The majority of the species clump and form tufts with the exception of the red creeping varieties, which spread by rhizomes. To help your fescue spread in shady lawn areas, allow the grass to grow a half-inch to 1 inch higher than fescue growing in the sun. It can withstand hot temperatures provided it gets adequate water, but extreme heat combined with drought can kill this grass. The best time to plant it is during peak growth periods in the fall and spring. How to Grow and Care for Bristle Leaf Sedge (Carex Eburnea), Annual Ryegrass Differs From Perennial and Winter Rye Grass, Perennial Ryegrass: A Serious Lawn Contender, Types of Warm- and Cool-Season Lawn Grasses, 12 Best Ornamental Grasses for Your Landscape, Dethatching Lawns: What, Why, How, and When. 2001 NTEP tall fescue trials. Fine fescues are often described for the turf-type fescues when obviously compared to the coarser forage-type fescues. Tall fescue lawns are tolerant of this type of dethatching since there are no rhizomes that spread along the soil. These people are not dumb, just using outdated products that were hailed as a panacea for their problems regarding grass in the 1970s. Recent evidence indicates a variety of human health problems associated with improper use of glyphosate. Gardeners may see a high population of weeds growing among their fescue. Fine fescue will also be much shorter than a grass like tall fescue. As the newest leaf blades emerge, they appear in a rolled-up form. By allowing fescue to grow high, you'll encourage the grass to spread. Tall fescue is known as a non-spreading species; often referred to as a bunch grass. The idea behind such mixes is to draw upon the different strengths of the different kinds of grasses. Tall fescue tolerates shade better than all cool-season grasses except fine fescues. Late-summer seedings usually have less weed competition and more favorable moisture conditions than spring seedings. Rhizomes are stems that grow underground, while stolons are aboveground stems. Escalade is ideal for home lawns, parks, sports fields, sod production, golf course roughs and roadsides where a tough turf is needed. Fescue is a bunch-type grass, which means it grows upright and slowly spreads in bunches. I don't think it spreads as well as of, but it does spread. Either way, have grass seed ready so that you can reseed and prevent weeds from seizing an opportunity to colonize an empty space in your lawn. Thank you for the question! Fescue grass lacks rhizomes and stolons, according to "Grounds Maintenance Magazine." Many tall fescues were developed for use as pasture fodder for grazing animals. Tall fescue is a thick bladed fast growing and uncontrollable perennial grass that usually grows in clumps in the middle of a lawn. The blades are very coarse to the touch, with topsides that are shiny. Tall Fescue - The most popular fescue used for turf lawns. 1. Fescue Facts Unlike Bermuda grass or Kentucky bluegrass, which spread on growth from rhizomes, tall fescue grows in bunches. Because the shaded tall fescue does not get as much “food” as its sunned counterpart, it will not have extra energy to spend repairing torn, worn, or crushed grass leaves. One is for those who do not mind using chemicals, the other is for those who want to stay organic. The answer is yes and no, depending on how you define the word “spread”. Mowing your fescue lawn allows the fescue clumps to spread among your yard and promote a thick, full yard. Tall fescue has good cold tolerance, though it can suffer from winter damage in the coldest areas of the northern U.S. and Canada. Escalade requires less water than ryegrass Grass clippings decompose quickly and do not contribute to thatch. If you need to eliminate tall fescue, there are at least two possible control methods. The cultivars used for lawn seed are usually dwarf varieties. The leaves are wide blades with a dark green color that is maintained even in winter. But remember, Roundup is a non-selective herbicide. By allowing fescue to grow high, you'll encourage the grass to spread. For more information on mowing lawns refer to HGIC 1205, Mowing Lawns. Hard Fescue - Grows best in areas of high elevation and in the northern United States as it is naturally salt tolerant (great for snow treatment). Like all tall fescue grasses, KY-31 is a bunch-forming grass that naturally grows in clumps. It thrives in humid temperate regions, where it can grow up to about 16-inches. Tall fescue – known by the scientific name Festuca arundinacea – is a popular turfgrass species that was introduced into America from Asia and Europe. It is a coarse textured, dark green grass with rolled leaves. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize tall fescue after March 15. This type of grass is drought tolerant and does not require a lot of fertilization. For example, Kentucky bluegrass holds up well to foot traffic, but the fescue has greater shade tolerance. At time of seeding (Fall 2009), a 10” cap was placed in the center of each plot to create natural bare spot. Also, gardeners cannot prevent weed seeds from germinating by spraying a pre-emergent herbicide on their lawn before planting fescue. Spring seedings should be made as early as possible to avoid hot dry weather when the seedlings are small. By June of the following year, the plots were established and plants were begining to fill in the spot. Pre-emergent herbicides will prevent both weed seeds and fescue grass seeds from germinating. The grass has wide blades that are dark green, a color the blades maintain even in winter. Imho, even common CRF spreads a lot more than spreading TTTF and TTPR, but not quite like KBG. Many northern grasses are bunch-type grasses which don't spread, so you'll need to reseed to get grass to fill in. The grass has deep widely set roots. Planting turf-type tall fescue under the best possible conditions gives your seeding project a distinct advantage. I also just reread the original post and the mix includes some KBG, so bare spots may fill in. Like their pasture-grass ancestor, turf types naturally form clumps and spread by tillers. Mowing: Mow lawn at a height of 3 inches. If you choose to use this chemical, make