These expert-recommended lawn care practices will guide you through a year-round Fescue Lawn Care Program, ensuring your tall fescue lawn remains healthy and vibrant. Remember that factors like location, soil type, lawn age, and previous care can influence results, so adapt these guidelines to your specific lawn needs.
Spring Fescue Lawn Care (March – May)
Mowing Your Fescue Lawn in Spring
Maintain a mowing height of 2½ to 3½ inches for your fescue lawn. Adhere to the one-third rule: never cut more than one-third of the grass blade length at a time. This might mean mowing every 5 to 7 days, especially during late spring’s rapid growth. Leaving grass clippings on your lawn is beneficial; they decompose and return valuable nutrients, potentially fulfilling up to 25% of your lawn’s fertilization needs. If clippings are excessive due to delayed mowing, collect them for mulch but avoid bagging them for landfills – grass clippings are excellent for composting.
Spring Fertilization for Fescue
Fertilize your fescue lawn as needed in spring to boost color and aid recovery from winter stress or damage from pests or diseases. If fertilization is necessary, apply between ⅕ and ½ pound of nitrogen (N) per 1,000 square feet. Lower nitrogen rates are generally preferred after March 15th to avoid excessive growth.
Watering Your Fescue Lawn in Spring
Proper watering is crucial in a fescue lawn care program. Tall fescue needs approximately 1 inch of water per week. It’s more effective to water deeply and less frequently rather than shallow, frequent watering. Signs that your lawn needs water include a dark bluish-gray color and wilted, folded, or curled grass blades. Water deeply, ensuring the soil is moist to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Use a screwdriver to check soil saturation depth. Sandy soils require more frequent watering (about ½ inch every third day). Clay soils absorb water slowly, so irrigate until runoff, wait for absorption, and then resume watering until the desired depth is reached. Watering between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. helps minimize disease risks.
Spring Weed Control for Fescue
Implement pre-emergence herbicides in your fescue lawn care program to prevent crabgrass, goosegrass, and foxtail. Early March is generally the ideal time for application, especially in warmer regions. Consult your local extension office for precise timing and herbicide recommendations.
Spring Insect Control for Fescue
White grubs may be active in spring, but curative treatments at this time are generally ineffective. Monitor for white grub activity and plan for a preventive application in late spring or early summer when adult grub flight peaks. Identifying grub-prone areas now will inform your future fescue lawn care program.
Aeration and Thatch Removal for Fescue in Spring
Delay lawn aeration until the fall within your fescue lawn care program. Thatch removal is generally not necessary for tall fescue unless thatch buildup is excessive (over ½ inch).
Summer Fescue Lawn Care (June – August)
Summer Mowing of Fescue Lawns
Increase your mowing height to 3½ inches during the summer months as part of your fescue lawn care program. Avoid letting the grass grow taller than 5 inches. Higher mowing heights help shade the soil, reducing water evaporation and weed germination, which is particularly important in summer.
Summer Fertilization for Fescue
Fertilize your fescue lawn sparingly during summer, only as needed to maintain color and aid recovery from stress. If fertilization is necessary, use between ⅕ and ½ pound of nitrogen (N) per 1,000 square feet. Over-fertilizing in summer can stress fescue lawns and increase disease susceptibility.
Summer Watering for Fescue
Water your fescue lawn as needed to prevent drought stress, or allow it to enter dormancy during extreme heat. If you choose dormancy, water deeply every three weeks during prolonged drought to keep the crowns hydrated and ensure survival. Deep, infrequent watering is always preferable in your fescue lawn care program, even in summer.
Summer Disease Control for Fescue
Brown patch disease is a significant concern for tall fescue in summer within a fescue lawn care program. It manifests as irregular patches of dead or dying turf, thriving in high humidity and temperatures above 85°F. Prolonged wet, overcast weather with warm evenings and hot days exacerbate brown patch. Maintain a mowing height above 3 inches and water between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. to minimize disease. Apply fungicide treatments during severe outbreaks. Gray leaf spot is another summer disease that can affect fescue, presenting similar symptoms to brown patch and often occurring concurrently. Proper diagnosis is crucial; consult your local extension service if needed. Gray leaf spot thrives when nighttime temperatures stay above 70°F and humidity is high, typically active from July to October. Management involves consistent mowing at 3 inches or taller, removing clippings to reduce disease spread, and applying fungicides for suppression.
Summer Weed and Insect Control for Fescue
Avoid herbicide applications during the heat of summer as they can stress your fescue lawn. Preventive treatments for white grubs can be applied in June when adults are laying eggs. Curative treatments for white grubs are best applied about 24 hours after significant rainfall when grubs are actively feeding near the soil surface. Summer is a critical period for proactive insect management in your fescue lawn care program.
