Think of a soil test as a checkup for the lawn: the results will let the homeowner know what nutrients the soil may be lacking, and those that there might have too much of. Fine Fescue include various cool-season bunch and sod-forming species that can be used in water-wise lawns. Fine fescue (Festuca sp. Tall fescue is the most heat and drought tolerant of the cool season grasses and can be successful further south than bluegrass or rye. Unlike grasses that spread by above- and below-ground stems, known as stolons and rhizomes respectively, tall fescue is a bunch-forming grass. In areas that receive two or three hours of sunlight fine fescue – or perhaps a mix of fine and tall fescues – would be a better choice. Creeping red fescue, chewings fescue and hard fescue are all part of this group. Traffic Resistance – Tall Fescue may grow into bunchy sods but it … This type of fescue does well in the northern United States and Canada, and it is known for its drought … These amounts will vary and a soil test will go a long way towards figuring out the exact amounts for any particular lawn. Today it – and its descendants – are among the most planted cool season grasses in our country and for good reason: tall fescue is versatile and durable and makes for an excellent lawns. Fine fescue is okay to blend with both Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass in small, evenly-distributed amounts although it may be noticeable when concentrated into patches. KY-31, the variety that made Dr. Fergus famous – at least in the world of grass – remains readily available over seventy-five years after its release. Tall fescue is grown primarily for pasture, silage, and hay. Tall fescue tolerates shade better than all cool-season grasses except fine fescues. These fescue varieties are … The Tall Fescue grass species is a coarser bladed, dense clumping grass that grows well in shady areas. Fine fescues are tolerant of drought and shade, but they are not very tolerant of heat or wear. The poorest performing fine fescue this summer in Minnesota is strong creeping red fescue. Percentage of weed seeds – choose very low weed seed levels, ideally less than 0.25 percent. Fescue will get very tall, if it is not kept mowed and maintained. Click on the previous links or scroll down to … Unlike grasses that spread by above- and below-ground stems, known as stolons and rhizomes respectively, tall fescue is a bunch-forming grass. It does produce short rhizomes, but its spreading capacity is limited. Tall fescue is a hearty grass that resists many of the diseases that afflict bluegrass and rye. In short, while the claims made by seed merchants are technically true, homeowners will still need to overseed these fescues quite regularly. Seed should be kept moist until it germinates. Watering a little bit every day is a mistake that will lead to shallow rooted grass and an increased chance of disease. Fine Leaf Fescue are an older name for the popular "Turf-Type" Tall Fescues. Mechanical aeration should be done at least once per year, preferably in the fall. Cool season grasses – which include fescue, bluegrass and rye – do best in the central to northern parts of the United States or in milder parts of southern California. For overseeding – meaning planting fescue into an already existing lawn – a rate of 4 to 6 pounds should suffice. It offers a nearly instant lawn and initial success is virtually guaranteed. Creepin red fescue, slender creeping red fescue, chewings fescue, hard fescue, blue fescue are all types of fine fescue grass. Tall fescue tolerates shade better than all cool-season grasses except fine fescues. Consider the pros and cons of fescue grass before making your decision! Weeds that do emerge during the growing season should be knocked back with a quality post-emergent herbicide like SpeedZone. So were we. Few insects pose much of a threat to fescue. He trialed these seeds in various areas of Kentucky and the results of his trials became KY-31, a tall fescue cultivar he released in 1943. 45-55" 50" and taller Leaf texture Fine Fine Finer than 4 & 5 Finer than KY-31 Fine fescue is an informal term used for several species of fescue with long, thin blades that are unsuitable for pastures or grazing but do well as lawn grasses in cool, shady areas. Fine fescue is the collective term for all fine-leaved fescue grasses. Our liquid soil loosener takes all of the stress for you and... INCREASES WATER UPTAKE & DRAINAGE: Saving you time and money from having to over-water your lawn. Tall fescue requires about 1 lb of nitrogen fertilizer per 1000 sq. Modern, improved fescue grasses are capable of providing lawn… Your email address will not be published. EASY-TO-USE ALTERNATIVE: Tired of mechanical aeration? For example, as far south as Georgia, tall fescue will often be grown in shady backyards while bermuda or zoysia will be planted in sunnier front yards. While not as “thirsty” as bluegrass, tall fescue will require supplemental irrigation in most areas or it will go dormant and thin out. Tall fescue produces very little thatch and should not ever require actual dethatching. Chewings fescue is similar to tall fescue in that it grows in an upright fashion but is fine fescue with thin leaves. Some tall fescue seeds on the market today claim to spread via rhizomes. Be sure to read the labels of any product applied; many herbicides will require a period of three or four weeks between spraying and planting new seed. In an effort to simplify