Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Check if the soil is dry and hard to the touch.
- Observe if the curling happens only during the hottest afternoon hours.
- Measure the height of your grass blades.
Likely causes
Drought stress
Most likelyHow to tell: The grass blades fold inward to conserve moisture and the lawn takes on a grayish tint.
What to do: Water the lawn deeply to saturate the root zone. Apply about 1 inch of water to ensure the moisture reaches deep into the soil.
High heat stress
PossibleHow to tell: The grass curls during the hottest part of the day but looks better in the early morning.
What to do: Avoid mowing during the heat of the day to reduce stress. Keep your mower blade height at 3 to 4 inches to shade the soil and keep roots cooler.
Find out what's wrong with your red fescue
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the grass stays curled and turns brown even after you water it, the plant is likely suffering from severe dehydration. It is normal for grass to curl slightly on very hot days as a natural defense.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and keep the grass blades slightly longer during summer months.
Red fescue: curling leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your red fescue and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
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Questions people ask
- Does curling mean my grass is dying?
- Not necessarily, as curling is a survival mechanism to prevent water loss. If you water it and it recovers, it was just thirsty.
- Should I fertilize when the grass is curling?
- No, avoid fertilizing stressed grass. Wait until the plant is hydrated and healthy before applying any nutrients.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Red fescue
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.