To make the switch as the weather cools down, overseed the Bermuda grass with the fescue. Here at Virginia Green, we use a special blend that contains 3% Kentucky Bluegrass and 97% Tall Fescue grass. You can’t just use any grass seed. If you have neither, you will have weeds. is usually early fall, but timing also depends on fescue type and local climate. Sort by: Oldest. Tall fescue needs 1 to 1-¼ inches of water every week, ideally all at once. Fescue lawns should be overseeded every fall to keep the stand thick, and especially after a hot, dry summer. The best time of year to tackle a seeding project varies depending on where you live. If you ever purchased Kentucky 31 tall fescue, you may have noticed that the bag is labeled "For fields and lawn use". 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. They benefit a lot from overseeding to keep good density. Tall fescue seed needs soil temperatures near 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for thorough germination and strong root development. To keep your tall fescue lawn healthy, you must continue care through the winter months as this cool season grass is actively growing. 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. How to overseed Tall Fescue. Purchasing quality and fresh seed ensures success in re-seeding. This seems somewhat difficult to justify when water is such a precious resource in Arizona. Some good warm-season grasses are Bermuda grass and zoysia grass. rye or tall fescue? Also the things you do to help strengthen your fescue (other than mowing tall) will strengthen the Bermuda as well. DoMyOwn's guide will help you care for your fescue grass lawn, from once a year aerating to weekly mowings and everything in between. Last year I found a source of Regenerate Tall Fescue on Amazon that was amazingly priced around 100 bucks for 50 lbs of seed. In the heat of summer when fescue struggles, Bermuda is at its strongest. The roots benefit from proper water management. Tall fescue is an important turf grass in the United States today, but that wasn't always the case. The ideal soil pH for a tall fescue lawn is 5.8- 6.5. A Tall Fescue lawn should only need mowing about once a week. Stimulate deep growth by watering infrequently and deeply. For cooler climates, try a Kentucky blue or tall fescue. The tall fescue grass is the best adapted to growing conditions in ... Mow the lawn every 2 weeks. Instead, should I try and overseed with a type of grass that is more prevalent in my lawn, i.e. You will see popular brands such as Rebels or Southern Gold. 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. I have tried contacting them and have heard nothing. It is valued for easy establishment, drought resistance and improved heat tolerance over many other tall fescue varieties. Here’s what you need to know about growing fescue grass in your lawn. Email Save Comment 3. Step 2 - cut the lawn low and rake up the debris. It prefers low-salinity soil, and won’t fill in well in salty soil. DO NOT bag them for trash collection; grass clippings do not belong in landfills. You’ll need to remove dead plant debris and prepare the soil mechanically (that is, with some raking) and with fertilizer. The ideal conditions for seeding are warm soil, cool air temperatures, and plenty of rain (or water). Use 4 … Here they are for you to browse: – Don’t waste your money on all those products on the store shelves. But in the cooler weather when Bermuda slows down, fescue is not able to take advantage and spread. Keep overseeded fescue seeds moist, just as you would when establishing a new lawn. Caring For a New Lawn When Should I Plant My Grass Seed? cop35758. These field types are a larger plant with blade widths 1/2 inch wide or more and reaching twenty-four inches high. 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. 10 years ago. So what are the steps to overseeding tall fescue? If you already have a fescue lawn, you may need to overseed it. This will keep the weeds at bay while your fescue seeds are germinating. You need to pick a species that is suited to your climate and region. Each of those usually has several different varieties of Fescue seed blended together. Varieties of Tall Fescue Grass . This can be achieved through soil testing and amending with lime and the proper fertilizers. But it does not do well in cooler weather and may need to be overseeded in the fall. These amounts will vary and a soil test will go a long way towards figuring out the exact amounts for any particular lawn. Things to Watch for When Fertilizing Tall Fescues. Before overseeding, mow the lawn to a height of 1 to 2 inches. 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. Fertilization DO NOT fertilize tall fescue after March 15. A dark bluish-gray color and wilted, folded, or curled leaves indicate that it is time to water. If not, every other year is a must! More than 8,000 gallons of water for every 1,000 square feet of grass is needed. Wait three or four days after the aeration, allowing them to dry, before you drag and crumble the plugs. It’s healthiest at an average length, which makes it suitable for a wide variety of mixes. Some gardeners prefer to replace it with fescue, a cool-season grass that does best in the fall, winter and spring. Bermuda is an alpha grass that will take over … About 1 inch of water per application each week is adequate. Follow. References. Ordinary tall fescue varieties require more irrigation than warm-season … Don’t be afraid to spread plenty of seed over the area. Tall Fescue is a bunching grass with broader leaves with a variety of name brands available. 