Red fescue and hard fescue are sometimes described as fine fescu… 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. A great all-purpose mix but needs to be in full sun areas. As you walk around itÂs obvious where there is fescue and where there is Kentucky Blue Grass, textures totally different and colors somewhat different. 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. Irrigation in summer is necessary to keep the blades green. commutata) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). Kentucky bluegrass, on the other hand, is moderately durable and does not tolerate heavy or consistent foot traffic well. Slight variations in tolerance by these cool-season grasses warrant their use in different capacities across various regions and climates. 10% Shield Perennial Ryegrass. Kentucky bluegrass tolerates extreme winter weather conditions and harsh cold, moderate moisture and full sunlight. 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. 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. Other Articles You Might Enjoy. Bluegrass (often referred to as KBG here, short for Kentucky Bluegrass) isn't bad. All types of fescue grasses tolerate partial shade and moderate sunlight, and drought to some degree. Fescue grass propagates by seed or sod to grow into clusters of grass. It has really good color and will fill in bare spots through specialized roots called rhizomes. Even though it is one of the best grasses for use in shade... it will tolerate full sun conditions although this could require … Creeping red fescue does spread by rhizomes but is not nearly as aggressive as Kentucky bluegrass. Other fescues encountered for lawn use are red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). Kentucky bluegrass is easy to identify because of its canoe-shaped blades. 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. Excellent for use in transition area and Northern USA Kentucky Bluegrass areas. This grass has deep roots, but recovers slowly from damage or traffic. This grass seed mix is specially designed for new lawn establishment. 95 Blends of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars can provide a very high quality lawn, but such lawns usually require above average maintenance levels. Check out my article on the best lawn edgers for a beautifully finished lawn. Dry soils and summer heat stress the plants. Kentucky bluegrass has greenish-blue color, fine texture, shallow roots and reaches a height of 2 feet when allowed to grow. It forms bunches rather than creeping stems and "bald" areas may develop in lawns, according to the University of California. 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. A mixture of Kentucky Bluegrass,fine fescue, plus superior perennial ryegrass for quick germination and establishment. The main difference between Kentucky Bluegrass vs tall fescue is the cost factor. CREEPING RED FESCUE (COOL SEASON) The roots are creeping rhizomes and repair any bare openings in the lawn, readily making a dense carpet. Kentucky bluegrass is the botanical species Poa pratensis. Concentrate more on the products that are tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass blends or mixtures of tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. Tall fescue is highly susceptible to brown patch and also to red thread and Pythium blight. For existing average quality lawns this is a good mixture of species, and chances are your lawn already has some of these species established. 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. 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 … Northeast lawns need grasses that prefer cool temperatures and naturally resist diseases prevalent in this region. It naturally is a dark-green grass with extensive fibrous root system. Summer temperatures consistently above 85 degrees tend to stress both these grass types, leading to an increased need of water. Our most popular mixture with the homeowner and professional alike. Creeping red fescue Kentucky bluegrass has greenish-blue color, fine texture, shallow roots and reaches a height of 2 feet when allowed to grow. Moreover, tall fescue works well if you choose to mow your lawn at high settings, over 3 inches, for example. Fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are types of cool-season grasses. Native to Europe, this cool season grass needs moist soil until it is … Kentucky bluegrassflourishes throughout the Northeast and the entire northern ti… Tanya Khan is a freelance author and consultant, having written numerous articles for various online and print sources. Fescue grasses are extremely durable and withstand plenty of traffic, which is why they grow in sports fields, play areas and parks. Another species known as tall fescue is Festuca elatior. Tall fescue requires about 1 lb of nitrogen fertilizer per 1000 sq. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Otherwise, the grasses become dormant and change from green to brown. ft. per growing season with minimal accumulation of thatch. Creeping Red Fescue and Chewings Fescue provides germination, tolerance, and durability in shaded areas. Although fescue withstands disease to some extent, lack of proper care and maintenance weakens its structure, making it vulnerable to diseases. Bluemix is one of Seedland's best blue grass lawn mixes.. with an improved Bluegrass for turf type lawns. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →. Fescues used for turf include tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). 10% Signet Perennial Ryegrass. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Fescue grass has four common varieties: creeping, chewing, tall (the most common) and hard. 10% Nexus GT Perennial Ryegrass. 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). 30% Creeping Red Fescue. The leaves are rolled in the bud. He has worked professionally at gardens in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Kentucky bluegrass spreads by seed, rhizomes from the main plant and tillers to become a dense grass with vertical stems. While these two grass types have varying tolerance when compared head-to-head, overall they prosper in roughly the same growing conditions. According to the University of California, Kentucky bluegrass has a higher maintenance cost and requires more effort that tall fescue lawns. This species doesn’t handle summer stress very well, and is susceptible to a number of diseases. 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. Fescue is more drought-resistant than Kentucky bluegrass. Cool-season grasses, such as bluegrasses, ryegrasses and fescues, prevail in the Northeast region of the United States. Subscribe We respect your privacy. N/1000 sq. 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. 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