Fescues, in general, are more deeply rooted than all other cool-season grasses like bluegrasses and ryegrasses. This allows for better heat and drought tolerance during a Missouri summer.
Requiring less water than bluegrass or ryegrass keeps them from greener longer with the onset of droughts. Fescues are recommended in lawns when irrigation is not a choice or option. Establishment rates for fine and turf-type fescues are 6 to 8 pounds per 1, square feet. Mowing heights are best at 3. Brown patch Rhizoctonia solani is the most important disease limiting tall fescue use in Missouri.
Disease symptoms will vary according to mowing height. Brown patch on higher-cut turfgrass lawn height of 3. A characteristic irregularly shaped straw-colored lesion with a dark brown margin can be seen on newly infected leaves along the margin of patches. When fescue is wet in the early morning, tufts of pathogen mycelium may be seen scattered along patch margins Fresenburg et al. Blends and Mixtures: Blends three to four varieties in equal portions of turf-type tall fescues can give deep emerald green appearances with a slightly coarser texture than Kentucky bluegrasses.
They tend to be a deeper rooting plant, therefore requiring less water than a bluegrass lawn. They are not as susceptible to dollar spot and summer patch, but generally will require some fungicides for the control of brown patch disease. Several varieties of turf-type tall fescues offer superior resistance to brown patch and therefore will improve turf quality.
Tall fescues will tiller to help with recovery, but tend to be clumpy with severe thinning. They also grow well in full sun to partial shade. Mixtures, such as turf-type tall fescues in a blend with Kentucky bluegrasses 90 percent fescue, 10 percent bluegrass , combine the advantages or strengths of each species to mask the weaknesses of the other.
Your landscape looks cleaner and more finished with less edging work. Tall fescues naturally have deep, extensive root zones that typically reach 2 to 3 feet deep. This translates to increased tolerance for heat, drought and even poor drainage. These improved turf-type tall fescue varieties optimize your lawn's drought resistance, reduce supplemental irrigation needs and improve nutrient uptake, leaving your lawn less susceptible to environmental conditions that stress and weaken other grass types.
Many widely used lawn grasses, including Kentucky bluegrass and Bermudagrass, struggle without adequate sun. When your lawn is an integral part of a landscape that includes ornamental shrubs and shade trees, grasses with high sun requirements work against curb appeal. High-performance TT tall fescues are among the most shade tolerant of all cool-season grasses, yet they thrive in sunny conditions, too. This premium mix combines a blend of adaptable, shade-tolerant TT tall fescue varieties with fine fescue, the only cool-season lawn grass with better shade tolerance.
Even in areas receiving less than four hours of direct sun per day, these seed mixes produce attractive, dense, dark green, finely textured lawns. Turf-type tall fescues are often mixed with fine fescues for a finely textured, shade-tolerant lawn. Get the most from your tall fescue lawn in performance and beauty, with proper care and maintenance. By following best practices for tall fescue, you keep your lawn at its peak.
Major Lawn Tasks - For cool-season grasses such as tall and fine fescues, plan major lawn tasks for their optimal growth periods in fall and spring. For TT tall fescue, late summer to early fall is the best time to plant seed or do other major projects such as overseeding or aerating. The cool air temperatures combined with warm soil temperatures enhance seed germination, speed establishment and aid quick recovery.
Spring is the second best time for these major tasks on your tall fescue lawn. Time tall fescue lawn projects properly, follow best practices for planting seed, and the natural growth cycle works to your advantage. A lawn planted with a majority of turf-type tall fescue will not only look great but also be able to withstand heat and drought. It provides homeowners with a low-input, easy-to-maintain lawn. Not many kinds of grass can deliver on that claim. Fescues are among the rare turfgrasses that are able to host endophytes—a type of fungus that lives symbiotically with the plant.
The endophytes do not harm the grass; instead, their presence has been found to be beneficial to the health of the turf. The presence of endophytes enables the grass to better withstand stresses like heat and drought and provides an element of insect and mammal resistance.
Endophytes are naturally occurring in some instances, but grass seed can also be inoculated after harvesting. This is a safe, natural way to provide another level of defense against diseases, pests, and other plant stressors.
Endophyte-inoculated seed needs to be stored in a cool, dry environment or the benefits will be reduced, so it is important to order seed from a reputable source that has fresh stock. Plant stressors vary according to species; some plants can tolerate certain environments while others lose their vitality and might even die. Common stressors include high heat, freezing temperatures, drought, both high and low humidity, poorly draining soil, excess salt in the soil, pollution, pests, and diseases.
Fine fescues emit an amino acid called meta-tyrosine through the roots and into the soil. This acid acts as a built-in herbicide. Treat broadleaf weeds and prepare your established tall fescue lawn for winter. If you're seeding or overseeding thin tall fescue, avoid weed and feed products until spring. Early fall is the ideal time to seed or overseed northern and southern tall fescue lawns. This helps tall fescue gets established before winter comes.
Reduce supplemental irrigation in northern lawns so that tall fescue lawn gets at least 1 inch of water every 10 to 14 days. Continue watering southern tall fescue lawns so they receive at least 1 inch of water per week. If needed, aerate lawns with a core aerator to reduce soil compaction. Timing aeration during peak fall growth helps tall fescue recover faster.
Bunch-forming tall fescue lawns rarely need dethatching. Manage fallen leaves by raking or mulching to reduce the risk of winter lawn disease. Continue maintaining your tall fescue lawn through the winter months. Maintain normal mowing heights of 2 to 3 inches. Supplement natural precipitation, as needed, so that your tall fescue lawn gets at least 1 inch of weekly water. Keep your tall fescue lawn free of toys, sticks, rocks and other winter debris. Flush areas damaged by pet urine or de-icing salts when soil thaws.
This helps prepare bare spots for quick lawn repairs. By giving your lawn a foundation of premium Pennington tall fescue varieties, you can enjoy thicker, lusher, more resilient grass from northern regions to southern transition zones. Pennington has been cultivating the trust of homeowners and lawn professionals for three generations with the finest grass seed possible.
With Pennington tall fescue grasses, you benefit from better research, better seed and better results — guaranteed. Patton, A. Cook, T. When you're on a quest for the perfect lawn, you're bound to encounter challenges.
Water conservation and a healthy, beautiful lawn aren't mutually exclusive. You can do your part to manage water usage, and keep your lawn. Seeding your lawn is an economical and satisfying way to introduce healthy turf to your yard. Tall Fescue at a Glance.
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