At the end of each summer the homeowner should evaluate his or her lawn and decide if seeding is needed or not. Do your shaded grass a favor and avoid walking across it. Tall fescue has good cold tolerance, though it can suffer from winter damage in the coldest areas of the northern U.S. and Canada. Tall fescue is a thick bladed fast growing and uncontrollable perennial grass that usually grows in clumps in the middle of a lawn. This growth by vertical shoots instead of horizontal stolons and rhizomes distinguishes tall fescue from most common U.S. lawn grasses. Hard fescue, chewings fescue and creeping red fescue tolerate shady conditions. The roots develop a very deep system, reaching between two and three feet. It thrives in humid temperate regions, where it can grow up to about 16-inches. 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. For more information on fertilizing lawns refer to HGI… Many northern grasses are bunch-type grasses which don't spread, so you'll need to reseed to get grass to fill in. Fine fescues are often described for the turf-type fescues when obviously compared to the coarser forage-type fescues. Rhizomatous tall fescues spread by short rhizomes and exhibit increased tillering for increased density. It does produce short rhizomes, but its spreading capacity is limited. Faith McGee has eight years experience conceptualizing and producing print and web content for a myriad of real estate conglomerates. The deeper you can cultivate the soil, the more quickly your … The blades are very coarse to the touch, with topsides that are shiny. The leaves are wide blades with a dark green color that is maintained even in winter. There are a few things to understand about this kind of grass. These people are not dumb, just using outdated products that were hailed as a panacea for their problems regarding grass in the 1970s. Alternatively, you can practice organic tall fescue control, removing it by digging it out. The cultivars used for lawn seed are usually dwarf varieties. Because of this, tall fescue survives well without regular watering and is a good eco-friendly choice where water is scarce. While this can present a number of disadvantages for gardeners, those with shady lawns can benefit from fescue's growing habits and requirements. 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 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. Fescue grass lacks rhizomes and stolons, according to "Grounds Maintenance Magazine." 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. Tall fescue is NOT controllable without killing the desirable grasses surrounding the tall fescue. It is important to purchase seed that contains recommended varieties and is free of weed seeds. Mowing: Mow lawn at a height of 3 inches. Fescues used for turf include tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). Tall fescue spreads in a way that’s a bit unique. Growing habits of this cool-season grass may determine if it is right for your lawn or whether there is an underlying problem. Tillers are a type of sprout that shoots out from the bottom of the grass, so this process can actually be seen above ground. Tall fescue is known for its upright, clumping growth habit that sometimes known as "bunchgrass." Modern tall fescue turf grasses descend from tough, hardy, agricultural grass introduced to the United States from Europe. Rhizomes are stems that grow underground, while stolons are aboveground stems. Tall fescue is a moderate- to coarse-bladed grass that can be grown in the shade and in many soil types. The information about the dangers of Tall Fescue could be spread to just a few farmers. It is important for gardeners to understand the spreading and growing habits of fescue grass. Tall fescue grass can grow in full sun to part shade. When it dominates a mixed-grass lawn, it may appear as isolated, awkward-looking clumps rather than in a uniform mat like other grasses. Hard fescue does not need to be mowed often, if at all. Kathleen Miller is a Master Gardener and Horticulturist with over 30 years experience in gardening and sustainable farming. This means that it will not discriminate between the grass you wish to keep, such as perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and the grass you wish to remove. 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. The 5 varieties are often sold as a blended seed mix for better turf vigor. Tall fescue is a perennial cool-weather turf grass that stands out because of its growth habit. Also, gardeners cannot prevent weed seeds from germinating by spraying a pre-emergent herbicide on their lawn before planting fescue. Tall fescue plants produce tillers; leaf blades growing from the basal shoot of the mother … The majority of the species clump and form tufts with the exception of the red creeping varieties, which spread by rhizomes. Tall fescue grass is a cool-season grass. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. The idea behind such mixes is to draw upon the different strengths of the different kinds of grasses. This gives the seed time to germinate, grow and develop sufficient root depth before the summer heat arrives in the following year. It tolerates heat and drought. The grass has wide blades that are dark green, a color the blades maintain even in winter. I assume that you are referring specifically to the few species that are most commonly used in lawns. This post is just more proof that outreach and education are necessary in the agricultural industry. It is subject to brown (large) patch, especially in prolonged periods of warm, wet conditions. It can withstand hot temperatures provided it gets adequate water, but extreme heat combined with drought can kill this grass. Rake and Water Your Lawn Kentucky bluegrass is a spreading species. Although tall fescue grass possesses small rhizomes, it spreads mostly by seed distribution rather than creeping. 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. Late-summer seedings usually have less weed competition and more favorable moisture conditions than spring seedings. 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. But be prepared for a workout, because the roots of tall fescue grow thick and deep and do not come out easily. Fine fescue will also be much shorter than a grass like tall fescue. McGee has developed persuasive copy that has received many accolades from real estate companies and publications. One is for those who do not mind using chemicals, the other is for those who want to stay organic. 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. Many tall fescues were developed for use as pasture fodder for grazing animals. By allowing fescue to grow high, you'll encourage the grass to spread. Mowing your fescue lawn allows the fescue clumps to spread among your yard and promote a thick, full yard. Because fescue grows in bunches, it takes the grass much longer than other spreading grasses to cover the lawn. Tall fescue has long, thin blades that are coarse and dense within a yard. 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. Red fescue and hard fescue are sometimes described as fine fescu… Mow frequently enough so that no more than ⅓ of the grass blade is removed. At time of seeding (Fall 2009), a 10” cap was placed in the center of each plot to create natural bare spot. But remember, Roundup is a non-selective herbicide. The grass has deep widely set roots. For seeding tall fescue alone, 12 lb of seed per acre is adequate… Hard fescue, chewings fescue and creeping red fescue tolerate shady conditions. Like all tall fescue grasses, KY-31 is a bunch-forming grass that naturally grows in clumps. And if you leave little pieces of root behind, the plant can reappear. Tall fescue grows at different rates depending on the temperature. Spread Cool Season Grass Seed You can purchase turf type tall fescue grass seed recommended by your state’s Land Grant University. Fescue Facts Unlike Bermuda grass or Kentucky bluegrass, which spread on growth from rhizomes, tall fescue grows in bunches. Chemical control involves using a glyphosate product such as Roundup. 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