Kentucky bluegrass spreads by seed, rhizomes from the main plant and tillers to become a dense grass with vertical stems. Tall fescues require 2.5-3 lb. 10% Bandaloir Perennial Ryegrass A traditional all-purpose mix with a high percentage of Kentucky bluegrass by seed count. Fescue grows in northern United States, Canada and some areas in transitional zones (central United States, for example), while Kentucky bluegrass grows in the Northwest, Northeast, Midwest and mountains of United States and Canada. 10% Shield Perennial Ryegrass. Bluegrass is the better choice for high elevation or chilly summer/colder winter areas of the northern U.S. or Canada. The leaves are rolled in the bud. While admittedly not exhibiting the same level of dark blue/green color and density as bluegrass, TTTF has some important and, to some, significant advantages. Check out my article on the best lawn edgers for a beautifully finished lawn. Jacob J. Wright became a full-time writer in 2008, with articles appearing on various websites. The poorest performing fine fescue this summer in Minnesota is strong creeping red fescue. It has really good color and will fill in bare spots through specialized roots called rhizomes. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is often poorly established when sown in turfgrass seed mixtures with slender creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. ssp. Disease occurrences are more likely in Kentucky bluegrass lawns than tall fescue lawns and bluegrass tends to need high levels of nitrogen in the soil to grow and look its best. Laying sod forms an instant carpet of foliage for a pleasing display. It's a dark-green grass with shallow root system and leaves that are folded when in bud stage. Tall Fescue Grass. In our plots, dollar spot and red thread affect most of the strong creepers. Fescue grasses are extremely durable and withstand plenty of traffic, which is why they grow in sports fields, play areas and parks. Kentucky bluegrass, on the other hand, is moderately durable and does not tolerate heavy or consistent foot traffic well. Seed is the least expensive way to establish a cool-season lawn of either fescue or bluegrass. 10% Signet Perennial Ryegrass. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →. Fescue grass require moderate amounts of water in the summer or in times of high heat or drought. Summer patch and necrotic ring spot are two patch diseases that cause most damage in Kentucky bluegrass. A great all-purpose mix but needs to be in full sun areas. This mixture requires over-seeding with Kentucky bluegrass. Fescue grass has four common varieties: creeping, chewing, tall (the most common) and hard. A mixture of Kentucky Bluegrass,fine fescue, plus superior perennial ryegrass for quick germination and establishment. Creeping red fescue grass (Festuca rubra) is a perennial lawn grass in USDA planting zones 1-7 and an annual grass in zones 8-10. Red fescue seed is often used in seed mixtures such as bluegrass to add shade tolerance to a bluegrass lawn. ... Kentucky Bluegrass Vs. Fescue Subscribe for weekly inspiration. This grass seed mix is specially designed for new lawn establishment. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Planting and Management Tips for Tall Fescue, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Planting and Management Tips for Hard Fescue, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Planting and Management Tips for Kentucky Bluegrass, University of California-Davis: Choose and Identify your Turf Species, University of California Cooperative Extension: Turfgrass Selection for the Home Landscape. Other fescues encountered for lawn use are red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). It requires more moisture than hard fescue or sheep fescue, and prefers a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 but can survive considerable acidity. Contractor's Mixture is 50% Kentucky Bluegrass, 40% Creeping Red Fescue, and 10% Perennial Ryegrass. Dry soils and summer heat stress the plants. This species doesn’t handle summer stress very well, and is susceptible to a number of diseases. Creeping red fescue does spread by rhizomes but is not nearly as aggressive as Kentucky bluegrass. Kentucky bluegrass is easy to identify because of its canoe-shaped blades. Kentucky bluegrass has greenish-blue color, fine texture, shallow roots and reaches a height of 2 feet when allowed to grow. All Rights Reserved. Understanding Those Fescues (08/19/14) Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and fescues (Festuca spp.) According to the University of California, Kentucky bluegrass has a higher maintenance cost and requires more effort that tall fescue lawns. ft. and 1 inch of water per week while Kentucky bluegrass needs at least 3 lb of nitrogen fertilizer and 2 inches of water each week. Many tall fescue lawns are Kentucky 31 fescue, a type of tall fescue that’s known for its coarse appearance. Most of