Growth Characteristics of Fine Leaved Fescues

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1 Growth Characteristics of Fine Leaved Fescues They have the finest leaves of any lawn grass An upright growth habit creates a high degree of uniformity They may be seeded alone or used in mixtures with other grasses because of an ability to blend in with varying types Rapid germination and seedling establishment make their use with slower germinating bluegrasses desirable They are excellent for overseeding poor lawns to improve turf quality Fertilizer requirements average about 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet a year; this is the lowest fertilizer requirement of any cool season grass They have excellent drought tolerance and enter summer dormancy in a normal way when irrigation is withheld They are as shade tolerant as any cool season grass Heat and cold tolerance are good A low growth habit results in uniform response to mowing They are adapted to well drained, infertile soils They grow within a soil acidity range of ph 5.0 to 6.5 In mixtures with other grasses, they add disease resistance to the turf Available as Chewings type fine leaved, lower growing characteristics. Without rhizomes, it spreads slowly by basal tillering Available as creeping type -- fine leafed, low growing characteristics: spreads by short, thin rhizomes Available as hard type attractive leafy, low growing, fine textured, dark green characteristics Available as Sheeps Fescue drought and low fertility Seeding Guide Seeding Rate New lawns 6 lbs./1000 square feet Established lawns 4 lbs./1000 square feet Seeding depth 1/8 to 1/2 Days to germinate Fescue normally 14 Pre-soak 7 Keep moist by watering 4 to 7

2 Chewings Fine Fescue Banner III Good disease resistance Very fine blade Requires less mowing Improved color in cold weather Jamestown II Deep green color Increased turf density Lower cutting possible Improved spring transition Longfellow II Very dark green in color Fine textured, low thatch buildup Improved resistance to red thread and other diseases Superior tolerance to heat Shadow II Rich blue-green color Resistance to leaf spot and powdery mildew Very good seedling vigor Excellent in shade mixtures Performs best on sandy or clay soils Tiffany Dark green color and dwarf growth habit High endophyte Good disease resistance Best density and overall turf quality Windward Very fine leafed and dark green Great winter tolerance Recommended for use in blends

3 Creeping Fine Fescue Aruba Excellent seedling vigor Persistent on low ph, infertile sites Rhizomatous sod-forming turf Audubon Outstanding shade tolerance Very good disease and pest resistance, including brown patch, melting out, and summer patch disease #1 in spring green-up in national trials Excellent choice on areas where regular maintenance is not possible Dawson Excellent resistance to wear and tear Medium dark color Good winter hardiness Improved drought tolerance Relatively rapid establishment Fenway High turf quality, dark color Rapid germination and establishment Maintains seedling vigor Performs well in ryegrass and bluegrass blends Florentine GT Tolerant to low rates of glyphosate Dark green color, compact growth habit Very good shade tolerance Moderate endophyte content for insect resistance Jasper II Compared to older varieties, has a darker green color and better overall turf quality Excellent choice for low maintenance Very shade tolerance

4 Shademaster II Dwarf, compact creeping fescue with a dark green color Improved turf performance and heat tolerance Excellent seedling vigor and recuperative ability Improved leaf spot and powdery mildew resistance Silver Lawn Excellent in shade spread by rhizomes One of the most popular, improved fine fescue varieties available Does well in infertile, droughty and sandy soils Has improved disease resistance as compared to Canadian red fescue Hard Fine Fescue Aurora Rich, medium dark green color Very dwarf growth habit High levels of endophyte Aurora Gold Glyphosate tolerant Rich, medium dark green color Heat and drought tolerance Excellent resistance to leaf spot, powdery mildew, dollar spot and red thread Chariot Establishes quickly, forming a darker dense stand in most soil types Broad disease resistance, particularly to blight, red thread and pythium Excellent choice for residential turf, as well as roadside and parks; left unmowed, its wavy appearance forms an attractive and colorful links Discovery Best drought tolerance in low maintenance trials Very dwarf growth habit with less clippings High endophyte Excellent resistance to dollar spot, leaf spot and red thread

5 Ecostar Moderate density Excellent texture Exceptional resistance to dollar spot Heron Competitive, hard fescue that exhibits improved color, texture and canopy in shade Very versatile, quickly greens-up after cold hard winters and persists through the summer s heat and dryness Excellent overall disease and insect resistance, particularly during late summer into fall Rescue 911 Rich dark green color, very fine textured Recommended for home lawns, parks and golf course roughs Endophyte enhanced Scaldis Dark green color Good winter hardiness Good drought tolerance Outstanding disease resistance Sheep Fescue Azay Very llow maintenance Low growth habits Moderately dark green Thrives in acid, droughty areas Is a bunch grass

6 Bighorn Excellent in drought and low fertility Heat and drought tolerant Good resistance to leaf spot, mildew and red thread Grey-blue unique color Improved turf-type sheep fescue Excellent in golf course roughs MX-86 Dark blue-green color Bunch-type grass Excellent in golf course roughs Low water and fertilizer requirements