We are going to take a look at when is the best time to plant tall fescue grass seed. Tall fescue is an important turfgrass that is used on golf courses and in residential lawns because it has a strong root system and can handle shade better than other species of grasses.
The most important factor in determining this, as you might imagine, is temperature. Planting your seed too early will result in poor germination rates while planting too late could result in cold temperatures killing off the new plants before they have a chance to grow. So let’s see what we’ve got!
Best Time To Plant Tall Fescue Grass Seed
The Best Time To Plant Tall Fescue Grass Seed is Fall.
Tall fescue grass seed is a cool season grass and it will do much better if planted in the fall. This is because the tall fescue seed will have time to establish itself before the hot summer months come around.
If you plant your tall fescue seed during the spring or summer, it will not be able to grow properly as it can’t handle the heat of summer. So make sure you plant your tall fescue seeds in fall, early winter or late winter.
Tall Fescue Grass Seed Needs Good Soil Conditions To Grow Well.
In order for tall fescue grass to grow well, it needs good soil conditions. It doesn’t like wet feet and will need a well-drained soil with plenty of nutrients and organic matter in order to thrive.
If you are planting your tall fescue on an area that has been poorly maintained, then you should consider adding some compost to help improve the soil conditions before you start planting your grass seeds.
You should also add some fertilizer to give your new lawn a boost when you first start planting it as this will help get things off to a good start right away. And don’t forget about watering! Your new lawn needs water from day one in order for it to get established properly so make sure that you keep an eye on things and water regularly until your lawn is fully established.
Tall Fescue Grass Will Thrive In Full Sunlight Or Partial Shade.
When talking about shade tolerant grasses, many people think only of warm season grasses such as Bermuda or Zoysia but there are also some cool season shade tolerant grasses available too including tall fescue which does very well under shady conditions but still thrives in full sunlight too!
So if you want to plant a lawn out by a tree line or near some bushes then there’s no need to worry about whether or not your tall fescue grass will survive under those conditions as long as they are well watered and fertilized regularly!
Tall Fescue Grass Is A Great Choice For Your Lawn.
Tall fescue grass is a great choice for your lawn as it is very low-maintenance and will thrive in many different conditions. It can handle shade, it grows well under full sun, it handles dry conditions quite well, and it will grow well on many different soil types so you don’t have to worry about whether or not tall fescue grass will grow in your area!
If you are looking for a new lawn that requires very little maintenance then tall fescue grass is a great choice for you!
Does Tall Fescue Come Back Every Year?
You can grow tall fescue with little to no maintenance if you want to. If you cut it down before it goes to seed (which will be in late August or early September), you’ll get a dense turf that will require very little weed control and won’t need much fertilizer.
It’s great for areas where you don’t want much traffic, such as between your driveway and the street, because it doesn’t need mowing as often as other grasses do.
If you want to keep tall fescue from going to seed, use a reel mower instead of a power mower.
Mow often enough so that the grass never gets taller than about 2 inches, and always remove all clippings so they don’t go to seed on your lawn.
Tall fescues are considered “warm-season” grasses and prefer temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit but below 80 degrees F., although they’ll survive in zones 4 through 8 if they have adequate moisture during summer dry spells.
If you prefer not to cut down your tall fescue at all and let it go to seed each year, then just mow often enough so that the clippings are removed from the lawn before they can go to seed.
This is what most people do with their lawns when they use a power mower rather than a reel mower — keep the grass short enough so that there aren’t any long clippings left on top of the soil when you’re done cutting it.
In this case, though, make sure not to let your lawn grow too long; leave only 2 inches of growth at most in order for the grass roots to stay healthy throughout the winter months when there isn’t much sunlight available for them (and thus not much photosynthesis going on).
FAQs
How long does it take tall fescue to grow from seed?
Tall fescue can take up to 45 days to germinate. The seed is similar in size to Kentucky bluegrass, so it should be planted at a depth of 1/4 inch. Tall fescue needs less water than other varieties of grass, and it can survive in dry conditions for longer periods of time.
How much does tall fescue cost?
A bag of tall fescue costs between $2-$3 per pound. A standard bag will contain between 20-25 pounds of seed. This makes the price range $40-$60 per bag. This is more expensive than most types of grass seed, but you get what you pay for with tall fescue: drought tolerance, low maintenance and durability.
What are the best uses for tall fescue?
Tall fescue is a great option for any lawn that receives normal amounts of sunlight and water. It’s also a good choice for areas where there may be some shade in the afternoon or morning hours (such as along fences). Tall fescue is one of the most durable lawn grasses available on the market today, making it an excellent choice for areas that receive heavy foot traffic from children, pets or sports activities like golfing or football games.
Will tall fescue choke out weeds?
If the weeds are not too dense, you can mow them off and they will not come back. In fact, if you mow your fescue lawn often enough to keep it short, you will not have any weeds that come up at all. This is why a tall fescue lawn is so much better than a Kentucky bluegrass lawn – no weeding!
Will the fescue reseed itself?
Fescue does not grow from seed. The seeds of tall fescue are very small and do not take hold in the soil. Even if they did, they would be killed by most herbicides used on turfgrass. Fescue spreads by stolons (above ground runners) and rhizomes (below ground runners). Stolons are like runners that develop from the crown of the plant. Rhizomes are like underground stems that develop from the crown of the plant. These structures spread outward from the crown of the plant forming new plants as they go.