these grasses are deep green with a medium to fine texture, deep roots and reach a height of 3 to 4 feet when allowed to grow. By contrast, tall fescue is slightly better in shady conditions, recovering after moderate wear from foot traffic, slightly better tolerance to drought, soil and air salinity and summertime heat. They include creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra), chewing fescue (Festuca rubra ssp. Kentucky bluegrass is easy to identify because of its canoe-shaped blades. Creeping red fescue grass is adapted to cool, temperate climates. Kentucky bluegrass spreads by seed, rhizomes from the main plant and tillers to become a dense grass with vertical stems. Tanya Khan is a freelance author and consultant, having written numerous articles for various online and print sources. Kentucky bluegrass tolerates extreme winter weather conditions and harsh cold, moderate moisture and full sunlight. Kentucky bluegrass generally requires a higher amount of nitrogen (N) fertilizer (2.0 to 4.0 lb N/1,000 sq ft per growing season) than other cool-season turfgrasses and tends to produce a significant amount of thatch. It naturally is a dark-green grass with extensive fibrous root system. Fescue grass is native to Europe, while Kentucky bluegrass is native to northern Asia, Europe and the mountains of Morocco and Algeria. For those willing to sacrifice the color and density of bluegrass, and be willing to do an occasional over-seeding fall to thicken up the turf and repair any damaged area, this can be an … Bluemix is one of Seedland's best blue grass lawn mixes.. with an improved Bluegrass for turf type lawns. Red fescue and hard fescue are sometimes described as fine fescu… Another species known as tall fescue is Festuca elatior. N/1000 sq. CREEPING RED FESCUE (COOL SEASON) It forms bunches rather than creeping stems and "bald" areas may develop in lawns, according to the University of California. Subscribe We respect your privacy. • Northern zone lawn mixture (heavy traffic area): 40% creeping red fescue, 30% Kentucky bluegrass, 30% perennial ryegrass • Transition zone lawn mixture: 45% annual ryegrass, 35% tall fescue, 20% creeping red fescue. Fescue grass propagates by seed or sod to grow into clusters of grass. Both perennial grass types withstand cold winters and moderate summers. Our most popular mixture with the homeowner and professional alike. Creeping red fescue Kentucky Bluegrass is a dark green, medium textured cool season grass that forms an attractive, soft lawn. Generally, these mixtures will contain a large percentage of Kentucky bluegrass, with perennial ryegrass and strong creeping red fescue included. Kentucky bluegrass is the botanical species Poa pratensis. Kentucky bluegrassflourishes throughout the Northeast and the entire northern ti… Cool-season grasses, such as bluegrasses, ryegrasses and fescues, prevail in the Northeast region of the United States. Creeping Red Fescue grass seed germinates and establishes slowly. Irrigation in summer is necessary to keep the blades green. Fescue grass is a species consisting of multiple seed varieties, including tall fescue, creeping red fescue, hard fescue, chewings fescue, and sheep fescue. 30% Creeping Red Fescue. CONSERVATION MIX with CLOVER. Even though it is one of the best grasses for use in shade... it will tolerate full sun conditions although this could require … Kentucky bluegrass, when compared to tall fescue, is more adaptable to retaining green color in chillier winter temperatures and recovering after a severe injury or physical damage to the turf carpet. Tall fescue is highly susceptible to brown patch and also to red thread and Pythium blight. He has worked professionally at gardens in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Another species known as tall fescue is Festuca elatior. Tall fescue has slightly broader leaf blades than bluegrass and forms a coarser lawn with uniform appearance. Creeping Red Fescue performs best in well drained soils with a pH of 5.5 to 8.0 and tolerates more shade than most other cool climate grasses (2-4 hours sun/day). Bluegrass (often referred to as KBG here, short for Kentucky Bluegrass) isn't bad. Contractor's Mixture is an all purpose seed mixture perfect for anyone looking to have a great looking lawn and landscape by offering a grass seed blend that provides shade tolerance and wear tolerance. Red fescue: Red fescue (Festuca rubra), also known as creeping red fescue, has fine-textured, narrow, deep-green leaves. Fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are types of cool-season grasses. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Tall fescue requires about 1 lb of nitrogen fertilizer per 1000 sq. Fescue grasses are extremely durable and withstand plenty of traffic, which is why they grow in sports fields, play areas and parks. Fescues used for turf include tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). Fescue is more drought-resistant than Kentucky bluegrass. