Tall Fescue - Festuca arundinacea Schreber

Tall Fescue is one of the most drought, heat and wear tolerant species of grass. It is a deep-rooted, long-lived perennial that will produce very luxuriant growth under fertile and moist conditions. Unlike most other forage grasses an older stand of Tall Fescue is usually as productive a young stand.

In forage applications it is one of the best grasses available for poorly drained soils in irrigated pastures, but it thrives in deep moist soils with a neutral pH. Tall Fescue is used especially for grazing, hay and silage producing most of its yield in the spring.

In a turf application, Tall Fescue stays green longer in dry summer periods, and its winter hardiness varies on the type. Tall fescue requires time to establish so traffic should be withheld for many months to achieve good wear tolerance. The leaf texture of Tall Fescue is quite coarse compared to other turf grasses. Tall Fescue is best reserved for turf use in areas where drought and heat tolerance are the overriding concerns.
 

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