Tall fescue.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Grass

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

4 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 7

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist during germination and establishment. Watch for signs of drought stress like leaf rolling or browning tips. Regular mowing helps maintain a dense and healthy turf.

Watering

Water deeply once a week to encourage deep root growth.

Feeding

Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring and fall.

Pruning

Mow regularly to keep the grass at a height of 3 to 4 inches.

Repotting

This plant is typically grown in the ground rather than in containers.

Soil

Well draining loam or clay

Soil pH

5.5 to 7.0

Temperature

-20 to 35°C

Humidity

40 to 80%

Safety

People

The plant is generally non toxic to humans, though the coarse leaf blades can cause minor skin abrasions.

Children

The leaf blades are sharp and can cause paper cut style abrasions if children handle them roughly.

Contact allergens

The sharp edges of the leaf blades can cause mechanical irritation or small cuts on sensitive skin.

Airborne allergens

The pollen is a common seasonal allergen for many people during the late spring flowering period.

Edibility

This grass is not intended for human consumption and may contain endophytes that are toxic to livestock if ingested in large quantities.

How to identify it

• Dark green leaf blades
• Prominent veins on upper surface
• Rough leaf margins
• Bunch forming growth habit

Height

0.6 to 1.2m

Spread

0.3 to 0.6m

Leaves

dark green, perennial

Flowers

green, 0cm

Problems to watch for

• Brown patch · A fungal infection that causes circular patches of dead grass during hot, humid weather.
• Sod webworm · Larvae that feed on the grass blades and create small brown patches in the lawn.

Growing it

Propagation

seed

When to plant

spring, early autumn

Interplanting with nitrogen fixing legumes can reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers in your lawn.

Grows well with

• White Clover · It fixes nitrogen in the soil which helps the grass grow.

Similar species

• Meadow Fescue · It is a close relative but generally has finer leaves and is less heat tolerant.

Science

Family

Poaceae

Genus

Lolium

Order

Poales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Europe and parts of North Africa and Western Asia.

Conservation

This species is widely naturalized and is not of conservation concern.

It is a highly adaptable grass that thrives in disturbed soils and competes well with other species due to its deep root system.

Value to wildlife

provides cover for small mammals, nesting material for birds

Pollinators

bees

Uses

lawn grass, pasture forage, erosion control

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is tall fescue good for a shady lawn?

It performs better in shade than many other sun loving grasses, though it still prefers full sun.

How often should I mow it?

Keep it mowed to a height of 7 to 10 centimeters to maintain a healthy root system.

Where the name comes from

The name Lolium is the classical Latin name for darnel, while arundinaceum refers to its reed like appearance.

Good to know

• It has a very deep root system that helps it survive dry spells.
• It is one of the most widely planted cool season grasses in the United States.
• The grass is often used in pastures because it is very durable under foot traffic.