sure to follow label directions exactly, including the use of recommended safety equipment. Hard fescue, chewings fescue and creeping red fescue tolerate shady conditions. She has a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from California College of the Arts. Grass seed sown over densely shaded areas, specifically under trees, will gain an advantage allowing emerging grass plants to establish before spring foliage arrives. The long roots make tall fescue grass quite drought-resistant. For more information on fertilizing lawns refer to HGI… Weekly watering of 1 to 1 3/4 inches of water is beneficial but not essential. Tall fescue is a perennial cool-weather turf grass that stands out because of its growth habit. The best time of the year to overseed is in the fall. These grasses are perfect for temperate and cooler regions, especially maritime and low mountainous climates. Dwarf varieties of fescue commonly used in turfgrass mixes are prone to a fungal disease called brown patch. Since tall fescue may already be around in the spring before your Kentucky bluegrass greens up, this is a good time to spray with a glyphosate-based herbicide. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Gardeners should fertilize their fescue lawns to encourage spreading. Because this grass tends to bunch, it can benefit from periodic overseeding to keep the density but avoid a clumpy appearance. Also, the leaves are long and narrow, and it does not tend to spread in the same way a grass like Kentucky bluegrass would. The top side of the blades is shiny and the blades are very coarse to the touch. I assume that you are referring specifically to the few species that are most commonly used in lawns. Avoid fertilizing fescue grass during the summer, when harsh temperatures combined with nitrogen fertilizer burns grass. Tall fescue grass is fairly traffic tolerant, but it’s a different story with shaded grass. These grasses are shade tolerant and grow well in areas where it's too hot for cool grasses but too cold in the winter for warm-season grasses. Spread Cool Season Grass Seed You can purchase turf type tall fescue grass seed recommended by your state’s Land Grant University. Authors Note – I generally dislike thatching for the simple reason that it has a tendency to damage turf, this is especially true for grasses that spread via rhizomes. Tall fescue is known for its clumping growth habit, which is why you will also hear people refer to it as a \"bunchi… Once they are given time to grow, most fescue lawns can be mowed when the grass is at four inches. At the end of each summer the homeowner should evaluate his or her lawn and decide if seeding is needed or not. There are a few things to understand about this kind of grass. Kathleen Miller is a Master Gardener and Horticulturist with over 30 years experience in gardening and sustainable farming. Kentucky bluegrass is a spreading species. But be prepared for a workout, because the roots of tall fescue grow thick and deep and do not come out easily. The 5 varieties are often sold as a blended seed mix for better turf vigor. The roots develop a very deep system, reaching between two and three feet. Hard fescue does not need to be mowed often, if at all. Tall fescue and accompanying legumes can be seeded in spring or late summer. Thus it will require frequent overseeding. This gives the seed time to germinate, grow and develop sufficient root depth before the summer heat arrives in the following year. This post is just more proof that outreach and education are necessary in the agricultural industry. Do your shaded grass a favor and avoid walking across it. Growing habits of this cool-season grass may determine if it is right for your lawn or whether there is an underlying problem. Tall fescue grass is a bunch grass and established lawns may eventually have die out in some areas, requiring spring reseeding. This is due to the fact that it clumps itself up in order to spread, and this is usually done using tillers. In the right environment, tall fescue can come to dominate other grasses in a mixed-grass lawn. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Cultivate the soil as deeply as possible. Always leave clippings on the lawn in a practice called “grass-cycling”. Tall fescue grass will do best if fed yearly at a rate of 2.5 to 3 pounds of nitrogen-based fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of lawn. The varieties created for turf lawn use are mostly dwarf varieties of F. arundinacea: Fescue grass seed is commonly mixed with other cool-season grasses in the North (such as Kentucky bluegrass) to arrive at an ideal blend for lawns. Because of this, tall fescue survives well without regular watering and is a good eco-friendly choice where water is scarce. This growth by vertical shoots instead of horizontal stolons and rhizomes distinguishes tall fescue from most common U.S. lawn grasses. Titan Ultra Tall Fescue - Rhizome Research, Virginia Beach, VA - Seeded Fall 2009. Because this grass takes a long time to fill up in an area after being planted, weed seeds take advantage of the bare soil and lack of competition. Rhizomes extend underground 1 to 2 inches from the crown developing a daughter plant. When watering, the goal should be to wet the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Red fescue and hard fescue are sometimes described as fine fescu… It spreads by seed primarily and does most of its growth in spring and fall. For seeding tall fescue alone, 12 lb of seed per acre is adequate… Tall fescue grass stands out from other grasses because of the blades and its growing style. Turf-type tall fescue, bluegrass, and ryegrass germinate sooner in cold soils and will have more time to develop than seed sown in spring. Tall fescue grass can grow in full sun to part shade. The deeper you can cultivate the soil, the more quickly your … Alternatively, you can practice organic tall fescue control, removing it by digging it out. Tall fescue is a tough grass that is a good choice for play areas, though it may require reseeding when bare spots occur. Tall fescue grass is a cool-season grass. 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