Tall Fescue tolerates high temperatures and stays green in a dry summer period maintaining production unlike many other species that have ceased growing. Under the right conditions, fescue is green year-round, but it can go dormant (brown) during severe heat and drought. As with all lawn grasses, only remove one-third of the leaf blade at a time. To conserve its health, even tall grass needs only 1/3 of its height cut off at any time; wait three to four days and trim off another 1/3, continuing until the grass is at your desired height. It does, however, need frequent deep watering in summer. Difference Between Zoysia Grass & Crabgrass. As cool-season grasses, tall fescues establish best during late summer to early fall when cool weather supports vigorous growth. The proper soil for fescue has a pH between 6 and 7. Certain types of fescue thrive in the shade better than others. Most lawn grasses are going to be grown laterally if left uncut, less vertically. Seed companies have improved the old standard ‘Kentucky-31′ fescue with numerous introductions of named turf-type tall fescue. Tall Fescue… Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) helps give you a green lawn all year by thriving during the cooler months in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. How fast does fescue spread? Tall fescue seed needs soil temperatures near 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for thorough germination and strong root … This can create a misconception in thinking that this means fescue does best during the winter. Test your soil, maintain soil pH roughly between 5.5 and 7.5, and follow soil test recommendations for fertilization. Scotts Ez Seed Sun And Shade Gr. If you plant tall fescue grass seed in the spring when the soil is still cold, the grass might take longer to germinate than in the fall -- it germinates best in soil that's between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Turf type tall fescue is a cool season grass, meaning that it does best in cooler climates than in warm ones. Mow as needed to maintain a recommended height of 3 to 4 … True to its name, tall fescue must be kept between 2.5 and 4 inches tall -- shorter during late fall and spring and longer during summer and early fall. Tall fescue is well adapted to the soil and weather conditions of Missouri. Now you must be wondering why would you mow the garden if mowing does not affect tall fescue. Grass clippings decompose quickly and do not contribute to thatch. When left alone, tall fescue can grow up to 48 inches high in a year. Perennial ryegrass seed germinates in seven to 10 days, compared to 10 to 14 days for tall fescue seed and 14 to 21 days for Kentucky bluegrass seed. I have some bare spots after last fall overseeding. When you seed, you should apply at a rate between 5-10 pounds seeded at 1000 square feet (or 220-435 pounds seeded per acre), according to Seedland. Maintain KY-31 at tall fescue's recommended mowing height of 2 to 3 inches in normal conditions, and 3 to 4 inches during periods of drought. Tall fescue grass stands out from other grasses because of the blades and its growing style. Mow frequently enough so that no more than ⅓ of the grass blade is removed. This might not be a problem in the center of your lawn that's easy to mow, but if you don't edge or trim other areas, such as around trees or your mailbox, the grass might look out of control quickly. Mowing tall fescue on time is essential for proper management and tall fescue care. The top side of the blades is shiny and the blades are very coarse to the touch.