Grass seed: Fescue lawns & how to maintain them

by Jan Kennemer 07/24/2022

Knowing how to care for your lawn means knowing how and when to fill in gaps with grass seed. Fescue grass is a popular variety of perennial lawn grass that, despite being tolerant of many climate zones, is prone to brown patches during hot, humid summer months. Using grass seed effectively is the best way to remedy the situation.

However, the more you know about different types of fescue grass seed, the better results you’ll have. Here is some more information about growing this cool-season grass to help:

Types of fescue grass seed

Fescue grass comes in several varieties suited for different situations.

Tall fescue grass is a popular choice for high-traffic areas like sports fields and commercial sites. It’s durable, shade-tolerant and has a deep root system to keep it healthy during dry periods. Because of its coarse appearance and clumping growth pattern, tall fescue grass seed needs to be applied evenly to ensure a uniform lawn aesthetic.

Creeping red fescue grass is characterized by fine, delicate blades and deep green color. This type of grass seed is often added to fescue seed mixes to improve shade tolerance.

Hard fescue grass, like tall fescue grass, is used in high-traffic areas because of its durability. The most common application of this variant is in golf courses.

Overseeding

Fescue is widely used as a “turf” grass, but its natural growing pattern can make it tricky to achieve an even lawn. Adding more grass seed to sparse patches of your lawn can help improve the health and appearance. This practice is called “overseeding.”

Fescue grass seed can take several weeks to germinate, and grows slowly once established. While fescue requires patience and regular maintenance, it can be a perfect grass choice for your home lawn or garden.

About the Author
Author

Jan Kennemer

Jan will show you how you can live close to Washington, DC – by public transit and/or highway – and still enjoy all the many amenities and friendliness of a quiet community. Jan is a life-long resident of Arlington, Va. So, she is very familiar with northern Virginia …Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria and close-in Fairfax. She knows where to find those little out-of the-way places where you will still get excellent value and a home that meets your needs. As a Realtor® for over 20 years, Jan has developed a customized system for marketing and selling properties which includes the latest technologies combined with tried and true practices. She has received special training in working with first time buyers, repeat buyers and seniors. She is a certified VHDA trainer and is certified as a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES©). Jan is also a certified e-Pro. She gets results you want – the best price in the shortest time. Jan is dedicated to helping clients satisfy their needs and wants while providing them with a strong investment for the future. She is readily available to provide explanations and information. She won’t push you into making an uncomfortable choice. Jan helps you to fully understand the transaction, so that you can always make an informed decision based on facts and figures.