Tall Fescue
In NC, tall fescue is best adapted to the mountains and piedmont. Tall fescue can be successfully maintained on the heavy silt loams in the coastal plain. It is a reliable performer and easily started from seed. It is the best grass to plant if you want a year-round green lawn. Tall fescue thrives in sun or medium shade.
Tall fescue is a bunch-type grass, so damaged or bare areas will need to be re-seeded. It exhibits good disease resistance, drought tolerance, and cold tolerance; tolerates moderate traffic; and persists with minimum care. Several improved tall fescue cultivars have been developed that are more shade tolerant, denser, and finer textured than Kentucky 31, a commonly used older cultivar. These characteristics become more evident as the turf matures and the maintenance level increases. Research has shown that some of these improved cultivars also have darker green color, improved disease tolerance, lower growth habit, better wear tolerance, and drought tolerance.
Primary Uses
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residential & commercial lawns
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sports fields
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golf courses
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parks & recreation
Considerations
Tall fescue will not perform well in full sun in the coastal plain, especially if the soil is sandy.
Seasonal Type: cool-season
propagation method
Texture
Drought tolerance
Tall fescue may turn brown, yet can often survive short periods of drought. Under certain circumstances, some tall fescue may be lost if a drought exceeds three weeks. To maintain a green lawn, it is best to irrigate, if possible, during periods of drought.
Maintenance
Mowing
The tall fescues perform best when mowed at a height of 3 inches, and should never be mowed shorter than 2.5 inches.
Blends
It can be seeded by itself or mixed with Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, or both, particularly where shade is a concern.
Cultivar
Experts recommend that a blend of two or three cultivars be planted rather than seeding just a single cultivar. This broadens the genetic base and gives the turf a better chance of withstanding a variety of challenges. Use a seeding rate of 6 pounds per 1,000 square feet (sq ft). Don’t assume more is better. Higher seeding rates can result in weak, thin stands that are more susceptible to disease and high temperature stress.
List of Growers
Vandemark Farms | Ryan Vandermark Phone: (252) 437-1501 | Bermudagrass: TifTuf, Tifway 419 |
Turf Mountain Sod Inc | Wayne Pittillo Phone: (828) 685-3642 | Bermudagrass: NorthBridge |
Thomas Turf Inc | Anthony Thomas Phone: (704)201-5988 | Tall Fescue: Turf Type Tall Fescue |
Super Sod | Brad Hubinek Phone: (919) 836-0492 | Bermudagrass: TifTuf |
Sodco Turf Producers | Matthew Parrish Phone: (919) 552-7075 | Tall Fescue: Confederate |
DMG Turf Inc | Clay Gardner Phone: (919) 639-4027 | Tall Fescue: Triple Threat plus |
Carver Bros Turf | Harold Carver Phone: (336) 592-0547 | Tall Fescue: Pennington Signature Series, Turf Type Tall Fescue, Water Saver Blend |
Wilkerson Turf Farms LLC | Jonathan Wilkerson Phone: (919) 669-2552 | Tall Fescue: Turf Type Tall Fescue |
Atlantic Coast Turf.png) | Bud Brown, Bridget Markham Phone: (252) 453-3001, (252) 333-6276 | Tall Fescue: Turf Type Tall Fescue |