There are several considerations including
1) How large is the area
2) are there other uses for the area e.g. livestock grazing, hay
3) do you plan to plant yourself or hire someone, if you plan doing it yourself do have have the necessary equipment
4) what is your budget
5) where are you located

I would give strong consideration to native grasses or ones well adapted to your area. You can get assistance through your County Agricultural Extension Service through advice, recommendation of plant choices, vendors, and planting specialists.

 

I would STRONGLY suggest NATIVE something. The imported stuff is destroying habitat at an amazing rate. Native grasses will be suited to the soil and rainfall regime, and will provide habitat for native critters, esp the ones at the bottom of the food chain. Here is a very interesting article on the problems with invasive exotics. (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/scie...ag.com/science-nature/meet-ecologist-who-wants-unleash-wild-backyard-180974372/), and, as Ed said, your county extension agent can help, but I will add that they are usually trained for production so you may have to STRESS that you want natives.

HPL

 

I concur, native is the way to go. Just be sure the mix of seed doesn’t include any “awn species” like Canadian or Virginia ryegrass. (http://www.meanseeds.com/)

 

K31 fescue

 

K31 is a very hardy grass for most any conditions, doesnt get overly tall and very resistant to traffic.

 

A mix/blend suitable for your area. Dutch white clover is hardy and low growing. Something that also has dwarf perennial rye grasses, creeping fescues will be lower maintenance/less mowing. But, if it is going to be grazed too it may not produce a lot of forage. There use to be a place in western NY that sold a OVN mix, Orchard/Vineyard/Nursery, that required less mowing.

Tom

 

I don't know where you are located but the suggestion to check with the county extension organization is a good one. Also, if there is a prairie/native nursery nearby they can advise you as to what is native to your area. But as noted, do NOT expect them to understand the needs of dog trainers, and what meanseeds are, checking that website (facebook page too) is an excellent suggestion.

We just cleared out some additional acreage at our training property in Wisconsin. Several natives fescues, white clover, and then swaths of slightly taller species planted in a meandering line to provide cover change. I became very good friends with a John Deere tractor with a bucket....!

 

Just this spring went to the local seed house and got a mix of 90/10 tall rescues to rye.

 

Native! White Clover red Clover

 

Native grass of some kind!

 

Do you live in Oregon?

 

If you are in game bird country, find out what they are planting. You may want a variety to mimic natural cover and short grass,maybe some pollinator friendly varieties of wild flower. If you're going to hay the fields, that's a whole 'nother question and your local coop or ag agency can advise. I have to periodically close cut my field to convince the tax assessor that it's in hay production otherwise I lose my ag tax exemption. But I manage to keep some row cover and plots of wild flower. My neighbors think I'm nuts, but have grown to like the natural appearance of the roadside field.