By spring, roots are well developed and and able to use available soil moisture more efficiently than native species, which develop at a slower pace. Stature and seed production is strongly influenced by site conditions. On good sites without strong competition, robust plants with many flowering culms develop. Cheatgrass is able to establish on a variety of soils and is particularly favored by conditions of disturbance, such as those produced by fire, overgrazing, or cultivation. Although not exacting in its requirements, cheatgrass appears to avoid areas of extremely low precipitation or those with saline soils.
Cheatgrass invades sites soon after disturbance.
Site potential does not seem to influence the success of cheatgrass. With an adequate seed source it is able to overtake native vegetation throughout the range of sagebrush communities. The overriding consideration in gauging its potential success is the presence of rough microtopography and litter. Cheatgrass generally germinates in the fall and grows rapidly until cold temperatures set in. When fall moisture is inadequate, it acts as a spring annual.