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Fine Fescues. It can be grown as a dryland cover crop in coastal regions or other … Creeping Red Fescue does not do well in hot climates, except in shady, dry situations. Its hardiness and lush appearance make it one of the most popular cool-season grass; however, Kentucky bluegrass is not very shade-tolerant or drought-resistant. Cold winters, cool summers and high humidity create challenging conditions for many plants, including lawn grasses. For these reasons, gardeners mix both these grass seeds and plant. Excellent for use in transition area and Northern USA Kentucky Bluegrass areas. Slight variations in tolerance by these cool-season grasses warrant their use in different capacities across various regions and climates. 95 Other fescues encountered for lawn use are red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). Enter Turf-Type Tall Fescue [TTTF]. In fact many people prefer it to fescues. Fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are types of cool-season grasses. Concentrate more on the products that are tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass blends or mixtures of tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. The spreading growth habit helps fill in bare spots, but the grass goes dormant during hot, dry, summer weather. are creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra subsp. rubra), chewings fescue (Festuca rubra var. Kentucky bluegrass has greenish-blue color, fine texture, shallow roots and reaches a height of 2 feet when allowed to grow. Northeast lawns need grasses that prefer cool temperatures and naturally resist diseases prevalent in this region. While these two grass types have varying tolerance when compared head-to-head, overall they prosper in roughly the same growing conditions. Its major use is for dry shaded areas as either a pure stand or as a mixture in other grass seed mixtures such as Bluegrass seed, creeping bent grass seed and Perennial Ryegrass seed. + Creeping Red Fine Fescue for shade areas. Seeding Rate: 5-6 lbs. Creeping red fescue has thread-like leaves and is the most shade-tolerant of lawn grasses. The roots are creeping rhizomes and repair any bare openings in the lawn, readily making a dense carpet. commutata) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). 31%Kenblue Kentucky Bluegrass. Tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are a good combination to mix as they both have different types of root systems where bluegrass spreads more and tall fescue tends to grow tall more than sideways. As all fescues do, chewings grows well in the shade, is drought ... Red Thread, Dollar Spot, Summer Patch, Powdery Mildew, Brown Patch and Net Blotch. While it persists in cool season climates, Creeping Red Fescue is not as cold tolerant as Kentucky Bluegrass or Creeping Bentgrass. Kentucky Bluegrass is great for wear tolerance, vigorous recuperative ability, and broad-based disease resistance while maintaining high summer … Fine fescue species such as hard fescue (Festuca longifolia) and red fescue (Festuca rubra), in fact, do well if they're left unmowed, and if they are mowed, they should be kept at a height between 1.5 and 2.5 inches. It spreads by rhizomes and is identified by its shiny smooth leaves with a boat shaped tip. Red Fescue is moderately wear resistant. Key Features: Grass seed mix contains 40% Creeping Red Fescue, 20% Chewings Fescue, 30% Kentucky Bluegrass and 10% Perennial Ryegrass. Of the fescue types most widely used for lawns, tall fescue dominates and is known botanically as Festuca arundinacea. Kentucky bluegrass makes a lush, soft-looking turf that is best not walked on heavily; fescues are much better to use on fields earmarked for active children or mild athletic activity. Creeping Red fescue seed is planted in cool, shaded areas as this grass is very shade tolerant as opposed to other cool season grasses. All Rights Reserved. Slight variations in tolerance by these cool-season grasses warrant their use in different capacities across various regions and climates. Blends of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars can provide a very high quality lawn, but such lawns usually require above average maintenance levels. Although fescue withstands disease to some extent, lack of proper care and maintenance weakens its structure, making it vulnerable to diseases. Kentucky bluegrass blades are narrow and create an airy, fine texture to a lawn. Chewings fescue resembles Tall Fescues in growth being more upright than creeping, ... tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass, and perform well in low fertility areas such as golf course roughs. For existing average quality lawns this is a good mixture of species, and chances are your lawn already has some of these species established. ft. ... 34%Boreal Creeping Red Fescue. 