The ribbed blades of fescue grass are very coarse to the touch, with shiny topsides.
As the newest leaf blades emerge, they appear in a rolled-up form.
What Is Fescue Grass?
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Fescue grass(Festucaspp.)
is a cool-season perennial grass found in the Pacific Northwest and southern states.
It is naturally found in damp pastures or wet meadowlands.
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Tall fescue is known for its fast, upright, clumping growth habit, sometimes called “bunchgrass.”
The 2 to 3-foot-deep root system provides superior heat and drought tolerance.
The cultivars used for fescue grass seed are usually dwarf varieties.
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The varieties created for turf lawn use are mostly dwarf varieties ofF.
For example, Kentucky bluegrass holds up well to foot traffic, while fescue has greatershade tolerance.
Tall Fescue Grass Care
Tall fescue grass is a cool-season grass with increased heat tolerance.
The best time to plant it is during peak growth periods in the fall and spring.
Thistype of grassisdrought-tolerantand does not require a lot of fertilization.
The roots develop a very deep system, reaching between 2 and 3 feet.
Bag the first cut of spring to discourage the spread of snow mold or other fungal diseases.
Keeping lawn grasses relatively long is the best way to block out weed growth.
Light
Tall fescue grass can grow in full sun to partial shade.
Soil
These grasses are adaptable to many types of soil.
The deep roots can find nutrients and moisture in almost any soil throw in.
Water
Water the grassweekly, with 1 to 1 3/4 inches of water.
While weekly watering is beneficial, it is not essential.
When watering, the goal should be to wet the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches.
The long roots make tall fescue grass quite drought-resistant.
Only water when there’s not adequate rainfall.
Seasonal Care
There will be different care needs for tall fescue grass depending on the season.
Seed it in bare soil, if possible, to a depth of about 1/2 inch.
Keep the soil damp while you wait for the seeds to germinate.
Wait until blades are 4 inches or more in length before mowing for the first time.
see to it not to use pre-emergent herbicides for 90 days within seeding.
If you must eliminate tall fescue, at least two possible control methods exist.
If you reseed in the fall,remove thatchbefore you do it.
Alternatively, you might practice organic tall fescue control, removing it by digging it out.
And if you leave little pieces of root behind, the plant can reappear.
Fescue grass is easy to keep, not requiring much care.
Tall fescue is a perennial that comes back year after year.
Yes, fescue grass can stay green all year long.
This is because of both their shade and drought tolerance.
