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