Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea
Adaptable cool-season grass that tolerates shade and heat better than other fescues.
Care Instructions
Water 1–1.5 inches per week (including rainfall). Deep, infrequent watering encourages deep roots. In summer heat, water 3 times per week. Fescue goes semi-dormant in extreme heat.
The most shade-tolerant cool-season lawn grass. Performs in 4–6 hours of sun. Maintain higher mowing height (3.5–4 inches) in shady areas.
Well-drained soil with pH 5.5–6.5. Core aerate every fall. Fertilize in fall (September–October) and spring (March) with slow-release nitrogen.
Seasonal Guide
Best Planting Time
Early fall (mid-August to October) is optimal — soil is warm, air is cool, and weed competition is reduced. Spring seeding is second choice.
Bloom / Growth Season
Active growth in cool seasons (spring and fall). Summer heat causes semi-dormancy and thinning — normal behavior, not death.
Dormancy
Stays green year-round in mild winters (zones 4–7). Overseed thin areas every fall. Top-dress with 1/4 inch compost after aeration.
Common Problems & Solutions
Brown patch fungus (circular brown patches in summer)
Apply fungicide (azoxystrobin). Improve drainage, mow at proper height, water in morning only.
Summer thinning in heat
Normal for fescue. Raise mower height to 4 inches in summer. Overseed bare spots in fall.
Grub damage (turf pulls up like carpet)
Apply beneficial nematodes or milky spore in late summer. Chemical grub control in June–July.
Plant Details
USDA Zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b +4
Maintenance
moderate
Mature Height
3-4 in (mowed)
Native Regions
Europe
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