Tall Fescue at a Glance: General Characteristics and Care

Adapted from The Revised Georgia Gardener's Guide by Walter Reeves and Erica Glasener.

Overview

Tall fescue is a fast-growing, cool-season turfgrass that stays green year-round in the Southeast. It looks best fall through spring but struggles on compacted soil and in full summer sun. Both seed and sod are viable options. Modern turf-type varieties (e.g., 'Rebel', 'Anthem', 'Plantation') outperform the old 'Kentucky-31' in density, color, and disease resistance, but no single variety solves all problems—proper establishment and care matter most.

Key Characteristics

• Color/Texture: Evergreen; 'Kentucky-31' is lighter green than turf-types.
• Mowing Height: 2–3 inches.
• Light: Full sun to part sun.

Planting

• Seed: Fall, Sept 15–Oct 31. Till 6 inches deep; mix in starter fertilizer + 40 lbs lime/1,000 sq ft. Sow 6 lbs seed/1,000 sq ft, rake lightly, mulch with wheat straw (1 bale/1,000 sq ft). Leave straw to rot or remove in 6 weeks.
• Sod: Dec–May when available.
• Spring seeding (Feb–Mar): Possible but reduces summer heat tolerance.

Maintenance

• Fertilize: Three times during active growth (Sept, early Nov, mid-Feb) at bag rates.
• Water: See detailed irrigation guides.
• Mow: 2 inches normally; 3 inches in dry summers or heavy shade.
• Summer: Do not fertilize—brown patch thrives on lush growth.

Notable Variety

'Southeast' fescue (UGA-developed) offers superior drought, heat, and scalping tolerance, though texture is slightly coarser.