly with extra fill. I just mowed it about 75' wide and about 1000' of its length, with a 21" wide push mower. I am looking for a tow behind mower for the ATV, hopefully I can find a used one for next year.
Anyway, to the title, I am thinking about drilling in some grass seed this fall. I don't want to have to irrigate it long term. Its pretty dry here just south of Salmon Idaho, so it has to be a grass that can handle hot and dry. I don't mind if it gets up to 8 or 10" high, and I'll mow it if I have to. But, I'd prefer a grass that doesn't need watering after established and preferably doesn't get very tall, but obviously it needs to be a grass that doesn't grow in clumps that create bumps everywhere.
Any suggestions on specific grass to seed it with?

I seen to remember the state of Idaho used to have a program for airfield seed. I don't remember the details but they at least, had a recommended seed mix. It's been a few years so no guarantee now but check with the state aviation department to see what they have.

Wayne

I had a hard time getting past the part where you mowed 75,000 square feet with a 21” push mower. Remind me not to try to out work you!

I have a similar problem with the two air strips I’m trying to maintain. My climate isn’t as warm as yours, but probably similar moisture levels. So far I’ve found meadow brome to be the most robust and drought tolerant of all the grass varieties I’ve tried. The hardest part for me was getting it to germinate and mature to the point where it can withstand long dry spells we get from mid to late summer. That takes soil moisture and the best bet here is to seed as early in the spring as possible.

I’ve also found seeding alfalfa at the same time can provide a bit of cover crop protection. No idea how that would work where you are.

Almost all grasses are going to grow in clumps as they stool out. Not sure there is any way of avoiding that. You just need to get the clumps growing close enough together that it’s not a problem. Once the grass is established regular mowing helps even it out.

I would start with the Idaho Farm Bureau and University of Idaho Extension. They should have the expertise to guide you to your objective or point you to the agency who can. They may suggest soil samples to ascertain the Ph among other parameters to match the most appropriate species to your soil and level of care.

TR

20 years ago, I started, and finished, my strip by simply mowing what was there, just native grasses. Then over the years, spraying it when and where required, waging war on the voles, and finally putting in a underground sprinkler system. It's nothing like JC or Smiley Creek, but no dust is in the air after I land or takeoff, and you don't get that crackley sound like when you walk on dead/dried out grass. Nest time you down south land at Lava Hot Springs, whatever grass there is not what you want, clumpy! The developer told me years ago that he wished he would have just kept what was there, native grass.
South of Salmon...., Leadore way or Challis?

I am at 35ID, 20 miles south of town. The neighbors across the river fought hard against the strip, there was a thread I started in late '23 or early '24 about it. No one has landed here but me so far, legally it is 1400', but there is considerably more. I have landed it both ways, but landing upstream is a fairly tight approach, never taken off to the north. A north take off requires a good performing airplane, which I have, but I have seen no reason to try it.

The runway is right next to the river, and I can irrigate it. I'd rather not get into all that, I already pump about a million gallons a day onto the hayfields. The electric bill is a couple grand a month, glad I got it leased this year.

If anyone wants to stop by, just give me a call. My number is on the contact info on ForeFlight.

Not sure if I will plant just the landing width, or the whole area, its about 200' from the river bank to the road. Weeds are better than dirt, but grass is better than weeds. At one point it was tilled and planted with grass/ alfalfa, but it hasn't been irrigated in many years. There is very little grass, and only a few alfalfa plants. I do have lots of elk here, and often 30 to 40 sheep, as well as a few deer, I do not want to make it a smorgasbord for the animals, but that's probably not possible.

StillLearning, Darn, I wish I would have known as my son and I just fly through there last month. We were brining a RANS S-7 from northern MN to Oregon and spent a day bouncing around Idaho. I will be back!!

In regards to the grass subject, I built my own strip here in northern MN. I contacted the local NCRS office and asked then about grasses. They were very helpful. I did this quite a few years ago, but if there's a good agent there, their help is valuable. Your tax dollars pay their wage so why not use them.

As has been mentioned, I would first get a few soil samples in different spots of the strip, I mixed mine all together and got a test done. You will need to know what you are going to plant before getting a recommendation on any fertilizer you may need. This really helps when first establishing the strip. If your soil is anything like mine, which is sandy and doesn't hold moisture, you will most likely be planting several different species. If you are concerned with the new grass drying up or burning up, use a cover crop. I planted Rye as a cover crop the first year. It helps shade the new growing grass a bit so it doesn't get burned up by the sun. Good luck!