the dizzying array of selections it makes sense to categorize them by attribute: Tall fescue can be grown either from seed or from sod. Will you choose it for your lawn? The best tall fescue grass Seed is recognizable by its sparkling green color and the size of the blades that cover the lawn. Also, the leaves are long and narrow, and it does not tend to spread in the same way a grass like Kentucky bluegrass would. Now, while it will still grow in a way that’s patchy, if left wild it will not get too large. Leaves are medium green to blue green with a fine texture. No grass will grow in any area that receives less than two hours of sunlight. Fine fescue will also be much shorter than a grass like tall fescue. It has a shiny underside and serrated leaf blade tips. Also, the leaves are long and narrow, and it does not tend to spread in the same way a grass like Kentucky bluegrass would. This will enable new grass to grow successfully without competition from weeds. About Tall Fescue. For those who are unable to meet these watering requirements, a hygroscopic product can be applied to help ensure seed does not dry out. Tall Fescue Grass Identification. To many, this is undesirable for a home lawn. Fine fescues are some of the most fine-textured turfgrasses available. Plus, we can spruce up your landscaping with new lighting, water features, plants, trees, and more! In this video I give you some thoughts on whether or not tall fescue might be the best cool season grass type. As long as you’re not living way up north, your fescue grass will withstand winter easily. The tall fescues are finer leafed than K-31 but not as fine leafed as the fine fescues. That said, for most homeowners, three to four brief waterings each day should suffice. The leaves are shiny underneath, with serrated edges. Creeping red, chewings, and hard fescue are the most commonly planted fine fescue grass seed. The larger blades form clumps as opposed to a carpet, and are several times thicker than fine fescue. For example “LS” refers to “lateral spread” while “SRP” refers to “self repair potential.” These grasses do spread rhizomes but the amount of spreading is quite low when compared to bluegrass and the warm season grasses and the speed at which they spread is notably slow. Only a handful of these have any relevance to lawncare but parsing them out can be complicated. It is unlikely that he gave much thought to home lawns or even professional grass management on golf courses or athletic fields. Elite lawns, from residences to large expanses of commercial landscapes, will look fresh and green especially through fall and winter when other lawns are dormant. Fine Fescue grasses are not the same species as the "Fine Leaf Fescues". Red fescue is usually adapted to soil and climatic conditions favorable to chewings fescue. Turf-types are more coarse than bluegrass, though not as thick as traditional tall fescue commonly used as pasture grasses. Log in. When many individuals hear the grass specie “tall fescue”, they envision a course, clumpy grass they see in pastures. This grass type is a cool-season grass—it takes better to cooler weather. This genus contains between 400 and 500 individual species of grass. Creeping red fescue, chewings fesc ue, hard fescue, and sheep fescue grass are in the category of fine leaved grass defined as fine fescue. Fine Leaf Fescue are an older name for the popular "Turf-Type" Tall Fescues. Because it’s the safest way to plant fine fescue. Buy fescue seed online at Seedland.com. Fine fescue has thinner blades than tall fescue, with some fine fescues having needle-type blades. Following this advice is important and should be done in the months before seeding. Avoid mowing an overseeded lawn until existing grasses have reached such a height that they are shading out new seedlings. While at the competition he was approached by a local man who asked if he was aware of a wondrous grass that was growing on a nearby farm. Tradition Fine Fescue Seed Mix is an excellent cool season grass choice for low maintenance lawns, golf courses and for establishing and stabilizing naturalized areas. This process has other benefits too: it will help minimize soil compaction and help water and nutrients reach fescue’s roots. Description. The research being put forth into developing better fescues is incredible with new cultivars bred for disease tolerance, drought and heat resistance, and even insect resistance. For those willing to sacrifice the color and density of bluegrass, and be willing to do an occasional over-seeding fall to thicken up the turf and repair any damaged area, this can be an … As mentioned earlier, many of the cultivars not on this best performers lists can still be wonderful turfgrass selection for a … You’ve read all about the pros and cons of fescue grass, so what’s your verdict? Lawn moss is a common problem in yards. For new lawns tall fescue should be seeded at 8 to 9 pounds per thousand square feet. While there is plenty of K-31 grass seed available and often sold as a lawn seed, more desirable tall fescues are available for establishing a fine lawn. While important, these grasses will not be covered in this post, and will instead be the subject of a separate Guide. The majority of the species clump and form tufts with the exception of the red creeping varieties, which spread by rhizomes. Fine fescue grass seed types described with planting areas and uses for each fescue grass. Required fields are marked *. Planted