How to Plant Fescue Grass in the Summer

Plant the fescue grass seed during a cooler summer week. Do not plant during a heat wave. Nights below 70 degrees Fahrenheit and days below 90 degrees Fahrenheit are necessary for fescue germination. If the temperature consistently rises above this, the grass will go dormant and will not grow.

Till your lawn approximately three to four inches down to loosen the soil. If you have existing grass, tilling will destroy the root system so that the fescue seed will not have any competition.

Rake the soil to level it out. As you are raking, break apart any large chunks of dirt and remove any large rocks or sticks.

Pour the fescue seed into a broadcast spreader or lawn seeder. Set the spreading rate to between five and 12 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet. Push the spreader back and forth over the entire area you are planting.

Rake over the entire seeded area gently. Aim to cover most of the fescue seeds beneath 1/4-inch of soil. Lay a thin layer of straw over the seeds. This will help prevent soil erosion and hold in moisture.

Water the seeds twice daily until germination has occurred. Set up your sprinkler to run for five to 10 minutes, once in the morning and once in the early afternoon. If the day's temperature is going to be high or it is a windy day, check the soil frequently to be sure it is not drying out.