Tall Fescuegrass: Fall is the Optimal Time to Seed and Install Sod

 

The months of September and October are best for renovating and installing
fescue lawns

    Tall fescue is a popular grass in our area and is easily established through seed or sod. The turf is a cool season grass meaning it grows best when the temperatures are lower and holds its green color during the winter months whereas warm season grasses, such as bermuda and zoysia, have gone dormant and turned brown. During the hot, dry conditions of summer, the grass requires the addition of supplemental water to stay green and healthy.

      The best time of the year to plant tall fescue is September into mid-October. Seeding it too early in the season can cause heat stress and diseases; however, when planting late in the season, the grass may not become fully established due to freezing temperatures. Applications during the spring are not advisable because, although the seed will germinate, it has insufficient time to get established prior to the onset of the summer heat. Soil preparation is the most important aspect of caring for a fescue lawn. The grass prefers fertile, well-drained soils with a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Make sure you have the soil tested through UGA Extension Gwinnett to determine the pH and nutrient needs.

      Most established fescue lawns need to be periodically reseeded since they tend to thin out over time. Since our soils are mostly clay, they are easily compacted by rain, irrigation, foot traffic, and the intense summer heat, which decreases the ability of the roots to grow, for air and water to penetrate into the soil. To reduce compaction, use a hollow tine core aerator every two to four years, which is available from rental stores or garden centers.  The tines poke holes into the ground and pull out small one to two-inch-long “cores.” The deposition of the small cores of soil on top of the ground also assists reducing compaction. Mow the grass down to one and one-half inches to help improve the ease of aerating the soil and for the seed to make soil contact before aerating. When using the machine, do so in a criss-cross direction by first going over the entire lawn, back and forth in one direction and then go back and forth at right angles to the first series of trips. If you are not aerating, use a steel rake to break up the soil in bare areas to ensure the seed gets into the soil.

    The seed purchased should be of high quality to ensure a high percent of germination and minimal weed content, and should have this information listed on the tag. Apply the seed at the rate of five to seven pounds per 1,000 square feet. Resist the temptation to use more seed since closely growing seedlings compete with each other for water and nutrients in addition to being more susceptible to disease. One of the most commonly used fescue seed has been Kentucky-31. However, new improved cultivated varieties, such as ‘Southeast,’ ‘Rebel,’ and ‘Tenacity,’ are more attractive cultivars and are referred to as "turf-type" tall fescues. They have finer leaf blades, lower growth habit, darker green color, greater density and more tolerance to heat and shade than K-31.

      After over-seeding has been completed, the upper one-inch soil needs to be kept moist during the time the seed is germinating by thorough applications of water two to three. Refrain from mowing for a couple of weeks after the seed has been applied, and then mow at the height of two to three inches.

    With proper preparation and planning, and using the appropriate cultural methods to maintain the fescue plot, you will have an attractive and healthy lawn giving you an exceptionally lush, green carpet of grass throughout the year.