Tall Fescue Lawns in Georgia
situations for farmers. There are more “turftype” fescue cultivars on the market that may lead to a better appearing lawn than Kentucky 31. The “turf-type” options are darker green in color with finer leaf blades, lower growth habits, greater density and more shade tolerance than Kentucky 31. This does not mean that you can’t use Kentucky 31 seed in your lawn, but again you have options. I will be sharing information from a fact sheet by Dr. Clint Waltz and Dr. Gil Landry, UGA Extension Turfgrass Specialists.
We soon will be moving into the best time to plant fescue. Fescue is also popular because a homeowner can plant fescue by seed. September and October is the ideal months to plant. I normally tell clients that the middle of September to early October is a good time here depending on the weather. Planting earlier will subject seeded fescue to heat stress and disease issues. If you wait later in the fall, the tender fescue can run into problems due to cold injury from frost. Seeding in December or early spring may not work because the fescue may not get a root system established before it gets hot the next year. Remember, fescue is a cool season grass and will not perform well in the heat of summer.
I do not recommend planting fescue in spring. It will germinate and come up, but the fescue will not handle the heat and you may end up still planting again in the most ideal time of year in September and October.
If planting seed and starting a lawn from scratch, you need to remember that soil preparation is important. You need to remove debris from the lawn, till and smooth the surface prior to seeding. You will need to till in amendments such as topsoil completing into the existing soil. After the initial preparation you need to soil test to get your liming and fertilization recommendations. Results will come back from the UGA Soil Test Lab in 5-6 working days. After adding your lime and fertilizer at the suggested rate you can incorporate 3-4 inches in the soil prior to planting. Waltz and Landry state if your equipment will allow for deeper tiling that is better.
It is suggested to buy seed that is certified with a blue tag. This seed has been tested with information on the label. Note that retail store purchased tall fescue will normally be a blend of several tall fescue cultivars. You can buy single cultivars at a higher price compared to blends. The suggested seeding rate is 5 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet. You help with seeding uniformity, it is best to divide the seed into two equal portions and broadcast half in one direction and the remaining seed at a right angle to the first direction. Then lightly rake the seed into the upper ¼ inch of soil and then press the seeded with a roller. Then apply straw over the areas to help with soil conserve moisture and erosion.
After seeding, you will need to keep the area moist and preferably keep the top 1-2 inches moist. This will mean 1/8 to ¼ inch of water daily for the first three weeks. As the tender grass matures, you will cut back on the regularity of irrigations, but try to irrigate deeper in the soil. Seed should germinate in good conditions in 5-10 days and be ready for a first mowing in 2-3 weeks. Fescue over time will need to be reseeded due to a host of factors. If you need to reseed a thin lawn, estimate the percentage of tall fescue loss and multiple that number by the establishment rate of 5 pounds per 1000 square feet.
Waltz and Landry give an example to help in doing the math. If the fescue loss is 50 percent, reseed with 0.50 x 5 (establishment rate) = 2.5 pounds per 1000 square feet. Remember when reseeding that seed to soil contact is important. It is suggested to mow the lawn to a height of 1-1.5 inches. You can disturb the soil by coring or vertical mowing before and/or after seed spreading, according to Waltz and Landry. The goal is to get the seed below the existing grass foliage canopy to the soil to help with successful germination. A starter fertilizer of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet can help. You will need to keep the lawn moist just like you would in a new lawn establishment procedure.
For more information, contact UGA ExtensionGordon County at 706-629-8685 or email gbowman@uga.edu.
The following are events offered by the Gordon County Young Farmers for the month of September:
Northwest Regional Fair
If you are interested in helping with Northwest Georgia Regional Fair entries, please let Annmarie Carr know by emailing acarr@gcbe.org. The Gordon County Young Farmers are in charge of taking in Horticulture entries this year on Thursday, Sept. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be served, but a count is needed in advance. CPR Certification Date: Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 Time: 8:30 a.m. Where: Fire Station 1 (by the outlet mall)
Cost: Young Farmer members $10 / general public $20 (this includes certification card and light refreshments). Please make checks out to GCYF and send to: 1282 SR 52 Spur SW, Suite 200, Calhoun, GA 30701. Class limit is 25. Georgia