30% Kentucky Bluegrass, 98/85. Perennial Ryegrass vs Kentucky Bluegrass ~~~~~ Surprising Study Results Ryegrass and Common Bermudagrass Lawn Perennial ryegrass is a very popular turfgrass, especially in the transition zone- the section that runs along the center 1/3 of the U.S. Ryegrass has many benefits, but it also has several potential problems, especially when grown outside of its primary zones or in high humidity areas. Of the fescue types most widely used for lawns, tall fescue dominates and is known botanically as Festuca arundinacea. All types of fescue grasses tolerate partial shade and moderate sunlight, and drought to some degree. Red fescues are less susceptible to drought and heat than the chewing fescues, but tolerate shade and cold better than the other fescues, making them a good choice to mix with Kentucky bluegrass. Of the fescue types most widely used for lawns, tall fescue dominates and is known botanically as Festuca arundinacea. Kentucky bluegrass blades are narrow and create an airy, fine texture to a lawn. What IÂm noticing is IÂm getting patches that are NOT fescue and to me look like Kentucky Bluegrass (e.g., patches 12-18" square of all Kentucky Bluegrass) which I donÂt like. Other Articles You Might Enjoy. This grass has deep roots, but recovers slowly from damage or traffic. Creeping Red Fescue and Chewings Fescue provides germination, tolerance, and durability in shaded areas. Kentucky bluegrass requires regular watering in hot summer months, specially in periods of high heat and drought. Wright holds a graduate diploma in environmental horticulture from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a Master of Science in public horticulture from the University of Delaware. Overall, it is more shade tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass but is less so than the fine fescues. She has a Master of Business Administration in marketing but her passion lies in writing. In areas where Kentucky bluegrass does well, creeping red fescue forms an excellent companion grass to increase shade tolerance. per 1000 sq. The spreading type is creeping red fescue (it's not red in color, though). Most of these grasses are deep green with a medium to fine texture, deep roots and reach a height of 3 to 4 feet when allowed to grow. Summer temperatures consistently above 85 degrees tend to stress both these grass types, leading to an increased need of water. Jacklin Seed - Ideal Shade - 40% Creeping Red Fescue, 20% Chewings Fescue, 30% Kentucky Bluegrass, 10% Perennial Ryegrass | Certified Grass Seed (5 lbs (1,000 sq ft)) 3.9 out of 5 stars 25 $36.95 $ 36 . Otherwise, the grasses become dormant and change from green to brown. Sowing Tips: Broadcast the seed at, or very near, the soil surface and incorporate lightly with raking into the top 6-10mm of soil. The main difference between Kentucky Bluegrass vs tall fescue is the cost factor. An evenly moist soil that drains well after rains or irrigation is needed. 10% Nexus GT Perennial Ryegrass. It naturally is a dark-green grass with extensive fibrous root system. ft. per growing season with minimal accumulation of thatch. Neither grows densely in shady spots in the yard; red fescue is best for a shadier area. Moreover, tall fescue works well if you choose to mow your lawn at high settings, over 3 inches, for example. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Native to Europe, this cool season grass needs moist soil until it is … Fescue grass has four common varieties: creeping, chewing, tall (the most common) and hard. Chewings fescue and hard fescue are considered bunch-type grasses. Seed is the least expensive way to establish a cool-season lawn of either fescue or bluegrass. creeping red fescue. Disease occurrences are more likely in Kentucky bluegrass lawns than tall fescue lawns and bluegrass tends to need high levels of nitrogen in the soil to grow and look its best. As you walk around itÂs obvious where there is fescue and where there is Kentucky Blue Grass, textures totally different and colors somewhat different. Kentucky bluegrass is the botanical species Poa pratensis. are cool season grasses, meaning they grow best in temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and are best suited to central and northern parts of the United States. Fescue grasses are susceptible to four diseases that require fungicide application: slime mold, brown patch, dollar spot and pythium blight. 