in pastures by farmers throughout Kentucky during the 1940s and 1950s, it soon spread to the Midwest, South and then to the rest of the country. Water Requirements – Tall Fescue needs only 1-inch of water every week and 1.5 inches on sandy soil as compared to Kentucky Bluegrass which needs at least twice more than Tall Fescue. Kentucky 31 tall fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass are both well-known varieties of grass. The best way to prevent weeds is to have a thick, healthy lawn. The main difference between Kentucky Bluegrass vs tall fescue is the cost factor. a red fescue lawn often declines rapidly if an exces-sive rate of nitrogen is applied. Since the early 1970s, tall fescue has been the predominant cool-season Each has its own benefits and drawbacks which makes both types a wise choice depending on the results you want. Fine Fescues are the types listed on this page, while Fine Leaf Fescue is an older name for "'Turf-Type' Tall Fescue". There are hundreds of these on the market with more being introduced every year. Table 2. Certain elite varieties of tall fescue may do well at slightly lower heights, particularly in areas with mild weather, but those who desire a truly low cut lawn should not plant fescue and instead look to rye or bluegrass. Yes. Seed should be spread using a broadcast spreader and then pressed into the soil using a lawn roller. There are many great tall fescue yards in places like Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Kansas. Related Post: The Best Cool-Season Grasses. Chewings Fescue Grass. Tall fescue should be fertilized in the spring and fall with lighter applications in the spring and heavier ones in the fall. preventative products meaning they need to be applied a considerable Creeping red, as the name implies, is a slowly spreading grass. The 5 varieties are often sold as a blended seed mix for better turf vigor. They can also have a lighter green color than other grasses. Weeds and undesirable grasses will often out-compete new seedlings and should be removed prior to any renovation. Like tall fescue, they are hardy in USDA zones 2 to 7. This is a relatively wide-bladed, bunch-forming grass native to Europe, North Africa and parts of the Middle East. Turf-type tall fescue are becoming a popular turfgrass for homes and industrial sites. Pros of Fescue Grass Fescue Grass Does Well in Winter. In my experience the best way I know to buy the good fescues is in a blend like Scotts Turf Builder Heat-Tolerant Blue (click here to learn more) or Scotts Turf Builder Southern Gold Mix (click here to learn more). This cultivar took the American market by storm. When watering tall fescue, do so deeply, applying approximately half an inch at a time. For severely compacted soils, liquid aeration products can be applied any time during the growing season. Fescue Cons: It takes a lot more water to keep fescue grass looking sharp. ft. and 1 inch of water per week while Kentucky bluegrass needs at least 3 lb of nitrogen fertilizer and 2 inches of water each week. Fine fescues are … Turfgrass science was in its infancy during his day, with the first major collegiate program being founded at Penn State only two years before his 1931 discovery. Is there any truth to this? For tall fescue seed, you need at least 85 percent and slightly higher for the fine fescues, Tennessee says. In cooler areas bluegrass and rye make better choices, and in warmer areas fescue should only be planted in yards that experience partial shade or in those where plentiful irrigation is available. These varieties can be purchased separately and blended at home or pre-blended mixes can be purchased at various retailers. This will stress tall fescue and make it more susceptible to disease. During spring and fall – or any particularly rainy time – a height of 3 to 3.5” is best. While tall fescue is establishing foot traffic should be kept to an absolute minimum. Your email address will not be published. Those with large yards should expect to pay thousands of dollars for high quality sod and hundreds more for installation. Lean towards the heavier end of that range for thinner lawns or ones that contain more bare spots; use less seed when overseeding a thicker lawn. Sell-by date – fresher seed mixtures generally have higher germination rates. conducive to growing a fine tall fescue lawn. Except in rare circumstances one cannot both apply a pre-emergent and seed. Under grazing and mowing, tall fescue develops a mature sod in 3 to 4 years. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'greenthumbplanet_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_5',134,'0','0']));One of the main things to consider with a grass like fine fescue is irrigation. commutata Gaudin), hard (Festuca ovina L.), and sheep fescue (Festuca brevipila Tracey).All fine-leaf fescues are bunch-type grasses except creeping red fescue, which is rhizomatous. Dr. Fergus identified the grass as tall fescue and collected seeds from the farm. It also is used for reducing soil erosion, recycling nutrients from manure and biosolids, and turf. Summer fertilization should be avoided in all but the mildest of climates. and ssp.) When the result of his work, KY-31, was first planted in home yards, it quickly became apparent that improvements could be made both in terms of appearance and performance. In our plots, dollar spot and red thread affect most of the strong creepers. 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