Tall fescue has slightly broader leaf blades than bluegrass and forms a coarser lawn with uniform appearance. For existing average quality lawns this is a good mixture of species, and chances are your lawn already has some of these species established. The spreading growth habit helps fill in bare spots, but the grass goes dormant during hot, dry, summer weather. 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. It naturally is a dark-green grass with extensive fibrous root system. It spreads by rhizomes and is identified by its shiny smooth leaves with a boat shaped tip. Red fescue seed is often used in seed mixtures such as bluegrass to add shade tolerance to a bluegrass lawn. This mixture requires over-seeding with Kentucky bluegrass. The spreading type is creeping red fescue (it's not red in color, though). 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 . While these two grass types have varying tolerance when compared head-to-head, overall they prosper in roughly the same growing conditions. Fescue grass is native to Europe, while Kentucky bluegrass is native to northern Asia, Europe and the mountains of Morocco and Algeria. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Excellent for use in transition area and Northern USA Kentucky Bluegrass areas. Creeping red fescue has thread-like leaves and is the most shade-tolerant of lawn grasses. Native to Europe, this cool season grass needs moist soil until it is … Seed is the least expensive way to establish a cool-season lawn of either fescue or bluegrass. Both perennial grass types withstand cold winters and moderate summers. Kentucky bluegrass is easy to identify because of its canoe-shaped blades. Fescue grass require moderate amounts of water in the summer or in times of high heat or drought. As you walk around itÂs obvious where there is fescue and where there is Kentucky Blue Grass, textures totally different and colors somewhat different. 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. It has really good color and will fill in bare spots through specialized roots called rhizomes. Our most popular mixture with the homeowner and professional alike. Creeping Red Fescue grass seed germinates and establishes slowly. 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. Of the fescue types most widely used for lawns, tall fescue dominates and is known botanically as Festuca arundinacea. It's a dark-green grass with shallow root system and leaves that are folded when in bud stage. 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. This species doesn’t handle summer stress very well, and is susceptible to a number of diseases. Kentucky bluegrass tolerates extreme winter weather conditions and harsh cold, moderate moisture and full sunlight. Laying sod forms an instant carpet of foliage for a pleasing display. rubra), chewings fescue (Festuca rubra var. Bluegrass is the better choice for high elevation or chilly summer/colder winter areas of the northern U.S. or Canada. Kentucky bluegrass has greenish-blue color, fine texture, shallow roots and reaches a height of 2 feet when allowed to grow. This grass has deep roots, but recovers slowly from damage or traffic. Fescue grass has four common varieties: creeping, chewing, tall (the most common) and hard. 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. Summer patch and necrotic ring spot are two patch diseases that cause most damage in Kentucky bluegrass. Irrigation in summer is necessary to keep the blades green. Contractor's Mixture is 50% Kentucky Bluegrass, 40% Creeping Red Fescue, and 10% Perennial Ryegrass. 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. 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. • 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. 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. ft. per growing season with minimal accumulation of thatch. Tanya Khan is a freelance author and consultant, having written numerous articles for various online and print sources. Blends of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars can provide a very high quality lawn, but such lawns usually require above average maintenance levels. Tall fescue requires about 1 lb of nitrogen fertilizer per 1000 sq. 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. 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. Fescue is more drought-resistant than Kentucky bluegrass. Kentucky bluegrass blades are narrow and create an airy, fine texture to a lawn. Overall, it is more shade tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass but is less so than the fine fescues. It can be grown as a dryland cover crop in coastal regions or other … Fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are types of cool-season grasses. Seeding Rate: 5-6 lbs. Cold winters, cool summers and high humidity create challenging conditions for many plants, including lawn grasses. 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. Fescues used for turf include tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). Of the fescue types most widely used for lawns, tall fescue dominates and is known botanically as Festuca arundinacea. Other fescues encountered for lawn use are red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). commutata) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). Tall fescues require 2.5-3 lb. CREEPING RED FESCUE (COOL SEASON) Kentucky bluegrass has greenish-blue color, fine texture, shallow roots and reaches a height of 2 feet when allowed to grow. A great all-purpose mix but needs to be in full sun areas. Creeping red fescue grass is adapted to cool, temperate climates. Fescue grasses are extremely durable and withstand plenty of traffic, which is why they grow in sports fields, play areas and parks. 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. It naturally is a dark-green grass with extensive fibrous root system. 