Aeration and Renovation for Fescue in Summer
Delay aeration until fall. For homeowners in the western region, summer’s end (August 15 to September 1) is the time for overseeding thin or bare areas as part of your fescue lawn care program’s renovation step. Aeration can be combined with overseeding. Use a blend of turf-type tall fescue cultivars at a rate of 6 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet. Apply a starter fertilizer high in phosphorus if a soil test isn’t available. Keep the seedbed consistently moist with light, frequent watering to prevent seedling desiccation.
Fall Fescue Lawn Care (September – November)
Fall Mowing for Fescue
Reduce your mowing height slightly to 2½ to 3 inches during the fall as part of your fescue lawn care program. This prepares the lawn for winter without scalping it too short.
Fall Fertilization for Fescue
Fall fertilization is critical for fescue lawn health. Conduct a soil test to determine precise nutrient needs. Contact your local extension agent for information on soil testing services. If testing isn’t feasible, apply a complete N-P-K turf-grade fertilizer with a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio (e.g., 12-4-8 or 16-4-8). For basic fertility, apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in mid-September and again in November, when grass is green but growth slows. This fall fertilization is a cornerstone of a successful fescue lawn care program.
Fall Watering for Fescue
Follow the same watering guidelines as in spring. Tall fescue needs about 1 inch of water weekly, applied deeply and infrequently. Monitor for signs of drought stress and water accordingly.
Fall Weed Control for Fescue
Apply broadleaf herbicides in fall to control winter annual broadleaf weeds like chickweed and henbit. Exercise caution when applying herbicides to newly seeded turf; always follow label directions.
Fall Insect Control for Fescue
Curative applications for white grubs in early fall can be variably effective, depending on grub size. Smaller grubs are easier to control than larger ones. Identify and note problem areas for preventive grub control in late spring/early summer as part of your ongoing fescue lawn care program planning.
Fall Aeration and Renovation for Fescue
Fall is the ideal time for aeration in your fescue lawn care program, especially for lawns with heavy traffic or clay soils. Aerate and break up the soil plugs to return the soil nutrients to the lawn. For homeowners in Piedmont and coastal plain regions, early fall (September 1 to October 1) is the window for overseeding thin or bare areas. Use turf-type tall fescue seed blends at 6 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Apply a starter fertilizer if a soil test is not available. Maintain a moist seedbed with light, frequent watering.
Winter Fescue Lawn Care (December – February)
Winter Mowing and Debris Removal for Fescue
Mow your fescue lawn to 3 inches in height during winter as needed to remove leaves and other debris. Keeping your lawn clear of debris promotes air circulation and prevents disease issues.
Winter Fertilization for Fescue
Apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in February as part of your winter fescue lawn care program. This late winter fertilization helps promote early spring green-up.
Winter Watering for Fescue
Continue to follow spring watering guidelines. While less frequent than other seasons, winter watering may be necessary during dry spells to prevent desiccation, especially for newly established lawns.
Winter Weed Control for Fescue
Apply broadleaf herbicides as needed to control winter annual weeds like chickweed and henbit. Winter weed control is a proactive step in your year-round fescue lawn care program.
Understanding Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is a versatile, adaptable grass known for its moderate to coarse texture and tolerance to shade and various soil types. It exhibits good heat and drought tolerance but is susceptible to brown patch, especially in humid, warm, and wet conditions. Tall fescue grows relatively quickly, requiring regular mowing, but it doesn’t tolerate very close mowing. It has limited recovery from heavy wear or pest damage, necessitating reseeding in cases of significant damage. Many improved “turf-type” tall fescue varieties are available, offering finer leaf texture, better density, darker green color, and improved shade and closer mowing tolerance compared to older varieties like Kentucky-31. Incorporating these improved varieties into your fescue lawn care program can enhance lawn quality and reduce maintenance needs.
Authors:
- Grady Miller, Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist
- Fred Yelverton, Professor and Extension Turf Weed Management Specialist
- Charles Peacock, Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist
- Jim Kerns, Professor and Extension Turfgrass Pathology Specialist
- Rick Brandenburg, Professor and Extension Turf Entomology Specialist
- Terri Billeisen, Extension Associate
Find more information at the following NC State Extension websites:
Gardening
Horticulture
TurfFiles
Publication date: July 8, 2021
AG-367
Related Publications:
Browse Lawn Maintenance Calendars
Recommendations for chemical use are provided for convenience. Always ensure intended use complies with regulations and product labels. Consult your local N.C. Cooperative Extension county center for assistance and current information.
N.C. Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity provider.
This publication printed on: Feb. 21, 2025
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