Mid-September to mid-October is the best time to plant this spindly version of grass in your backyard or expansive land area. Let's take a look at important factors and growing tips to keep in mind, prior to planting fescue grass.
Fescue grass is native to Europe, and is visually abundant in grazing pastures and ornamental landscaping. This variety grows during spring and fall, where it is important not to add any pre-emergent product to the soil if you want the seeds to successfully germinate.
The temperatures that are recorded during particular seasons, should be considered prior to planting fescue grass. The ideal temperatures are 75° during the fall, and 60° in the spring.
Because scorching heat isn't an ideal setting for this kind of grass, planting the seeds in the summer is a big no-no, if you want it to germinate without dying before it can reach maturity. Be sure to evaluate the season and pick a time that is appropriate for seeding.
Fescue Grass Planting and Care
Preparation and Planting
✦ When you visit the plant store to buy the seeds, consider buying fescue seeds that are a 100% of its kind, without a mix of weed seeds. Who wants weeds amidst their grass? Be sure to buy a blend of fescue seeds that can stand drought conditions as well as fend off diseases that are likely to occur.
You don't want insects feasting on them or diseases engulfing the grass. Be sure to buy about 8 pounds of seed for every 1000 sq ft you plan to cover with grass.
✦ If it's too time-consuming, consider buyingfescue sod(which has already been grown and cultured in a nursery).
✦ To prepare the land, you'll have to do so, days in advance. Till the soil five days before planting the seeds, and water the soil generously to help keep it moist and ready for planting. The soil must be soft, porous, and not hard to penetrate.
✦ Using a drop spreader, walk back and forth across the bare land to make sure there's an even spread of seeds. They should be buried about 1/8th of an inch in the soil; use a light roller to pack the soil just a little bit after the seeds are planted, to give it a good dose of moisture from the impaction.
Watering
✦ Depending on the type of soil you use, control your watering technique.
✦ You'll have to water the soil and keep it fairly moist for a continuous span of three weeks, watering the soil even more if it's a little warm outside or windy. It takes approximately 10 days to notice signs of germination. Keep in mind that the soil should be moist and not wet.
Fertilization
✦ A fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen does well for the grass to achieve optimum growth. This process must be carried out during spring and fall.
✦ The time between February and March may invite the growth of weeds. So, it is best if you use a weed preventer before February itself. Then again in the month of May, you may have to feed the fertilize to the grass.
✦ Using fertilizer in the summer can be detrimental for the health of the grass, so do it when the time's right as previously mentioned.
Mowing
✦ Regular mowing helps the grass maintain its dense structure.
✦ When the grass reaches a height of about 2 to 2½ inches, mow the area.
✦ If it's left to grow rampantly, it'll tend to droop and lose its structure. Mow the grass depending on its height, and you'll always have a luscious spread of fescue grass.
✦ Those who prefer a wilder look can also do without mowing the grass. The same goes for people who intend to use it for pasturing. However, in this case, the grass that grows around structures must be kept trimmed. This is to prevent the risk of causing a fire or accumulating moisture, both of which can cause great structural damage.