Fescue
Establishment: Seed, Sod
Plant strengths: Part shade, variety of soil conditions.
Maintenance:
· Mowing Height – Ideally 3” to 4”
· Mowing Frequency – Weekly during growing season, monthly or bi weekly during low growth seasons.
o In upstate SC (Greenville, SC) we typically see the grass start having intense, fast growth February - April, and start slowing down as warmer temperatures become more common. Around October, the growth rate will pick up again through December.
o On average, you can expect 30-33 mows over the course of the year.
· Nitrogen per year: 2-3 lbs. per 1000 square feet.
· Disease tendency: Low
· Weaknesses:
o Fescue does not spread via rhizomes or stolons as some of the warm season grasses do, meaning it often needs the help of a reseed each fall.
o Fescue does require a higher amount of water due to its cold nature, especially during the summer.
· Industry best practices: Aerate and overseed in fall, get on a professional fertilizer and weed control program.
Check out https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/tall-fescue-maintenance-calendar/ for more information about Fescue Grass!