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Features
- Adaptable to wide variety of soil and climatic conditions
- Quick germination, rapid establishment
- Good wear resistance
- Moderately shade tolerant
- Often used in seed mixes with other species
- Ideal pH 5.5 to 6.5
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Area Suitable for Tall Fescue ? |
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Type |
Cool season |
When to Fertilize |
Spring and Fall |
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Light |
Full sun to partial shade |
Mowing Height |
2 to 4 inches |
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Planting Method |
Seed, sod |
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TALL FESCUE IN THE LANDSCAPE Back to Top |
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Tall fescue is increasingly popular in California and other climates where summers are warm and winters are mild, such as the midsection of the country which lawn experts call "the transitional zone." Tall fescue is basically a bunch-forming grass that does not creep, but close spacing forces the plants to become thin and upright. |
Equipped with very deep roots, tall fescue withstands heat and drought better than other cool-season grasses, and often remains green through much of the winter. |
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Tall fescue will grow in either partial shade or sun. It grows well beneath trees that shed their leaves in winter. |
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Even a strong tall fescue lawn will become semi-dormant when the weather is hot and dry, but it will survive. Water is most beneficial in early fall, when tall fescue is making new growth under dry conditions. |
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Tall fescue responds dramatically to being properly fed. Fertilize it correctly and tall fescue will provide dazzling green color most of the year. |
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BEAUTIFUL TALL FESCUE, SEASON BY SEASON Back to Top |
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You can have a beautiful tall fescue lawn by following an easy Vigoro Ultra Turf Step-by-Step Annual Lawn Care Program. Together with proper mowing and watering, these measures will help tall fescue grow strong and healthy.
In many sites, a tall fescue lawn can be improved by adding small amounts of other grasses, such as fine fescue (which grows well in shade) and perennial ryegrass (which wears well). These are often found in special seed mixes. The same Vigoro Ultra Turf Step-by-Step Annual Lawn Care Program used to maintain tall fescue works well with these grass mixes, too. |
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VIGORO ULTRA TURF STEP-BY-STEP ANNUAL LAWN CARE PROGRAM Back to Top |
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To get weed problems under control, follow the Vigoro Ultra Turf Step-by-Step Annual Lawn Care Program shaded in purple. If your lawn is already in good condition, follow the Vigoro Ultra Turf Step-by-Step Annual Lawn Care Program shaded in blue. You can start either program during any season, but the key is to complete a full year. After a year you will see marked improvements in your lawn. When applying any lawn care product, always read the entire label first and follow directions. Be especially careful with weed control products and only use products labeled for use on tall fescue. |
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Restoring Tall Fescue |
Maintaining Tall Fescue |
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Step 1: Apply in late winter or early spring
- Vigoro Ultra Turf Crabgrass Preventer Plus Fertilizer
- Vigoro Ultra Turf Moss Control plus Fertilizer (Pacific Northwest)
- Lime (only if needed to raise pH)
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Step 1: Apply in late winter or early spring
- Vigoro Ultra Turf Turf Fertilizer (in areas with mild winters)
- Lime, if needed
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Step 2: Apply in mid to late spring
- Vigoro Ultra Turf Weed and Feed (in areas with cool springs and mild summers)
- Vigoro Lawn Weed Control (in areas with warm springs and hot summers)
- Insect Control, if needed
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Step 2: Apply in late spring or early summer
- Vigoro Ultra Turf Turf Fertilizer (in areas with cold winters)
- Insect Control, if needed
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Step 3: Apply in late summer
- Vigoro Ultra Turf Turf Fertilizer
- Insect Control, if needed
- Vigoro Ultra Turf Starter Fertilizer (if seeding or patching a lawn)
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Step 3: Apply in late summer
- Vigoro Ultra Turf Turf Fertilizer (in all areas)
- Insect Control, if needed
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Step 4: Apply in fall
- Vigoro Ultra Turf Turf Fertilizer
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Step 4: Apply in fall
- Vigoro Ultra Turf Turf Fertilizer
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PRODUCT |
DESCRIPTION |
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Vigoro Ultra Turf Crabgrass Preventer Plus Fertilizer |
Keeps crabgrass seeds and other grassy weeds from germinating and fertilizes the lawn at the same time. Crabgrass Preventer with Dimension® keeps on killing crabgrass up to 4 weeks after it sprouts. Dimension® also prevents the sprouting of many broadleaf weeds, such as spurge, chickweed, and henbit. |
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Vigoro Ultra Turf Moss Control plus Fertilizer |
Will rid your lawn of moss. Although listed as an early spring application, you can use this product at any step. |
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Vigoro Ultra Turf Weed and Feed |
Kills broadleaf weeds that are actively growing and feeds the lawn at the same time. For best results apply it when weeds are still young and vigorously growing. Don't wait. Mowing a couple of days before applying will help stimulate new growth of older weeds. |
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Vigoro Ultra Turf Turf Fertilizer |
Should contain a combination of fast-release nitrogen to green the lawn quickly and timed-release nitrogen to feed grass for up to 2 or 3 months. |
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Vigoro Ultra Turf Starter Fertilizer |
Contains nitrogen and plenty of phosphorus to promote fast growth and strong root development of new seedlings. |
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Lime |
Raises the pH of soil that is too acidic. Easy Lime® is an easy-to-use, granular lime that is not as dusty as ordinary lime. |
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Insect Control |
Is important for the control of white grubs, fleas, cutworms, and other major lawn pests. If these have been a problem in your lawn, apply Insect Control early, while the pests are still young. You can also apply Vigoro Ultra Turf Summer Fertilizer with Insect Control to combine feeding and control in one easy application. |
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VIGORO ULTRA TURF TIPS FOR BETTER TALL FESCUE Back to Top |
- Always use a fertilizer spreader to spread lawn care products evenly. If you apply Vigoro Ultra Turf Weed and Feed, use a drop-type spreader for accurate application at the edge of flower and shrub beds. A broadcast spreader can throw weed control products into the planting area where it may cause damage.
- Never mow too close. Close cutting weakens the grass and invites weeds. At the peak of summer, raise the mowing height to 4 inches. Avoid mowing altogether when the lawn is stressed by drought.
- In heavy clay soil, aerate established tall fescue lawns every 2 to 3 years to improve drainage and rooting. The best time to aerate is early fall.
- Promptly repair damaged areas with fresh seed. The best time to plant tall fescue seed is in early fall, but you can also plant in early spring
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OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION Back to Top |
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Working with Tall Fescue
About every two to three years, tall fescue lawns benefit from reseeding. In most areas the best time to do this is early fall. Tall fescue sown in the fall has plenty of time to develop deep roots before the following summer. However, if your lawn needs reseeding and fall is long passed, you can get good results planting tall fescue seed in early spring.
Look at the contents label on bags of grass seed to identify the varieties of tall fescue and companion species. Choose new, named selections over the old, primitive strain called Kentucky 31. Newer selections have better texture, require less mowing, and many are naturally dwarf. Tall fescue seed germinates quickly, usually within 10 days after sowing.
Before reseeding, mow the lawn and collect the clippings. Rake over the area roughly to score the surface of the soil, and remove large weeds by pulling them up with roots attached. Evenly spread a high phosphorus starter fertilizer, but do not use any type of weed control just before reseeding fescue; they may interfere with germination of the seeds. Spread or broadcast seeds over the prepared area, and press them into the soil with a roller or the back of a spade. When planting seeds into bare soil, sprinkle the seeded area lightly with clean, weed-free straw (such as wheat straw) to keep the seeds and soil in place during heavy rains. |
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