Germination Temperatures for Fescue Grass

Germination Temperatures

• Each of the numerous types of fescue grass seed has its own preferred temperature range for germination. For example, tall fescue germinates when soil temperatures are between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, red creeping fescue between 59 and 77 degrees, chewings fescue between 69 and 77 degrees, and sheep fescue between 59 and 77 degrees, according to Purdue University Extension.

Taking Soil Temperatures

• Check your soil's temperature in the beginning of spring or in fall. Make a pilot hole in the ground using a screwdriver. The pilot hole should be six inches deep. Press a soil thermometer inside the hole in the morning. Cover the thermometer with your hand, so that the sun doesn't alter the reading. Check the soil temperature again later on in the afternoon. Average both temperatures to get an accurate reading.

Soil Preparation

• Even when the soil temperatures in your yard match fescue's preferred germination temperature, gardeners should not plant unless they have prepared the soil. All weeds must be removed from the planting area. Spray a herbicide that contains glyphosate to kill off vegetation. Wait five to 14 days to plant fescue grass seed after spraying the herbicide. Apply a starter fertilizer on the soil high in phosphorous to aid fescue root development. Check the soil temperature again to make sure that it has remained consistent.

Best Time to Plant Fescue

• The best time to plant is on a cloudy day. Soil moisture is extremely important when sowing fescue grass seed. If the ground dries out, your fescue seeds dries out. To help maintain adequate soil moisture, water the lawn to moisten the soil both before and after planting fescue grass seed. Keep the soil moist for the next two weeks while seedlings develop their root systems. However, you do not want the soil to become too moist because the seedlings can rot.