It is important to soil test your tall fescue lawn to determine lime and fertilizing needs. Email Save Comment 3. ... Due to its bunch-forming and specific growth, turf type Tall Fescue rarely needs dethatching. 10 years ago. Thanks! Instead, should I try and overseed with a type of grass that is more prevalent in my lawn, i.e. Some of the lessons were kind of expensive and some not so much. This stuff has done amazing. Unfortunately it looks like the seller is no longer in business. A dark bluish-gray color and wilted, folded, or curled leaves indicate that it is time to water. Caring For a New Lawn When Should I Plant My Grass Seed? Fescue Rule: An important rule is if you have a turf-type tall fescue lawn, do not overseed with a coarse type tall fescue seed. Follow. In the years since, many new lawn varieties of tall fescue, known as turf-type and dwarf-type tall fescues, have been developed. More than 8,000 gallons of water for every 1,000 square feet of grass is needed. Newest; Oldest; Comments (3) Billl. When mowing the fescue – or any other grass, always remember the 1/3 rule. DO NOT bag them for trash collection; grass clippings do not belong in landfills. They are often sold as lawn grass seed to those who do not know the difference. About Fescue Grass Lawns. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize tall fescue after March 15. Which brings me to pointing out there is no tall fescue in the mix you stated, rye, kbg, and fine fescue. This will ensure the lawn looks full once the fescue has grown. Known for staying green year-round, fescue grass is preferred in cool climates due to its resistance to frigid temperatures. As grasses mature, thinning is normal—especially if you enjoy your lawn and use it often. We recommend that all of our clients aerate and overseed every year if the budget allows. is usually early fall, but timing also depends on fescue type and local climate. Another area to be careful of is to make sure that the Spring application is not too heavy as excess nitrogen will promote excessive shoot growth and potentially rob the lawn of more important root growth. In the heat of summer when fescue struggles, Bermuda is at its strongest. For cooler climates, try a Kentucky blue or tall fescue. Texas A&M System: Tall Fescue ; University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Lawn Overseeding ; Tips . 13 years ago . However, you may need to increase the timing to once a week in the spring months when the grass growth rate is at its peak. Some good warm-season grasses are Bermuda grass and zoysia grass. The best time to plant fescue grass (Festuca spp.) This seems somewhat difficult to justify when water is such a precious resource in Arizona. You can’t just use any grass seed. If not, every other year is a must! Not only do you need to choose a grass seed that’s appropriate for the Mid-Atlantic region, but you’ll want something of high quality. Done right, it's a straightforward process that gets results. If you choose to overseed with fescue in the spring instead of the fall, apply a pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn before spreading seed. This is why fescue people overseed every year. Some gardeners prefer to replace it with fescue, a cool-season grass that does best in the fall, winter and spring. Whether you're tending your first lawn or have years of experience, learning how to overseed your lawn can improve your results. Wait three or four days after the aeration, allowing them to dry, before you drag and crumble the plugs. When to Plant Fescue Grass Seed. Here’s what you need to know about growing fescue grass in your lawn. 10 years ago. You can either let them gradually disappear or you can drag a section of carpet or chainlink fence over them to break them up. If you have neither, you will have weeds. About 1 inch of water per application each week is adequate. It is valued for easy establishment, drought resistance and improved heat tolerance over many other tall fescue varieties. Fertilization DO NOT fertilize tall fescue after March 15. If left uncut in the field, the stems and seed heads can reach four feet. Tall fescue needs 1 to 1-¼ inches of water every week, ideally all at once. Step 1 - wait until fall. Stimulate deep growth by watering infrequently and deeply. If you ever purchased Kentucky 31 tall fescue, you may have noticed that the bag is labeled "For fields and lawn use". Sandy soils often require more frequent watering, or about ½ inch of water every third day. These field types are a larger plant with blade widths 1/2 inch wide or more and reaching twenty-four inches high. rye or tall fescue? But in the cooler weather when Bermuda slows down, fescue is not able to take advantage and spread. You’ll need about five pounds (2 kg) of fescue seed for every 1,000 square feet (93 square meters). Folks with Fescue - do you overseed even if grass survives Summer? By learning to accept a less than lush lawn during the winter months, property owners will not only realize significant water savings for themselves and their community, they will also save a lot of time and money. So what are the steps to overseeding tall fescue? This will keep the weeds at bay while your fescue seeds are germinating. Last year I found a source of Regenerate Tall Fescue on Amazon that was amazingly priced around 100 bucks for 50 lbs of seed. Fescue lawns should be overseeded every fall to keep the stand thick, and especially after a hot, dry summer. I have never done this before. The roots benefit from proper water management. Sort by: Oldest. Kentucky 31, known in the seed industry as KY-31 or K-31, helped tall fescue grasses transition from livestock pasture grasses to lush, durable, manicured lawns. To make the switch as the weather cools down, overseed the Bermuda grass with the fescue. These amounts will vary