Tall fescue is a moderate- to coarse-bladed grass that can be grown in the shade and in many soil types. Rake and Water Your Lawn Fescues used for turf include tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Cultivate the soil as deeply as possible. The grass has wide blades that are dark green, a color the blades maintain even in winter. By allowing fescue to grow high, you'll encourage the grass to spread. This growth by vertical shoots instead of horizontal stolons and rhizomes distinguishes tall fescue from most common U.S. lawn grasses. Like all tall fescue grasses, KY-31 is a bunch-forming grass that naturally grows in clumps. Certain types of fescue thrive in the shade better than others. 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. By allowing fescue to grow high, you'll encourage the grass to spread. It spreads by seed primarily and does most of its growth in spring and fall. Fine fescue will also be much shorter than a grass like tall fescue. Tall fescue is known for its clumping growth habit, which is why you will also hear people refer to it as a \"bunchi… Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Tall fescue is NOT controllable without killing the desirable grasses surrounding the tall fescue. These grasses are perfect for temperate and cooler regions, especially maritime and low mountainous climates. 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. Tall fescue grass is a cool-season grass. It is important for gardeners to understand the spreading and growing habits of fescue grass. The long roots make tall fescue grass quite drought-resistant. Do your shaded grass a favor and avoid walking across it. These people are not dumb, just using outdated products that were hailed as a panacea for their problems regarding grass in the 1970s. 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. Spread fertilizer when fescue grass does the majority of its growing--in September and June, according to gardening writer Walter Reeves. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and fescues (Festuca spp.) Kathleen Miller is a Master Gardener and Horticulturist with over 30 years experience in gardening and sustainable farming. If you choose to use this chemical, make sure to follow label directions exactly, including the use of recommended safety equipment. It does produce short rhizomes, but its spreading capacity is limited. Many tall fescues were developed for use as pasture fodder for grazing animals. These grasses are adaptable to many types of soil. This post is just more proof that outreach and education are necessary in the agricultural industry. 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. Tall Fescue - The most popular fescue used for turf lawns. I don't think it spreads as well as of, but it does spread. Thank you for the question! Titan Ultra Tall Fescue - Rhizome Research, Virginia Beach, VA - Seeded Fall 2009. 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. Tall fescue grows rapidly and requires frequent mowing but does not tolerate close mowing. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. While this can present a number of disadvantages for gardeners, those with shady lawns can benefit from fescue's growing habits and requirements. Recent evidence indicates a variety of human health problems associated with improper use of glyphosate. Thus tall fescue turf can grow denser over time but a pure stand of tall fescue is unlikely to spread or fill in dead spots with new plants. Tall fescue grows at different rates depending on the temperature. To prevent burning your fescue lawn, apply an inch of water to the lawn after fertilizing. Late-summer seedings should be made before August 15 in northern Pennsylvania and September 1 in southern Pennsylvania. Because this grass tends to bunch, it can benefit from periodic overseeding to keep the density but avoid a clumpy appearance. Planting turf-type tall fescue under the best possible conditions gives your seeding project a distinct advantage. Alternatively, you can practice organic tall fescue control, removing it by digging it out. Tall fescue has long, thin blades that are coarse and dense within a yard. Late-summer seedings usually have less weed competition and more favorable moisture conditions than spring seedings. The grass has deep widely set roots. Kentucky bluegrass is a spreading species. Dwarf varieties of fescue commonly used in turfgrass mixes are prone to a fungal disease called brown patch. Tall fescue is a thick bladed fast growing and uncontrollable perennial grass that usually grows in clumps in the middle of a lawn. The marketing name for the spreading trait varies, but they all imply a tall fescue lawn that will spread and repair itself. It is subject to brown (large) patch, especially in prolonged periods of warm, wet conditions. Tall fescue is a turf grass with remarkable drought and heat stress tolerance. Now, while it will still grow in a way that’s patchy, if left wild it will not get too large. Rhizomes extend underground 1 to 2 inches from the crown developing a daughter plant. The idea behind such mixes is to draw upon the different strengths of the different kinds of grasses. Red fescue and hard fescue are sometimes described as fine fescu… Escalade is ideal for home lawns, parks, sports fields, sod production, golf course roughs and roadsides where a tough turf is needed. Because fescue grows in bunches, it takes the grass much longer than other spreading grasses to cover the lawn. Tall fescue spreads in a way that’s a bit unique. But be prepared for a workout, because the roots of tall fescue grow thick and deep and do not come out easily. This type of grass is drought tolerant and does not require a lot of fertilization. Many northern grasses are bunch-type grasses which don't spread, so you'll need to reseed to get grass to fill in. Mow frequently enough so that no more than ⅓ of the grass blade is removed. Tall fescue has good cold tolerance, though it can suffer from winter damage in the coldest areas of the northern U.S. and Canada. Hard fescue does not need to be mowed often, if at all. Tall fescue – known by the scientific name Festuca arundinacea – is a popular turfgrass species that was introduced into America from Asia and Europe. Mowing —Planted fescue seeds need a few weeks to mature before being mowed. As the newest leaf blades emerge, they appear in a rolled-up form. It thrives in humid temperate regions, where it can grow up to about 16-inches. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize tall fescue after March 15. Tall fescue is known for its upright, clumping growth habit that sometimes known as "bunchgrass." One is for those who do not mind using chemicals, the other is for those who want to stay organic. Fescue grass lacks rhizomes and stolons, according to "Grounds Maintenance Magazine." Like their pasture-grass ancestor, turf types naturally form clumps and spread by tillers. But remember, Roundup is a non-selective herbicide. If you need to eliminate tall fescue, there are at least two possible control methods. 2001 NTEP tall fescue trials. Also, the leaves are long and narrow, and it does not tend to spread in the same way a grass like Kentucky bluegrass would. For more information on fertilizing lawns refer to HGI… When it dominates a mixed-grass lawn, it may appear as isolated, awkward-looking clumps rather than in a uniform mat like other grasses. It can withstand hot temperatures provided it gets adequate water, but extreme heat combined with drought can kill this grass. Avoid fertilizing fescue grass during the summer, when harsh temperatures combined with nitrogen fertilizer burns grass. Since tall fescue is a bunch type grass and does not spread, it is necessary to overseed occasionally to maintain turf thickness. It is important to purchase seed that contains recommended varieties and is free of weed seeds. Tall fescue lawns are tolerant of this type of dethatching since there are no rhizomes that spread along the soil. Turf Type Tall Fescue - LATERALLY SPREADING - Rhizomatous Tall Fescue. By June of the following year, the plots were established and plants were begining to fill in the spot. Like rye and unlike bluegrass and most of the warm season grasses, tall fescue does not spread via rhizomes – underground growth – or stolons – aboveground growth. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, "Grounds Maintenance"; Watching Grass Grow; Bridget Ruemmele. The information about the dangers of Tall Fescue could be spread to just a few farmers. Faith McGee has eight years experience conceptualizing and producing print and web content for a myriad of real estate conglomerates. Spread Cool Season Grass Seed You can purchase turf type tall fescue grass seed recommended by your state’s Land Grant University.