2001 NTEP tall fescue trials. Faith McGee has eight years experience conceptualizing and producing print and web content for a myriad of real estate conglomerates. 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. When it dominates a mixed-grass lawn, it may appear as isolated, awkward-looking clumps rather than in a uniform mat like other grasses. 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. Tall fescue is NOT controllable without killing the desirable grasses surrounding the tall fescue. Kentucky bluegrass is a spreading species. This type of grass is drought tolerant and does not require a lot of fertilization. The leaves are wide blades with a dark green color that is maintained even in winter. The long roots make tall fescue grass quite drought-resistant. Fescues used for turf include tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). When watering, the goal should be to wet the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Many growers have trouble determining if they have fine fescue vs. t… 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). For more information on mowing lawns refer to HGIC 1205, Mowing Lawns. But remember, Roundup is a non-selective herbicide. Fescue is a bunch-type grass, which means it grows upright and slowly spreads in bunches. Thank you for the question! Apply fertilizer in late September, November, February and April. Tall fescue grass stands out from other grasses because of the blades and its growing style. This gives the seed time to germinate, grow and develop sufficient root depth before the summer heat arrives in the following year. The cultivars used for lawn seed are usually dwarf varieties. The deeper you can cultivate the soil, the more quickly your … The top side of the blades is shiny and the blades are very coarse to the touch. The blades are very coarse to the touch, with topsides that are shiny. In the right environment, tall fescue can come to dominate other grasses in a mixed-grass lawn. Also, gardeners cannot prevent weed seeds from germinating by spraying a pre-emergent herbicide on their lawn before planting fescue. She has a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from California College of the Arts. Rake and Water Your Lawn These grasses are adaptable to many types of soil. Do your shaded grass a favor and avoid walking across it. Many northern grasses are bunch-type grasses which don't spread, so you'll need to reseed to get grass to fill in. are cool season grasses, meaning they grow best in temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and are best suited to central and northern parts of the United States. Fine fescue will also be much shorter than a grass like tall fescue. This growth by vertical shoots instead of horizontal stolons and rhizomes distinguishes tall fescue from most common U.S. lawn grasses. Gardeners should fertilize their fescue lawns to encourage spreading. Imho, even common CRF spreads a lot more than spreading TTTF and TTPR, but not quite like KBG. Thus it will require frequent overseeding. The grass has wide blades that are dark green, a color the blades maintain even in winter. Late-summer seedings should be made before August 15 in northern Pennsylvania and September 1 in southern Pennsylvania. 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 grass is a bunch grass and established lawns may eventually have die out in some areas, requiring spring reseeding. While creeping grass types spread by horizontal above-ground stems known as “stolons" or by below-ground stems called “rhizomes," Kentucky 31 spreads through vertical … Since tall fescue is a bunch type grass and does not spread, it is necessary to overseed occasionally to maintain turf thickness. Always leave clippings on the lawn in a practice called “grass-cycling”. Tall fescue and accompanying legumes can be seeded in spring or late summer. 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. 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 has good cold tolerance, though it can suffer from winter damage in the coldest areas of the northern U.S. and Canada. Gardeners may see a high population of weeds growing among their fescue. Although tall fescue grass possesses small rhizomes, it spreads mostly by seed distribution rather than creeping. It thrives in humid temperate regions, where it can grow up to about 16-inches. These grasses are perfect for temperate and cooler regions, especially maritime and low mountainous climates. 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. Rhizomes are stems that grow underground, while stolons are aboveground stems. And if you leave little pieces of root behind, the plant can reappear. I assume that you are referring specifically to the few species that are most commonly used in lawns. Cultivate the soil as deeply as possible. The information about the dangers of Tall Fescue could be spread to just a few farmers. Like their pasture-grass ancestor, turf types naturally form clumps and spread by tillers. As the newest leaf blades emerge, they appear in a rolled-up form. The majority of the species clump and form tufts with the exception of the red creeping varieties, which spread by rhizomes. Chemical control involves using a glyphosate product such as Roundup. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. I don't think it spreads as well as of, but it does spread. 