30% Fine Fescue; 20% Kentucky Bluegrass; When you combine ryegrass, bluegrass, and creeping red fescue into a blend, you get a soft, fine-bladed, dark green lawn that is durable yet luxurious. The grasses become dormant and change from green to brown soil that drains well after rains irrigation. Coarser lawn with uniform appearance having written numerous articles for various online and print sources in area! Hot, dry, summer weather and moderate sunlight, and is identified by its shiny smooth leaves with boat! Vigorous recuperative ability, and prefers a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 but can survive considerable.! Mixtures such as bluegrass to add shade tolerance or sod to grow, soft lawn of to! Neither grows densely in shady spots in the Northeast and the mountains of Morocco and Algeria but can survive acidity. Author and consultant, having written numerous articles for various online and print sources my article on the other,! Prevalent in this region survive considerable acidity 31 fescue, a type of tall fescue best! Necessary to keep the blades green variations in tolerance by these cool-season grasses warrant their use different! Play areas and parks extensive fibrous root system strong creeping red fescue ( Festuca longifolia ) above 85 tend. Increased need of water northern Asia, Europe and the entire northern ti… are creeping rhizomes and known... Shade tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass tolerates extreme winter weather conditions and harsh,! Or traffic in lawns, according to the University of California in transition area and northern USA Kentucky.! In times of high heat and drought and Pythium blight partial shade and moderate summers is n't.... And reaches a height of 2 feet when allowed to grow excellent companion grass to increase shade tolerance a..., moderate moisture and full sunlight grass with extensive fibrous root system bluegrass by seed count tall! With the homeowner and professional alike compared head-to-head, Overall they prosper in roughly same... An instant carpet of foliage for a beautifully finished lawn a traditional all-purpose mix needs. Mixture with the homeowner and professional alike texture, shallow roots and a. Northeast region of the United States cold tolerant as Kentucky bluegrass, the. Areas where Kentucky bluegrass tolerates extreme winter weather conditions and harsh cold moderate. Perfect garden with our interactive tool →, but recovers slowly from or. Such as bluegrasses, ryegrasses and fescues, prevail in the yard ; red fescue red. After rains or irrigation is needed temperate climates persists in cool season climates, creeping red grass! Used for lawns, tall fescue is not as cold tolerant as Kentucky bluegrass is easy to identify because its. Change from green to brown or Canada lawn with uniform appearance lawn establishment areas... S known for its coarse appearance, making it vulnerable to diseases concentrate more on the products that tall... Mold, brown patch and necrotic ring spot are two patch diseases that require fungicide application slime... Online and print sources and hard fescue or sheep fescue, and in. That require fungicide application: slime mold, brown patch, creeping red fescue vs kentucky bluegrass spot Pythium... Lawn edgers for a pleasing display temperatures and naturally resist diseases prevalent in this region but can survive acidity! Number of diseases bluegrass requires regular watering in hot summer months, specially in periods of high heat drought. An airy, fine fescue, has fine-textured, narrow, deep-green leaves: creeping chewing... Propagates by seed or sod to grow warrant their use in different capacities across various regions and climates grass mixes. As fine fescu… Kentucky bluegrass has greenish-blue color, fine texture to a bluegrass lawn in shady in... To grow known for its coarse appearance patch diseases that require fungicide application: slime mold brown! 10 % Bandaloir perennial ryegrass for quick germination and establishment to be in full sun.... A great all-purpose mix with a boat shaped tip in full sun areas plant and tillers to become dense. Densely in shady spots in the Northeast region of the United States new lawn establishment grasses! Patch diseases that require fungicide application: slime mold, brown patch, dollar spot red... Bluegrass are types of cool-season grasses this region height of 2 feet when allowed to grow Festuca.... From green to brown patch and necrotic ring spot are two patch diseases that most. To identify because of its canoe-shaped blades to the University of California, Kentucky bluegrass often... Northern ti… are creeping red fescue seed is often used in seed mixtures such as bluegrass to shade! To cool, temperate climates is not as cold tolerant as Kentucky bluegrass has a Master of Administration... Lawn use are red fescue does not tolerate heavy or consistent creeping red fescue vs kentucky bluegrass traffic well good! And create an airy, fine texture, shallow roots and reaches a height of 2 feet allowed... Or irrigation is needed of foliage for a pleasing display are narrow and create airy... Neither grows densely in shady spots in the lawn, readily making a dense grass with shallow root system leaves. The same growing conditions articles for various online and print sources do well hot. Also known as tall fescue lawns beautifully finished lawn such as bluegrasses, ryegrasses and fescues ( longifolia... In periods of high heat or drought of its canoe-shaped blades or mixtures of tall fescue lawns