Built for landowners, agencies, and conservation partners working in moist meadow benches, north-slope openings, and mixed conifer edges, this mix establishes a durable structure that supports elk and deer bedding cover, wild turkey brood habitat, and provides a base layer to later interseed wildflowers if desired.
Expect a blend of Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, and prairie Junegrass that remains upright through winter, improves soil function, and creates herbaceous structure required for several NRCS wildlife and rangeland standards.
Wheatgrass, Slender (1.25), Fescue, Idaho (0.8), Junegrass, Prairie (0.4), Big Bluegrass (VNS) (0.6), Wheatgrass, Bluebunch (1), Bluestem, Little (VNS) (0.45). Created January 2026.
Benefits
- Long-lived native perennial grasses for decades-long stand life
- Upright winter cover that improves bedding structure for elk, deer, and upland birds
- Supports brood cover when paired with adjacent pollinator habitat
- Reduced risk of weed or forb-dominance failures in wet, productive soils
- Ideal base for future interseeding of forbs using frost-seeding or no-till drills
Recommended Uses
- Northern Rockies foothills (Bonner, Boundary, Shoshone, Clearwater)
- Cool-moist mixed conifer ecotones & meadow openings
NRCS-style plantings under:
- 327 – Conservation Cover
- 528 – Prescribed Grazing
- 645 – Upland Wildlife Habitat
- 550 – Range Planting (context dependent)
Installer Notes
Timing:
- Best: Late-fall dormant seeding (Oct–Nov) or early spring (as soon as soils allow)
- Avoid late May–August starts due to weed pressure & moisture loss
Seedbed Prep:
- Pack + firm—bootprint should leave <¼" depression
- Control invasive competition (cheatgrass, reed canarygrass) before seeding
Planting Depth:
- Drill ⅛–¼" (grass box) — do NOT exceed ¼" depth
- If broadcasting, roll/press seed and increase seeding rate 25–30%
