What’s New in Fescue?

1. Matt Fagerness Kansas State University What’s New in Fescue?

2. Tall fescue variety selection Establishing tall fescue Managing tall fescue Topic Outline

3. Tall Fescue Selection It’s better than it used to be.

4. Species adaptability (climatic region) Site characteristics (shady, sloped, etc.) Function of turf (how much traffic?, etc.) Maintenance (how much input ?) Soil (texture, depth) Personal preference Turfgrass Species Selection

5. Both warm- and cool-season turfgrasses grow here but the climate is ideal for neither.

6. Grow best during spring and fall Cool-Season Turfgrasses

7. Tall Fescue Kentucky Bluegrass Cool-Season Turfgrasses for Lawns

8. Tall Fescue

9. Bunch grass Tall Fescue

10. Best adapted cool-season grass in Kansas Used on home lawns, parks and athletic fields Propagated by seed and sometimes by sod Coarser leaves than bluegrass or ryegrass Tall Fescue

11. Tall Fescue Excellent Choice for the Shade

12. K-31 Pasture derived variety similar to ‘Alta’ Coarse leaves and medium green color Larger growth habit makes 3.5-4" optimum mowing height range Seed grown regionally Less expensive so good for large areas Seed grown in old pastures so watch out for orchardgrass and other weeds as contaminants Tall Fescue Varieties

13. Turf-type tall fescue Newer varieties with finer texture, darker color, and shorter growth habit (2.5-3.5" ideal) than K-31 Some varieties offer better disease resistance Larger growth habit makes 3.5-4" optimum mowing height range Seed grown mainly in Oregon A bit more expensive Seed grown in highly regulated fields where weeds are limited contaminants Tall Fescue Varieties

14. Recommended turf-type tall fescues Based on K-State variety trials, which value overall quality as a function of summer stress tolerance and disease resistance Examples: Airlie, Arid 3, Bonsai 2000, Bravo, Durana, Dynasty, Falcon 2, Glen Eagle, Jaguar 3, Masterpiece, Millennium, Mustang II, Plantation, Rembrandt, Scorpio, Shenandoah II, Southern Choice, TF 66, Watchdog Tall Fescue Varieties

15. Recommend turf-type tall fescues if quality is the main concern and K-31 if cost is the main concern Drought and heat tolerance are comparable between K-31 and turf-types The best disease resistant “variety” is a blendof several varieties which have varying degrees of resistance. Do not encourage use of a single variety unless it is K-31. Tips for Recommending Tall Fescue Varieties to Clients

16. Turf-type tall fescues are cometimes referred to as fine-leaf fescues because of finer leaf texture Turf-types shouldn’t be confused with true fine- leaved fescues Chewings fescue Hard Fescue Creeping Red Fescue Sheeps Fescue Fine-Leaf Fescues?

17. Have excellent shade tolerance; better than other commonly grown turfgrasses. Have poor heat tolerance and do survive our summers well. True Fine-Leaf Fescues

18. Tall Fescue Kentucky Bluegrass Cool-Season Turfgrasses

19. Kentucky Bluegrass

20. Spreads by rhizomes Kentucky Bluegrass

21. Mixture:turf stand composed of two or more species (e.g. tall fescue/bluegrass here in Kansas) Blend:turf stand composed of two or more varieties of the same species (e.g. commercially blended tall fescue) Mixtures of two species feature the advantages of each component. Tall Fescue/Bluegrass Mixtures

22. Tall fescue variety selection Establishing tall fescue Managing tall fescue Topic Outline

23. Goals of Establishment Start to Finish

24. By creating a new fescue lawn, the homeowner: Stabilizes soil Installs a natural filtration system Modifies the ecology of the lawnspace By creating a new lawn, the homeowner hopes to: Beautify an existing piece of land with a lawn species that can handle our climate Create a safe place for activities to take place Goals: New establishment What exactly are we doing?

25. By renovating an existing fescue lawn, the homeowner: Improves turf hindered by mechanical injury or climatic stress Maintains soil stabilization Augments a natural filtration system Updates the modified ecology of the lawnspace Goals: Lawn Renovation What exactly are we doing?