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. Aeration is optional, but it may not be practical in smaller spaces. 10 years ago. When mowing the fescue – or any other grass, always remember the 1/3 rule. So if yo One area to avoid using Tall Fescue is where you have high salinity. Texas A&M System: Tall Fescue ; University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Lawn Overseeding ; Tips . They are often sold as lawn grass seed to those who do not know the difference. As grasses mature, thinning is normal—especially if you enjoy your lawn and use it often. Sandy soils often require more frequent watering, or about ½ inch of water every third day. Most homeowners will need to reseed areas that were lost because of heat or disease - … 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. The best time to plant fescue grass (Festuca spp.) 13 years ago . Which brings me to pointing out there is no tall fescue in the mix you stated, rye, kbg, and fine fescue. Learn about the best products and practices to caring for your fescue lawn so you can have the best lawn on the block. We recommend that all of our clients aerate and overseed every year if the budget allows. Also here in central Ohio it has been blisteringly hot and this stuff still looks good. This stuff has done amazing. If left uncut in the field, the stems and seed heads can reach four feet. 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. Use a seeding device or spread the seeds evenly over the area by hand. In the years since, many new lawn varieties of tall fescue, known as turf-type and dwarf-type tall fescues, have been developed. You’ll need about five pounds (2 kg) of fescue seed for every 1,000 square feet (93 square meters). Perennial ryegrass blended in Macho Mix gives the fastest germination in cold soils. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize tall fescue after March 15. Folks with Fescue - do you overseed even if grass survives Summer? Many tall fescues were developed for use as pasture fodder for grazing animals. 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. Whether you're tending your first lawn or have years of experience, learning how to overseed your lawn can improve your results. You do have two choices, though. – Lawns want moisture and organics. If you skip that step, don't bother with the rest. Last year’s growing season taught me some lessons about lawn care. Step 1 - wait until fall. Tall Fescue fertilization requires 3-5 Pounds of Nitrogen per year in your applications. When to Plant Fescue Grass Seed. If you live in the North, you will have the best success in the spring or fall. Like; Save; bestlawn. Some of the lessons were kind of expensive and some not so much. Unfortunately it looks like the seller is no longer in business. A number of modern varieties offer darker green color, narrower blades, and improved tolerances to heat, cold and drought. 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. Known for staying green year-round, fescue grass is preferred in cool climates due to its resistance to frigid temperatures. Post by bentleyvt » September 11th, 2020, 7:16 pm Hey grassheads We recently moved to a new house this Spring and the lawn was professionally maintained. Late Season Fescue Overseeding. About Fescue Grass Lawns. ... Due to its bunch-forming and specific growth, turf type Tall Fescue rarely needs dethatching. Overseeding is spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. Consequently, how do you reseed fescue grass? This will ensure the lawn looks full once the fescue has grown. Tall fescue requires a 2-½ to 3 inch mowing height, and it is best to leave clippings on the lawn for additional nitrogen. Thanks! I have never done this before. Under the right conditions, fescue is green year-round, but it can go dormant (brown) during severe heat and drought. 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. A: Fescue lawns struggle in the Oklahoma heat; this grass would rather live in Nebraska. You can either let them gradually disappear or you can drag a section of carpet or chainlink fence over them to break them up. These soil temperatures roughly correspond to fall and spring air temperatures in the range of 68 to 77 F. 1. For more information on fertilizing lawns refer to HGIC 1201, Fertilizing Lawns. Although you can overseed in spring, fall is the best time. In the spring it was like a carpet. Most Fescue seed available is a type of Tall Fescue. Irrigation: Water as needed to prevent drought. It is important to soil test your tall fescue lawn to determine lime and fertilizing needs. Newest; Oldest; Comments (3) Billl. If you overseed every year, less seed is required. As you determine the best grass for overseeding, don’t forget to consider the lighting of the area. Remove excess thatch and loosen compacted soil in the existing lawn. It makes the summer lawn look lush. Done right, it's a straightforward process that gets results. Watering Tall fescue needs 1 to 1 1 ⁄ 4 inches of water every week, ideally NOT all at once. Yes, I didn't recommend kbg for the reasons you stated in your first post, only more concerning the rye than tall fescue. 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. Grass would rather live in the fall, winter and spring you ’ ll need about Pounds! And practices to caring for your fescue ( other than mowing tall ) will strengthen the Bermuda grass zoysia... 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