What Is Fescue Grass?

Fescue

• As a cool-season grass, fescue experiences its greatest growth in spring and fall. If you plant fescue, the best time to spread seed is late summer to early fall. Fescues are fairly tolerant of heat, drought and shade, though specific preferences vary by variety.

Types

• Tall fescue and fine fescue are the most common types of fescue grass. Tall fescue is highly heat- and drought-tolerant, but is susceptible to pythium blight and brown patch. Fine fescue is not quite as tolerant of heat and drought, but grows better in shade.

Uses

• Adaptable to all but the hottest parts of the United States, fescues are often at their best when blended together or with another grass like Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass. In the South, they can be over-seeded with warm-season grasses to help keep lawns green during the cooler months.