![]() Under certain circumstances, some tall fescue may be lost if a drought exceeds three weeks. Tall fescue may turn brown, yet can often survive short periods of drought. The tall fescues perform best when mowed at a height of 3 to 3.5 inches, and should not be mowed shorter than 2.5 inches. Higher seeding rates can result in weak, thin stands that are more susceptible to disease and high temperature stress. Use a seeding rate of 6 pounds per 1,000 square feet (sq ft). This broadens the genetic base and gives the turf a better chance of withstanding a variety of challenges. These characteristics become more evident as the turf matures and the maintenance level increases.Įxperts recommend that a blend of two or three cultivars be planted rather than seeding just a single cultivar. Several improved tall fescue cultivars have been developed that are more shade tolerant, denser, and finer textured than Kentucky 31, a commonly used older cultivar. It exhibits good disease resistance, drought tolerance, and cold tolerance tolerates moderate traffic and persists with minimum care. Tall fescue is a bunch-type grass, so damaged or bare areas will need to be re-seeded. It can be seeded by itself or mixed with Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, or both, particularly where shade is a concern. It will not perform well in full sun in the coastal plain, especially if the soil is sandy. Tall fescue thrives in sun or medium shade. It is the best grass to plant if you want a year-round green lawn. It is a reliable performer and easily started from seed. Tall fescue is best adapted to the mountains and piedmont but can be successfully maintained on the heavy silt loams in the coastal plain. Generally, late winter or spring seeding of these grasses is not recommended. Cool-season grasses are best seeded in early fall, but fair results may be obtained from seeding in early spring (mid-February to late March in the piedmont). This is especially true as you move toward the coastal plain. These grasses perform best in spring and fall and have a tendency to show signs of stress in the summer. They are better adapted to the mountains and piedmont. Unlike warm-season grasses, cool-season grasses remain green throughout most of the winter. Tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescues - such as creeping red, chewings, and hard - are cool-season perennial grasses used for lawns, mostly in the mountain and piedmont regions of North Carolina. And consider the amount of time, effort, and money you are willing to spend for turfgrass maintenance. Choose a tough, aggressive, wear-tolerant grass where heavy traffic is expected. Choose the grass that best meets your preference for color, density, and texture. Current information on suitable cultivars for North Carolina can be found on the NC State TurfFiles website.Īlso consider the characteristics of each site and your goals to determine which types of grass are appropriate. Warm-season grasses are slow to green up in the spring, grow best in the summer, and go dormant after the first heavy frost. Tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, and perennial ryegrass are common types of cool-season grasses. They stay reasonably green in the winter. Cool-season grasses grow best in the spring and fall and less actively in the summer. Both cool-season (northern) and warm-season (southern) grasses are grown in North Carolina. Your decision should be based on region, climate, intended use or wear at the site, and desired appearance.įind your region in the map in Figure 1. A number of factors should be considered before deciding which lawn grass to plant. No one type of grass is best suited to all situations. Whether you are establishing a new lawn or renovating an existing one, deciding which type of grass to plant will be the first step.
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