Wear Tolerance of Tall Fescue

Optimal Growing Conditions

• Tall fescue is most wear tolerant in areas of optimal growing conditions. According to the University of Texas Cooperative Extension, tall fescue is well adapted to the transition zone in the United States where hot summer conditions prevent the growth of cool season grasses and the climate is too cold during winter months to support warm season grasses. Wear tolerance is high in properly maintained tall fescue grown in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Texas.

Adaptability

• With 11 varieties of tall fescue available, varieties have been formulated for adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions in other areas of the country. In southern states it is tolerant of light and heavy shade and is able to remain green all year when properly irrigated. In areas where the grass naturally goes dormant in winter, established root systems of a well-maintained fescue lawn still provide good tolerance of wear.

Use

• Ideal mowing heights of 1.5 to 3 inches tall keep residential and commercial use of tall fescue to lawns, community complexes, parks and as a staple of golf course roughs. It is not as wear tolerant as bermuda grass or zoysia grass. In areas where close-cropped grass or continuously even mowing patterns serve a better purpose, bermuda or zoysia grass are the more tolerant of the grasses in areas where conditions support all three.

Durability

• Properly planted and maintained tall fescue is resistant to most turf grass diseases. Newly planted fescue can fall victim to fusarium blight. Leaf spot and brown patch have been documented as damaging established fescue lawns. Of the pests known to be damaging to tall fescue, white grubs cause the most damage. The University of Texas Cooperative Extension recommends treating the entire lawn for white grubs if they are found in any area larger than 3 square feet.