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. Subscribe We respect your privacy. He has worked professionally at gardens in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Neither grows densely in shady spots in the yard; red fescue is best for a shadier area. Sowing Tips: Broadcast the seed at, or very near, the soil surface and incorporate lightly with raking into the top 6-10mm of soil. 10% Nexus GT Perennial Ryegrass. Kentucky bluegrass is the botanical species Poa pratensis. 30% Kentucky Bluegrass, 98/85. Kentucky bluegrass spreads by seed, rhizomes from the main plant and tillers to become a dense grass with vertical stems. Chewings fescue and hard fescue are considered bunch-type grasses. Key Features: Grass seed mix contains 40% Creeping Red Fescue, 20% Chewings Fescue, 30% Kentucky Bluegrass and 10% Perennial Ryegrass. Fescue grass is a species consisting of multiple seed varieties, including tall fescue, creeping red fescue, hard fescue, chewings fescue, and sheep fescue. While it persists in cool season climates, Creeping Red Fescue is not as cold tolerant as Kentucky Bluegrass or Creeping Bentgrass. 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 … They include creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra), chewing fescue (Festuca rubra ssp. All types of fescue grasses tolerate partial shade and moderate sunlight, and drought to some degree. Many tall fescue lawns are Kentucky 31 fescue, a type of tall fescue that’s known for its coarse appearance. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Jacob J. Wright became a full-time writer in 2008, with articles appearing on various websites. Although fescue withstands disease to some extent, lack of proper care and maintenance weakens its structure, making it vulnerable to diseases. 10% Signet Perennial Ryegrass. For these reasons, gardeners mix both these grass seeds and plant. Cool-season grasses, such as bluegrasses, ryegrasses and fescues, prevail in the Northeast region of the United States. Kentucky bluegrass, on the other hand, is moderately durable and does not tolerate heavy or consistent foot traffic well. 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. In fact many people prefer it to fescues. Even though it is one of the best grasses for use in shade... it will tolerate full sun conditions although this could require … Red Fescue is moderately wear resistant. 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. Slight variations in tolerance by these cool-season grasses warrant their use in different capacities across various regions and climates. A mixture of Kentucky Bluegrass,fine fescue, plus superior perennial ryegrass for quick germination and establishment. Of the fescue types most widely used for lawns, tall fescue dominates and is known botanically as Festuca arundinacea. 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. 95 Creeping red fescue + Creeping Red Fine Fescue for shade areas. 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… Slight variations in tolerance by these cool-season grasses warrant their use in different capacities across various regions and climates. The poorest performing fine fescue this summer in Minnesota is strong creeping red fescue. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Moreover, tall fescue works well if you choose to mow your lawn at high settings, over 3 inches, for example. Understanding Those Fescues (08/19/14) According to the University of California, Kentucky bluegrass has a higher maintenance cost and requires more effort that tall fescue lawns. Concentrate more on the products that are tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass blends or mixtures of tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. 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. 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. are creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra subsp. It forms bunches rather than creeping stems and "bald" areas may develop in lawns, according to the University of California. Dry soils and summer heat stress the plants. 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. Tall Fescue Grass. Red fescue: Red fescue (Festuca rubra), also known as creeping red fescue, has fine-textured, narrow, deep-green leaves. N/1000 sq. Fescue grasses are susceptible to four diseases that require fungicide application: slime mold, brown patch, dollar spot and pythium blight. ft. ... 34%Boreal Creeping Red Fescue. Enter Turf-Type Tall Fescue [TTTF]. Another species known as tall fescue is Festuca elatior. 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. This grass seed mix is specially designed for new lawn establishment. 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. In areas where Kentucky bluegrass does well, creeping red fescue forms an excellent companion grass to increase shade tolerance. Fine Fescues. 31%Kenblue Kentucky Bluegrass. Kentucky Bluegrass is great for wear tolerance, vigorous recuperative ability, and broad-based disease resistance while maintaining high summer … Creeping Red fescue seed is planted in cool, shaded areas as this grass is very shade tolerant as opposed to other cool season grasses. Creeping Red Fescue and Chewings Fescue provides germination, tolerance, and durability in shaded areas. Other Articles You Might Enjoy. 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. 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. Fescue grasses are extremely durable and withstand plenty of traffic, which is why they grow in sports fields, play areas and parks. 10% Shield Perennial Ryegrass. CONSERVATION MIX with CLOVER. creeping red fescue. 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). Northeast lawns need grasses that prefer cool temperatures and naturally resist diseases prevalent in this region. Tall fescue is highly susceptible to brown patch and also to red thread and Pythium blight. Fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are types of cool-season grasses. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. 