Grass strips are the stuff

I really like Bermudas for an airstrip, because unlike Ryes, Fescues, and Teffs (not to be confused Tiff Bermudagrass) it is not a bunchgrass, I find a fine bladed Bermuda will cut short, and yet between rhizomes and stolons, bridge an otherwise less than smooth surface into a putting green like smoothness. Left unchecked the finer varieties just get squishier, and make your landings feel like jumping into feathers, bunch grasses left unchecked turn rougher the longer you leave them go.

Most commons will do in a pinch, do not go with a 'giant' that's just a leggy mess meant for high volume hay. It won't even make a decent pasture.

My favorites are Tiff and Maya, but those are really zone 7-10 grasses. Rio (which we care for a bunch down here) will go down to zone 3 and over winter just fine in your climate. it will take Ph pretty much from one end of the spectrum the other, loves nitrogen, but doesn't need much else. It will brown in the fall, and once dormant you pretty much can't hurt it. Having said that, if you plant Bermuda you better mean it, because it is next to impossible to fully get rid of once it's made a stand. If your fall is long you may care to overspeed with a perennial rye to enjoy the green a little longer, but you'd probably be best served by waiting a season or two for the Bermuda to really establish well as they are both fierce competitors, which is another thing I like about Bermuda, it really does well at chocking out the trash weeds. You will need more than a push mower

Take care, Rob

I'll second the suggestion to contact your local agricultural extension office.

One thing to stay well away from is ANY "bunch grasses", such as crested wheat grass. As those bunches grow, your strip will begin loosening your teeth. I'd rather have a bare dirt strip than have bunch grasses.

MTV

courierguy wrote:20 years ago, I started, and finished, my strip by simply mowing what was there, just native grasses. Then over the years, spraying it when and where required, waging war on the voles, and finally putting in a underground sprinkler system. It's nothing like JC or Smiley Creek, but no dust is in the air after I land or takeoff, and you don't get that crackley sound like when you walk on dead/dried out grass. Nest time you down south land at Lava Hot Springs, whatever grass there is not what you want, clumpy! The developer told me years ago that he wished he would have just kept what was there, native grass.
South of Salmon...., Leadore way or Challis?

Tom do you lightly harrow once the snow it melted? That helped my grass fill in and knocked the vole tunnels down. Not runway but in the yard.

Before

After. Filled well.

Needs a mow.

Yes, every spring, while the ground is still soft, I drag a weighted harrow up and down it.

I have a good deal with my rural neighbors, in that they know if some newbie bitches about my flying, I'll sell my 70 acres and move, but only after subdividing it into 5 acres lots, or maybe even smaller. They don't want that, neither do I, so we're all on the same page. In the last few years, I've modified my takeoffs and landings, preemptively, to avoid any issues with the newer people, even though that takes me a mile or so out of the direction I want to go, In the old days I could crank hard left or right as soon as I lifted off, now I have houses under me while I'm still only 5 or 600 hundred foot up. That's the other preemptive thing I've done, never full power, on takeoff or after (a sloped runway makes that easy) even though it takes me a bit further out of my way before heading out on my desired track

Next time I'm up that way Sam, I'll give you a call, mine is 1ID9.

courierguy wrote:I have a good deal with my rural neighbors, in that they know if some newbie bitches about my flying, I'll sell my 70 acres and move, but only after subdividing it into 5 acres lots, or maybe even smaller. They don't want that, neither do I, so we're all on the same page. In the last few years, I've modified my takeoffs and landings, preemptively, to avoid any issues with the newer people, even though that takes me a mile or so out of the direction I want to go, In the old days I could crank hard left or right as soon as I lifted off, now I have houses under me while I'm still only 5 or 600 hundred foot up. That's the other preemptive thing I've done, never full power, on takeoff or after (a sloped runway makes that easy) even though it takes me a bit further out of my way before heading out on my desired track

Next time I'm up that way Sam, I'll give you a call, mine is 1ID9.

Leverage!

I might hit up your ID35 strip next time I am up in Idaho