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BEST OVERALL: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Tall Fescue Mix, 7 lb. RUNNER UP: Pennington Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed. BEST FOR BARE SPOTS: Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Tall Fescue Lawns. BEST FOR LAWN THICKENING: Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn Tall Fescue Mix.
What is turf tall fescue?
Tall fescue is medium- to dark-green in color and coarse textured. It is a bunch-type grass and forms a coarse, clumpy appearance when used alone. The new, improved turf-type varieties have finer leaf texture, denser growth habit, and possess weak rhizomes (Photos 1 & 2).
How tall does turf type tall fescue grow?
Tall fescue does produce short rhizomes but has a bunch-type growth habit – it spreads primarily by erect tillers. Individual tillers, or stems, terminate in an inflorescence, reach 3 to 4 feet in height, and have broad, dark green basal leaves. Leaf blades are glossy on the underside and serrated on the margins.
Are there different types of tall fescue?
Fescue. You mean there’s more than one kind? Common name Species Chewings fescue Festuca rubra spp. fallax Tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort. (also = Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. Darbyshire; formerly = Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) Sheep fescue Festuca ovina Blue fescue Festuca glauca.
Is Kentucky 31 tall fescue good for lawns?
Economical, easy-to-establish Pennington Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue Grass Seed remains a leading choice for low-maintenance lawns that can withstand heat, drought and wear.
Which grass has the thickest blades?
Tall Fescue: this turf has the widest blades of any grasses in the area.
Is tall fescue grass good?
Tall fescue is the most popular variety because it can thrive in different types of soils and temperatures. The grass can withstand a range of temperatures and of Southern California. Also, tall fescue won’t overtake other grasses. Thus, it’s a good choice for mixes.
Does turf type tall fescue clump?
Tall Fescue has a very wide leaf blade in comparison to Kentucky bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass that is found on most cool season lawns. The exceptionally wide blade makes it stand out in every place it grows and makes it even more visible. It also typically grows in clumps and patches across the lawn.
Does turf type tall fescue spread?
Unlike grasses that spread by horizontal above- and below-ground stems, tall fescue is a bunch-type grass. It grows in clumps and spreads primarily through vertical shoots called “tillers,” which grow from the base of the grass plant itself.
Is fescue or Kentucky bluegrass better?
The final notable difference is their preferred growing conditions. While Kentucky bluegrass is vulnerable to weeds and diseases during summer and in generally hot climates, tall fescue is rather heat-tolerant and is resistant to summertime disease and weed invasions such as crabgrass.
Will tall fescue choke out weeds?
Fescues are cool-season grasses, which means they tolerate cold winters, but may suffer during hot, dry summers. Fescues have a bunching growth habit, which makes it difficult for them to fill in and choke out weeds.
Will tall fescue fill in?
Tall fescue is known as a non-spreading species; often referred to as a bunch grass. One tall fescue plant can produce many tillers. 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.
What grass mixes well with tall fescue?
Generally, bluegrass grows better than tall fescue in moderate shade. When mixed with tall fescue, bluegrass tends to dominate where the soil is limed and the turf is adequately fertilized and mowed fairly short. Bluegrass should be mowed at a height of 1.5 to 2.5 inches when planted alone.
Does tall fescue come back every year?
Under the right conditions, fescue is green year-round, but it can go dormant (brown) during severe heat and drought.
When should I Overseed tall fescue?
Your tall fescue seed gets off to a strong start, before seasonal stresses of winter or summer arrive. Fall is the ideal time for seeding or overseeding tall fescue lawns.
Can I mix tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass?
By mixing Kentucky Bluegrass with Tall Fescue, you get the benefits of both and reduce the negatives of each. Your lawn will thrive with moderate maintenance and watering, repair itself quickly, and remain attractive through summer heat and brisk fall temperatures.
How do you plant Kentucky 31 tall fescue?
Rake the planting area with a light yard rake to cover the seeds slightly with soil. Water the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches after you sow. Keep the soil moist to 4 inches until the seeds germinate, which takes one or two weeks depending on the temperature.
When can you plant Kentucky 31 tall fescue?
Plant Kentucky 31 in late summer or early fall, when temperatures range from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and there are 8 weeks of growing time. Sowing seed in the spring is less successful because of the challenges of summer drought and abundant weeds.
Does tall fescue look like crabgrass?
All too often coarse tall fescue is incorrectly identified as crabgrass. Tall fescue is a thick bladed fast growing and uncontrollable perennial grass that usually grows in clumps in the middle of a lawn. Crabgrass is light green in color and usually grows in clumps on the edges of the lawn or in thin areas.
How do I get rid of wide blade fescue?
The best way to get rid of wide-bladed grass is to prevent the seeds from germinating with a combination of good lawn maintenance and pre-emergent herbicides. Apply weed and feed in early spring when the azaleas and forsythia begin to bloom. This is the time that wide-bladed grass such as crabgrass begins to germinate.
Is tall fescue thick?
Fast Facts for Turf-Type Tall Fescue: Cool-season, bunch-forming, perennial grass. Suited to all but the southernmost U.S. Heat, cold, drought, shade and traffic tolerance. Attractive, fine-textured, thick, uniform turf.
What grass grows best in full shade?
The best shade tolerant grass to choose from include St. Augustine grass and Zoysia (warm-season grass). Cool-season grass types for low light conditions would be Ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue.
How do you encourage fescue to spread?
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. By allowing fescue to grow high, you’ll encourage the grass to spread.
Does tall fescue have runners?
It does not produce any “runners” like some other grasses. Since tall fescue is a bunch type grass and does not spread, it is necessary to overseed occasionally to maintain turf thickness. There are a growing number of seed cultivars for turf-type fescue.