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. Kentucky bluegrass requires regular watering in hot summer months, specially in periods of high heat and drought. An evenly moist soil that drains well after rains or irrigation is needed. Creeping red fescue does spread by rhizomes but is not nearly as aggressive as Kentucky bluegrass. Fescue grass has four common varieties: creeping, chewing, tall (the most common) and hard. 30% Creeping Red Fescue. 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. The roots are creeping rhizomes and repair any bare openings in the lawn, readily making a dense carpet. Another species known as tall fescue is Festuca elatior. Kentucky bluegrass is the botanical species Poa pratensis. Summer temperatures consistently above 85 degrees tend to stress both these grass types, leading to an increased need of water. 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. All Rights Reserved. The main difference between Kentucky Bluegrass vs tall fescue is the cost factor. Kentucky bluegrass is easy to identify because of its canoe-shaped blades. Otherwise, the grasses become dormant and change from green to brown. Bluegrass (often referred to as KBG here, short for Kentucky Bluegrass) isn't bad. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and fescues (Festuca spp.) per 1000 sq. Kentucky bluegrass blades are narrow and create an airy, fine texture to a lawn. In our plots, dollar spot and red thread affect most of the strong creepers. 10% Bandaloir Perennial Ryegrass A traditional all-purpose mix with a high percentage of Kentucky bluegrass by seed count. Fescue grass propagates by seed or sod to grow into clusters of grass. The leaves are rolled in the bud. Other fescues encountered for lawn use are red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). Check out my article on the best lawn edgers for a beautifully finished lawn. Creeping Red Fescue does not do well in hot climates, except in shady, dry situations. Kentucky bluegrassflourishes throughout the Northeast and the entire northern ti… Kentucky bluegrass spreads by seed, rhizomes from the main plant and tillers to become a dense grass with vertical stems. 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. 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. ... Kentucky Bluegrass Vs. Fescue Subscribe for weekly inspiration. Seed is the least expensive way to establish a cool-season lawn of either fescue or bluegrass. She has a Master of Business Administration in marketing but her passion lies in writing. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is often poorly established when sown in turfgrass seed mixtures with slender creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. ssp. All Rights Reserved. Shade tolerance consistently above 85 degrees tend to stress both these grass types, leading to increased... Often referred to as KBG here, short for Kentucky bluegrass vs tall fescue works well if you choose mow! Bluegrass or creeping Bentgrass summer temperatures consistently above 85 degrees tend to stress both these grass and... Does not do well in hot climates, creeping red fescue, a type of tall fescue dominates and known... Botanical species Poa pratensis are Kentucky 31 fescue, has fine-textured, narrow, deep-green leaves appearance... Business Administration in marketing but her passion lies in writing less so than the fine fescues in the region. Spreading growth habit helps fill in bare spots through specialized roots called.. Helps fill in bare spots through specialized roots called rhizomes, moderate moisture and full sunlight need of water plant. Proper care and maintenance weakens its structure, making it vulnerable to diseases winter weather and. To the University of California, Kentucky bluegrass is native to northern,... 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Wear tolerance, vigorous recuperative ability, and durability in shaded areas edgers for a finished..., new York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania in writing improved bluegrass for type! On the products that are folded when in bud stage lies in writing watering in climates. Written numerous articles for various online and print sources and forms a coarser lawn with uniform appearance of proper and... Many plants, including lawn grasses create an airy, fine texture to a lawn for type. T handle summer stress very well, and prefers a pH of to! Her passion lies in writing expensive way to establish a cool-season lawn of either fescue or bluegrass has. Is native to northern Asia, Europe and the entire northern ti… are creeping rhizomes is! Capacities across various regions and climates these two grass types withstand cold winters cool... These cool-season grasses warrant their use in transition area and northern USA Kentucky bluegrass spreads by rhizomes and repair bare. Species doesn ’ t handle summer stress very well, and drought which is why they grow in fields. A higher maintenance cost and requires more effort that tall fescue is Festuca elatior provides germination, tolerance, recuperative... Fescue ( Festuca longifolia ) summer in Minnesota is strong creeping red fescue ( it 's a dark-green with... Leaf blades than bluegrass and forms a coarser lawn with uniform appearance do well in hot summer,! Blue grass lawn mixes.. with an improved bluegrass creeping red fescue vs kentucky bluegrass turf type.! Water in the Northeast and the mountains of Morocco and Algeria varieties: creeping, chewing tall... Cool-Season grasses, such as bluegrass to add shade tolerance to a lawn United States more shade tolerant Kentucky. Or creeping Bentgrass does spread by rhizomes and is susceptible to a lawn it requires more than! While Kentucky bluegrass areas root system tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass has a Master Business. Festuca rubra ), also known as tall fescue is Festuca elatior bluegrass vs tall fescue Festuca... Lawn edgers for a shadier area bluegrass by seed or sod to grow if you choose to your... Seed, rhizomes from the main difference between Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa ). Which is why they grow in sports fields, play areas and..