and a soil test will go a long way towards figuring out the exact amounts for any particular lawn. To keep your tall fescue lawn healthy, you must continue care through the winter months as this cool season grass is actively growing. Macho Mix turf-type tall fescue is a blend of top-performing tall fescues plus 5% turf quality perennial ryegrass.Next-generation turf-type tall fescues in Macho Mix are narrower in leaf texture, darker in color, denser growth habit, and superior disease resistance. Learn about the best products and practices to caring for your fescue lawn so you can have the best lawn on the block. Don’t be afraid to spread plenty of seed over the area. You’ll need to remove dead plant debris and prepare the soil mechanically (that is, with some raking) and with fertilizer. Things to Watch for When Fertilizing Tall Fescues. References. The best time of year to tackle a seeding project varies depending on where you live. Tall fescue seed needs soil temperatures near 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for thorough germination and strong root development. You do have two choices, though. 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. DoMyOwn's guide will help you care for your fescue grass lawn, from once a year aerating to weekly mowings and everything in between. But it does not do well in cooler weather and may need to be overseeded in the fall. Watering Tall fescue needs 1 to 1 1 ⁄ 4 inches of water every week, ideally NOT all at once. The ideal soil pH for a tall fescue lawn is 5.8- 6.5. Tall fescue should receive approximately 3 to 3.5 pounds of nitrogen, .5 pounds of phosphorus and 1.5 to 2 pounds of potassium per year per one thousand square feet of grass. In the spring it was like a carpet. Overseeding is spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. Step 2 - cut the lawn low and rake up the debris. Under the right conditions, fescue is green year-round, but it can go dormant (brown) during severe heat and drought. Remove excess thatch and loosen compacted soil in the existing lawn. As you determine the best grass for overseeding, don’t forget to consider the lighting of the area. How to overseed Tall Fescue. Varieties of Tall Fescue Grass . Keep overseeded fescue seeds moist, just as you would when establishing a new lawn. One area to avoid using Tall Fescue is where you have high salinity. If you overseed every year, less seed is required. Ordinary tall fescue varieties require more irrigation than warm-season … Perennial ryegrass blended in Macho Mix gives the fastest germination in cold soils. Use a seeding device or spread the seeds evenly over the area by hand. It prefers low-salinity soil, and won’t fill in well in salty soil. Bermuda is an alpha grass that will take over … If you skip that step, don't bother with the rest. I have tried contacting them and have heard nothing. For more information on fertilizing lawns refer to HGIC 1201, Fertilizing Lawns. It makes the summer lawn look lush. Fescue is a cool-season grass; that means it grows best in the spring and fall when temperatures are cooler, and it struggles during the heat of summer. A Tall Fescue lawn should only need mowing about once a week. Late Season Fescue Overseeding. Irrigation: Water as needed to prevent drought. A: Fescue lawns struggle in the Oklahoma heat; this grass would rather live in Nebraska. Although you can overseed in spring, fall is the best time. Coarse fescue varieties, such as Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue or Alta are much larger plants having wider blades that were originally designed as pasture grass. – Lawns want moisture and organics. Here they are for you to browse: – Don’t waste your money on all those products on the store shelves. Many tall fescues were developed for use as pasture fodder for grazing animals. Like; Save; bestlawn. Most Fescue seed available is a type of Tall Fescue. cop35758. Purchasing quality and fresh seed ensures success in re-seeding. Last year’s growing season taught me some lessons about lawn care. The tall fescue grass is the best adapted to growing conditions in ... Mow the lawn every 2 weeks. Here at Virginia Green, we use a special blend that contains 3% Kentucky Bluegrass and 97% Tall Fescue grass. Tall Fescue fertilization requires 3-5 Pounds of Nitrogen per year in your applications. If you live in the North, you will have the best success in the spring or fall. If you already have a fescue lawn, you may need to overseed it. A number of modern varieties offer darker green color, narrower blades, and improved tolerances to heat, cold and drought. You will see popular brands such as Rebels or Southern Gold. Aeration is optional, but it may not be practical in smaller spaces. Also here in central Ohio it has been blisteringly hot and this stuff still looks good. These soil temperatures roughly correspond to fall and spring air temperatures in the range of 68 to 77 F. 1. Use 4 … Yes, I didn't recommend kbg for the reasons you stated in your first post, only more concerning the rye than tall fescue. Also the things you do to help strengthen your fescue (other than mowing tall) will strengthen the Bermuda as well. Before overseeding, mow the lawn to a height of 1 to 2 inches. Each of those usually has several different varieties of Fescue seed blended together. Consequently, how do you reseed fescue grass? Tall fescue is an important turf grass in the United States today, but that wasn't always the case. So if yo Tall fescue requires a 2-½ to 3 inch mowing height, and it is best to leave clippings on the lawn for additional nitrogen. The ideal conditions for seeding are warm soil, cool air temperatures, and plenty of rain (or water). It’s healthiest at an average length, which makes it suitable for a wide variety of mixes. 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