serving landowners in
Douglas County, Colorado for over 50 years
Box 688, 7519 E. Hwy 86, Franktown, CO
80116, 303-688-3042 ext. 100
Intermediate Wheatgrass Elytrigia intermedia
Native to USSR from around the Black Sea
and Manchuria. Adapted over most of northwestern and western 1/3
of US. Introduced for range forage and conservation uses.
Cool season, long lived, sod-former.
Grows erect 2 to 4' tall with clumped, basal blue-green or green
leaves with spreading rhizomes and a massive root system.
Preferences
Starts
growth early in spring. Good summer regrowth and fair fall
regrowth with ample moisture. Does best on fine-textured, medium
to high fertility soil in sub-humid climate.
Tolerant of moderate
saline and weakly acidic soils. Does not withstand
overgrazing. Can tolerate early flooding 3 to 5 weeks and water
table up to 3' depth.
Uses
Used
widely for forage, hay and pasture. Also used for conservation on
disturbed lands, roadways, ditch lands, etc.
Palatable to cattle in
spring and somewhat palatable in winter. Good palatability when
green, but only fair in winter.
Planting
Drill
1/2 to 1" deep and even up to 1 1/2" in coarser soils. Can
be sodded in critical areas.
Practice weed control especially in
seedling stages. Do not graze until headed and firmly rooted.