It spreads by rhizomes and is identified by its shiny smooth leaves with a boat shaped tip. 10% Shield Perennial Ryegrass. Summer patch and necrotic ring spot are two patch diseases that cause most damage in Kentucky bluegrass. Another species known as tall fescue is Festuca elatior. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and fescues (Festuca spp.) Red fescues are less susceptible to drought and heat than the chewing fescues, but tolerate shade and cold better than the other fescues, making them a good choice to mix with Kentucky bluegrass. This mixture requires over-seeding with Kentucky bluegrass. Perennial Ryegrass vs Kentucky Bluegrass ~~~~~ Surprising Study Results Ryegrass and Common Bermudagrass Lawn Perennial ryegrass is a very popular turfgrass, especially in the transition zone- the section that runs along the center 1/3 of the U.S. Ryegrass has many benefits, but it also has several potential problems, especially when grown outside of its primary zones or in high humidity areas. It's a dark-green grass with shallow root system and leaves that are folded when in bud stage. Subscribe We respect your privacy. Its hardiness and lush appearance make it one of the most popular cool-season grass; however, Kentucky bluegrass is not very shade-tolerant or drought-resistant. Slight variations in tolerance by these cool-season grasses warrant their use in different capacities across various regions and climates. Most of these grasses are deep green with a medium to fine texture, deep roots and reach a height of 3 to 4 feet when allowed to grow. While admittedly not exhibiting the same level of dark blue/green color and density as bluegrass, TTTF has some important and, to some, significant advantages. Summer temperatures consistently above 85 degrees tend to stress both these grass types, leading to an increased need of water. Kentucky bluegrass is the botanical species Poa pratensis. For existing average quality lawns this is a good mixture of species, and chances are your lawn already has some of these species established. Tall fescue has slightly broader leaf blades than bluegrass and forms a coarser lawn with uniform appearance. rubra), chewings fescue (Festuca rubra var. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is often poorly established when sown in turfgrass seed mixtures with slender creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. ssp. Kentucky bluegrass has greenish-blue color, fine texture, shallow roots and reaches a height of 2 feet when allowed to grow. Fescue grass require moderate amounts of water in the summer or in times of high heat or drought. 10% Nexus GT Perennial Ryegrass. Fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are types of cool-season grasses. ft. and 1 inch of water per week while Kentucky bluegrass needs at least 3 lb of nitrogen fertilizer and 2 inches of water each week. Creeping Red Fescue grass seed germinates and establishes slowly. As you walk around itÂs obvious where there is fescue and where there is Kentucky Blue Grass, textures totally different and colors somewhat different. This grass seed mix is specially designed for new lawn establishment. 30% Creeping Red Fescue. Fescue grass propagates by seed or sod to grow into clusters of grass. + Creeping Red Fine Fescue for shade areas. Seeding Rate: 5-6 lbs. are cool season grasses, meaning they grow best in temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and are best suited to central and northern parts of the United States. Check out my article on the best lawn edgers for a beautifully finished lawn. Bluemix is one of Seedland's best blue grass lawn mixes.. with an improved Bluegrass for turf type lawns. For those willing to sacrifice the color and density of bluegrass, and be willing to do an occasional over-seeding fall to thicken up the turf and repair any damaged area, this can be an … Creeping Red Fescue performs best in well drained soils with a pH of 5.5 to 8.0 and tolerates more shade than most other cool climate grasses (2-4 hours sun/day). Kentucky bluegrass, when compared to tall fescue, is more adaptable to retaining green color in chillier winter temperatures and recovering after a severe injury or physical damage to the turf carpet. Sowing Tips: Broadcast the seed at, or very near, the soil surface and incorporate lightly with raking into the top 6-10mm of soil. Fescue grows in northern United States, Canada and some areas in transitional zones (central United States, for example), while Kentucky bluegrass grows in the Northwest, Northeast, Midwest and mountains of United States and Canada. Creeping Red fescue seed is planted in cool, shaded areas as this grass is very shade tolerant as opposed to other cool season grasses. Kentucky bluegrass spreads by seed, rhizomes from the main plant and tillers to become a dense grass with vertical stems. All types of fescue grasses tolerate partial shade and moderate sunlight, and drought to some degree. creeping red fescue. Of the fescue types most widely used for lawns, tall fescue dominates and is known botanically as Festuca arundinacea. ft. ... 34%Boreal Creeping Red Fescue. 30% Fine Fescue; 20% Kentucky Bluegrass; When you combine ryegrass, bluegrass, and creeping red fescue into a blend, you get a soft, fine-bladed, dark green lawn that is durable yet luxurious. Irrigation in summer is necessary to keep the blades green. The poorest performing fine fescue this summer in Minnesota is strong creeping red fescue. • Northern zone lawn mixture (heavy traffic area): 40% creeping red fescue, 30% Kentucky bluegrass, 30% perennial ryegrass • Transition zone lawn mixture: 45% annual ryegrass, 35% tall fescue, 20% creeping red fescue. Excellent for use in transition area and Northern USA Kentucky Bluegrass areas. Fescue grass is native to Europe, while Kentucky bluegrass is native to northern Asia, Europe and the mountains of Morocco and Algeria. Creeping red fescue does spread by rhizomes but is not nearly as aggressive as Kentucky bluegrass. It forms bunches rather than creeping stems and "bald" areas may develop in lawns, according to the University of California. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Planting and Management Tips for Tall Fescue, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Planting and Management Tips for Hard Fescue, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Planting and Management Tips for Kentucky Bluegrass, University of California-Davis: Choose and Identify your Turf Species, University of California Cooperative Extension: Turfgrass Selection for the Home Landscape. Kentucky bluegrassflourishes throughout the Northeast and the entire northern ti… Kentucky bluegrass is easy to identify because of its canoe-shaped blades. 95 Of the fescue types most widely used for lawns, tall fescue dominates and is known botanically as Festuca arundinacea. While it persists in cool season climates, Creeping Red Fescue is not as cold tolerant as Kentucky Bluegrass or Creeping Bentgrass. commutata) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). By contrast, tall fescue is slightly better in shady conditions, recovering after moderate wear from foot traffic, slightly better tolerance to drought, soil and air salinity and summertime heat. Our most popular mixture with the homeowner and professional alike. CREEPING RED FESCUE (COOL SEASON) It can be grown as a dryland cover crop in coastal regions or other … Tall fescue is highly susceptible to brown patch and also to red thread and Pythium blight. Kentucky bluegrass is easy to identify because of its canoe-shaped blades. Kentucky bluegrass is the botanical species Poa pratensis. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Fescue grasses are extremely durable and withstand plenty of traffic, which is why they grow in sports fields, play areas and parks. Both perennial grass types withstand cold winters and moderate summers. Seed is the least expensive way to establish a cool-season lawn of either fescue or bluegrass. 10% Signet Perennial Ryegrass. Fescue grasses are susceptible to four diseases that require fungicide application: slime mold, brown patch, dollar spot and pythium blight. He has worked professionally at gardens in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Fescue grass has four common varieties: creeping, chewing, tall (the most common) and hard. Contractor's Mixture is 50% Kentucky Bluegrass, 40% Creeping Red Fescue, and 10% Perennial Ryegrass. 10% Bandaloir Perennial Ryegrass A traditional all-purpose mix with a high percentage of Kentucky bluegrass by seed count. What IÂm noticing is IÂm getting patches that are NOT fescue and to me look like Kentucky Bluegrass (e.g., patches 12-18" square of all Kentucky Bluegrass) which I donÂt like. Another species known as tall fescue is Festuca elatior. Chewings fescue and hard fescue are considered bunch-type grasses. In areas where Kentucky bluegrass does well, creeping red fescue forms an excellent companion grass to increase shade tolerance. It requires more moisture than hard fescue or sheep fescue, and prefers a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 but can survive considerable acidity. Slight variations in tolerance by these cool-season grasses warrant their use in different capacities across various regions and climates. According to the University of California, Kentucky bluegrass has a higher maintenance cost and requires more effort that tall fescue lawns. An evenly moist soil that drains well after rains or irrigation is needed. Creeping red fescue grass (Festuca rubra) is a perennial lawn grass in USDA planting zones 1-7 and an annual grass in zones 8-10. Enter Turf-Type Tall Fescue [TTTF]. Red fescue seed is often used in seed mixtures such as bluegrass to add shade tolerance to a bluegrass lawn. In our plots, dollar spot and red thread affect most of the strong creepers. Fescue is more drought-resistant than Kentucky bluegrass. It has really good color and will fill in bare spots through specialized roots called rhizomes. Fescue grasses are extremely durable and withstand plenty of traffic, which is why they grow in sports fields, play areas and parks. Other fescues encountered for lawn use are red fescue (Festuca rubra) and hard fescue (Festuca longifolia). They include creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra), chewing fescue (Festuca rubra ssp. Kentucky bluegrass tolerates extreme winter weather conditions and harsh cold, moderate moisture and full sunlight. Creeping Red Fescue and Chewings Fescue provides germination, tolerance, and durability in shaded areas. Fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are types of cool-season grasses. Kentucky bluegrass, on the other hand, is moderately durable and does not tolerate heavy or consistent foot traffic well. Northeast lawns need grasses that prefer cool temperatures and naturally resist diseases prevalent in this region. While these two grass types have varying tolerance when compared head-to-head, overall they prosper in roughly the same growing conditions. Tanya Khan is a freelance author and consultant, having written numerous articles for various online and print sources. Red fescue and hard fescue are sometimes described as fine fescu… Even though it is one of the best grasses for use in shade... it will tolerate full sun conditions although this could require … Moreover, tall fescue works well if you choose to mow your lawn at high settings, over 3 inches, for example. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. 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