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Tall fescue lawns
 Water
conservation has come to the forefront, and as a result, several grasses
have been recommended as alternatives to Kentucky bluegrass. One of these
alternative grasses is turf-type tall fescue. Formerly, tall fescue was
used primarily as a pasture grass. In the past ten to fifteen years, it
has been the subject of breeding research to improve its characteristics
for lawn use. The resulting turf-type tall fescues have been touted as
drought-resistant lawn grasses. In well-drained soils, tall fescue
requires less irrigation, because roots develop deeply. That means roots
access water deeper in the soil than other grasses.
Along much of Colorado's Front Range, soils may be shallow, gravelly or
consist of heavy clays that drain poorly and have low porosity. These
conditions prevent deep-root development of tall fescue. As a result, it
may actually require as much or more water than bluegrass.
However, tall fescue has other characteristics that make it a good
choice for lawns. It's more tolerant of shade and salty soils than
bluegrass. It has few insect or disease problems, and requires less
fertilizer. And thatch is rarely a problem. On the downside, it may need
to be mowed more frequently and mower blades require more frequent
sharpening.
Tall fescue sod is not widely available and is generally more
expensive. Turf-type tall fescue seed blends are available and should be
sown at eight to nine pounds per one-thousand square feet. Late August
into September is the best time to establish a lawn from seed, but late
April into early June also will work.
For more information, see the following Colorado State Extension fact sheet(s).
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