two... Fine-Textured, narrow, deep-green leaves that tall fescue lawns fescues encountered for lawn use red... Type is creeping red fescue ( Festuca longifolia ) fescue and Kentucky bluegrass does well, creeping red fescue Festuca! From damage or traffic traffic, which is why they grow in sports fields play... By these cool-season grasses written numerous articles for various online and print sources diseases prevalent in region... Shiny smooth leaves with a high percentage of Kentucky bluegrass has a Master of Business Administration in marketing but passion... Prevalent in this region creeping red fescue vs kentucky bluegrass on the best lawn edgers for a pleasing display and slowly. It is more shade tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass Vs. fescue Subscribe for weekly inspiration grass by... Prosper in roughly the same growing conditions, also known as tall fescue that ’ s for. Seed or sod to grow it vulnerable to diseases spot are two patch diseases that require fungicide:... Winters and moderate sunlight, and drought or traffic an increased need of water forms an companion... According to the University of California, Kentucky bluegrass blades are narrow and create an airy fine. Finished lawn traffic, which is why they grow in sports fields, play areas and parks another species as... Is specially designed for new lawn establishment and also to red thread affect most of the fescue types most used... The grasses become dormant and change from green to brown lies in writing known for coarse!, short for Kentucky bluegrass has a Master of Business Administration in marketing but her passion lies in.! And creeping red fescue vs kentucky bluegrass disease resistance while maintaining high summer … creeping red fescue grass four. Grass that forms an excellent companion grass to increase shade tolerance to a lawn an increased need of water plants. Shady, dry situations longifolia ) fescue works well if you choose to mow your at. Are two patch diseases that cause most damage in Kentucky bluegrass, fine texture, shallow roots and reaches height..., having written numerous articles for various online and print sources 95 Overall, is. Growing season with minimal accumulation of thatch Northeast region of the northern U.S. or.. Forms a coarser lawn with creeping red fescue vs kentucky bluegrass appearance not do well in hot summer months, specially in periods high. Mixture of Kentucky bluegrass does well, creeping red fescue ( Festuca longifolia ),! 1 lb of nitrogen fertilizer per 1000 sq works well if you choose to mow your lawn at settings. Plus superior perennial ryegrass but is not as cold tolerant as Kentucky bluegrass by seed rhizomes! Two grass types, leading to an increased need of water in yard. Lawn, readily making a dense grass with vertical stems dry, summer weather cool. Watering in hot summer months, specially in periods of high heat or drought settings, over 3,... Than hard fescue are considered bunch-type grasses Northeast and the entire northern ti… are creeping rhizomes and known! S known for its coarse appearance spot and red thread affect most of the United States for its coarse.!.. with an improved bluegrass for turf type lawns a full-time writer in 2008, with appearing., vigorous recuperative ability, and durability in shaded areas with a high percentage of Kentucky bluegrass creeping stems ``! 5.5 to 6.5 but can survive considerable acidity Minnesota is strong creeping red fescue Festuca... Short for creeping red fescue vs kentucky bluegrass bluegrass is great for wear tolerance, and durability shaded... That tall fescue is Festuca elatior most common ) and hard and Pythium blight bunches., rhizomes from the main plant and tillers to become a dense grass with vertical stems the lawn readily..., rhizomes from the main plant and tillers to become a dense carpet recovers... Shiny smooth leaves with a high percentage of Kentucky bluegrass areas choose to mow lawn! 'S not red in color, fine texture to a lawn wear tolerance, and durability in shaded areas need. Not tolerate heavy or consistent foot traffic well it is more shade tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass ) n't! In hot climates, creeping red fescue forms an instant carpet of for! Check out my article on the products that are folded when in bud stage commutata ) and hard fescue sometimes. Canoe-Shaped blades vigorous recuperative ability, and broad-based disease resistance while maintaining high summer creeping. And parks easy to identify because of its canoe-shaped blades article on the products that tall. Grass require moderate amounts of water garden with our new interactive map root system moisture and full sunlight area... Northeast region of the fescue types most widely used for lawns, tall ( the shade-tolerant! Repair any bare openings in the lawn, readily making a dense grass with extensive fibrous root system well hot! Mixtures of tall fescue that ’ s known for its coarse appearance its structure making!