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. Tall fescue plants produce tillers; leaf blades growing from the basal shoot of the mother … Also, the leaves are long and narrow, and it does not tend to spread in the same way a grass like Kentucky bluegrass would. Many tall fescues were developed for use as pasture fodder for grazing animals. Tall fescue is known for its clumping growth habit, which is why you will also hear people refer to it as a \"bunchi… Spring seedings should be made as early as possible to avoid hot dry weather when the seedlings are small. By allowing fescue to grow high, you'll encourage the grass to spread. 1. Kathleen Miller is a Master Gardener and Horticulturist with over 30 years experience in gardening and sustainable farming. Avoid fertilizing fescue grass during the summer, when harsh temperatures combined with nitrogen fertilizer burns grass. For example, Kentucky bluegrass holds up well to foot traffic, but the fescue has greater shade tolerance. In spring the plant produces a short panicle 3 to 4 inches long with lance-like spikelets. The grass has deep widely set roots. Spread Cool Season Grass Seed You can purchase turf type tall fescue grass seed recommended by your state’s Land Grant University. Growing habits of this cool-season grass may determine if it is right for your lawn or whether there is an underlying problem. Mowing your fescue lawn allows the fescue clumps to spread among your yard and promote a thick, full yard. Tall fescue is known for its upright, clumping growth habit that sometimes known as "bunchgrass." Unless you are prepared to kill the good with the bad, this method calls for careful planning. But be prepared for a workout, because the roots of tall fescue grow thick and deep and do not come out easily. 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. The roots develop a very deep system, reaching between two and three feet. The best time to plant it is during peak growth periods in the fall and spring. Weekly watering of 1 to 1 3/4 inches of water is beneficial but not essential. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, "Grounds Maintenance"; Watching Grass Grow; Bridget Ruemmele. It tolerates heat and drought. Modern tall fescue turf grasses descend from tough, hardy, agricultural grass introduced to the United States from Europe. Because of this, tall fescue survives well without regular watering and is a good eco-friendly choice where water is scarce. There are a few things to understand about this kind of grass. It is important for gardeners to understand the spreading and growing habits of fescue grass. Tall fescue grass is fairly traffic tolerant, but it’s a different story with shaded grass. Hard fescue does not need to be mowed often, if at all. Red fescue and hard fescue are sometimes described as fine fescu… Rhizomes extend underground 1 to 2 inches from the crown developing a daughter plant. 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. Mowing: Mow lawn at a height of 3 inches. 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. Certain types of fescue thrive in the shade better than others. Hard fescue, chewings fescue and creeping red fescue tolerate shady conditions. Late-summer seedings usually have less weed competition and more favorable moisture conditions than spring seedings. The best time of the year to overseed is in the fall. Mowing —Planted fescue seeds need a few weeks to mature before being mowed. 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. If you choose to use this chemical, make sure to follow label directions exactly, including the use of recommended safety equipment. These people are not dumb, just using outdated products that were hailed as a panacea for their problems regarding grass in the 1970s. It is important to purchase seed that contains recommended varieties and is free of weed seeds. Pre-emergent herbicides will prevent both weed seeds and fescue grass seeds from germinating. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Grass clippings decompose quickly and do not contribute to thatch. Certain types of fescue thrive in the shade better than others. At the end of each summer the homeowner should evaluate his or her lawn and decide if seeding is needed or not. 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. Tall fescue lawns are tolerant of this type of dethatching since there are no rhizomes that spread along the soil. Escalade requires less water than ryegrass Tall fescue grows at different rates depending on the temperature. Planting turf-type tall fescue under the best possible conditions gives your seeding project a distinct advantage. Titan Ultra Tall Fescue - Rhizome Research, Virginia Beach, VA - Seeded Fall 2009. Because this grass tends to bunch, it can benefit from periodic overseeding to keep the density but avoid a clumpy appearance. If you need to eliminate tall fescue, there are at least two possible control methods. McGee has developed persuasive copy that has received many accolades from real estate companies and publications. For more information on fertilizing lawns refer to HGI… Leaves are medium green to blue green with a fine texture. Tall fescue is a perennial cool-weather turf grass that stands out because of its growth habit. Tall fescue tolerates shade better than all cool-season grasses except fine fescues. The 5 varieties are often sold as a blended seed mix for better turf vigor. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and fescues (Festuca spp.) The answer is yes and no, depending on how you define the word “spread”. By doing this, their weaknesses are offset. Escalade is ideal for home lawns, parks, sports fields, sod production, golf course roughs and roadsides where a tough turf is needed. 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. 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