Fall is the best time to plant fescue and other cool season grass. 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. Choose a shady area that does not receive full sun for long periods. The creeping red fescue has low fertilization and irrigation requirements. Once fall temperatures arrive and more moisture arrives, the grass will rebound. Ryegrass and bluegrass are the perfect seeds for mixing to create the best stands. Many people are turning to low maintenance grasses for their lawn care needs. They mix will with alkali grass and grow in salty soil. Tall Fescue Grass. Do not fertilize once the weather warms for the spring and summer (after mid-May). ft. Ryegrass helps protect soil from erosion until the fescue has become established, and can be mowed or removed in the second season. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. However, once it is established, it has a very deep root system and is very resistant to wear and drought. Creeping Red Fescue is a cool-season grass used in cool, shaded, mountain sites, such as camps, resorts, and cabins where low-input of mowing, fertilization, and irrigation is desired. While there are a number of these grasses available, one of the lesser known types – creeping red fescue – is becoming more popular. Used with the permission of Stanford University Press. When it comes to grass, the best way to grow it is with seeds. Due to its ability to grow rapidly, the creeping red fescue grass is common along road sides, erosion sites, and golf courses. Plant your cool season grass seed when the fall temperatures reach 75° and are dropping as winter approaches. Native to Europe, this cool season grass needs moist soil until it is established. Planting in the Fall presents the least risk of planting failure for cool season grass. However, if you receive more than 18 inches (46 cm.) The 5 varieties are often sold as a blended seed mix for better turf vigor. However, once it is established, it has a very deep root system and is very resistant to wear and drought. Till under any existing grasses to prepare the soil for planting. Red fescue is not a good source of forage for livestock. When Does Slender Creeping Red Fescue Flower? The name is derived from the very finely textured leaves, which are almost as fine as pine needles (Figure 9–4). 40% hard fescue; 40% Chewings fescue; 20% strong creeping red fescue; If tree shade is a significant issue, I’d recommend: 40% Chewings fescue; 40% strong creeping red fescue; 20% hard fescue; Regardless of the type of grass you choose to seed, it is important to consult locally collected data and make wise purchasing decisions. If you are planting a new lawn, you will need about 4 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet (93 m). The majority of the species clump and form tufts with the exception of the red creeping varieties, which spread by rhizomes. Repeat the fertilizer application once each year in October, using 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of grass. rubra) has wider leaves and grows faster but in a sparser habit. Fill the broadcast spreader with 4.5 pounds of creeping red fescue seed per 1,000 square feet. Red fescue has two distinct growing habits: creeping red fescue spreads very slow by very short rhizomes and Chewings fescue is a … If you are in a fairly dry climate and receive under 18 inches of rain annually, you will need to irrigate for best growth. This is the seed for you! Choose a shaded area that doesn’t get a lot of hours in the sun. If planting on a slope, mix perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture cold hardiness zones 3 to 9, with the creeping red fescue. Plant 1/8 inch (3 ml.) littoralis) features a slow growth habit and naturally short height, while the main variety (Festuca rubra ssp. 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