26. Soil test (mainly for phosphorus, potassium, pH) Preplant weed control Surface preparation/cultivation Steps in Site Preparation Making the Job Easier from the Outset

27. How to: take small samples from upper 6-8" of soil at no fewer than 5 places in the lawn (more if lawn conditions vary) Mix samples and send to soil testing lab(be sure to fill out form as accurately as possible and indicate what tests you want) Soil Testing Knowing what to do before you do it

28. How to: Soil Testing Knowing what to do before you do it

29. Information obtained by request: soil pH (tall fescue prefers pH between 6 & 7) levels of macro-and micronutrients organic matter nitrogen info may be misleading Soil Testing Knowing what to do before you do it

30. Renovative establishment: selective weed control (broadleaf weed species) New establishment: nonselective (burndown) weed control No preemergence products!! Preplant Weed Control

31. Don’t apply broadleaf herbicides inside of one month before seeding Spot spraying with Roundup will assist with perennial weed control (e.g. dandelion, clover) Use regular broadleaf herbicides in early spring, once turf has come up Selective Broadleaf Weed Control Tips and Strategies

32. Six and again two weeks before cultivating and planting, kill existing vegetation with a systemic, nonselective herbicide like Roundup Skip second application if no weeds remain Use broadleaf and preemergence herbicides the following spring to catch annual weeds New Establishment Weed Control Tips and Strategies

33. Rototill area to be seeded to both loosen the ground and dislodge old plant material Don’t overtill - too much will disrupt soil structure Remove plant debris, rocks, etc. Incorporate P,K, lime, or sulfur at this time to help condition soil for plant growth Smooth surface, grade as needed, pack it down (good seed/soil contact), and keep moist Surface Preparation New establishment

34. Goal: reducing compaction Goal: creating an environnment in which fescue seeds can germinate Means: rototilling (impractical for renovation) core cultivating (good for compacted areas) vertical mowing/slit seeding (less disruptive visually and good for thatch but more harmful to existing turf) Cultivation Renovating existing turf

35. Seeding Most common method for tall fescue 6-8 lb./1000 sq.ft. for new seedings, 3-4 lb. for overseeding Sodding Tall fescue is sodded more now Plugging Sprigging Turfgrass Establishment

36. Normally done in early fall Soil is warm so faster germination and establishment Fewer weed problems Seeding Tall Fescue

37. Normally done in early fall Must have good seed-soil contact Methods Slit seeder Seeding Tall Fescue

38. Normally done in early fall Must have good seed-soil contact Methods Slit seeder Verticut Seeding Tall Fescue

39. Normally done in early fall Must have good seed-soil contact Methods Slit seeder Verticut Core aerator Seeding Tall Fescue

40. Normally done in early fall Must have good seed-soil contact Methods Slit seeder Verticut Core aerator Rototill Seeding Tall Fescue

41. Can seed over light snow Can seed if moist soil freezes and cracks Seed falls into cracks and is covered when soil thaws Seed will germinate in spring Dormant Overseeding Seeding from mid-November to March

42. Best done in fall (just like for seeding) but can be done any time ground not frozen Problems with laying sod in summer Dessication (drying out) Disease Heat stress Water bill Prepare soil just like you would for seeding on bare ground Roots will peg down in 7 to 10 days under good conditions Sodding Tall Fescue

43. Tall fescue variety selection Establishing tall fescue Managing tall fescue Topic Outline

44. Water deeply and infrequently (2-3 times/week with no rain) during good growth periods Water to keep turf alive during summer drought Don’t want to waste water that the turf won’t use Water deeply at time of last mowing Keeps soil moist during winter for roots Managing Tall Fescue Irrigation

45. Proper Watering

46. Proper Watering

47. 3 total applications per year Apply 1 lb. N per 1000ft2 in both September and November (quick release) Feed plants for fall, winter, and early spring Apply 1 lb. N per 1000ft2 in early May (50:50 quick release:slow release) Don’t want to overstimulate growth before summer Managing Tall Fescue Fertilization

48. Once new turf is 3-4" tall, mow at ~3" in fall Keep the 1/3 rule in mind for healthy turf Maintain at 2.5-3.5" during spring and raise height to the upper limit for summer Make sure turf has been mowed 3 times before applying spring herbicides Managing Tall Fescue Mowing

49. Don’t remove more than 1/3 of blade at one time Mowing: Basic Information

50. Apply preemergence herbicide by April 1st to control crabgrass and other annual grasses Water in to properly situate and activate Ex. Treflan, Team, pendimethalin Other products like Dimension or Barricade are available on fertilizer. Use Barricade product for late fall fertilization and Dimension product for early May fertilization Tall Fescue Weed Management Crabgrass control