If these habitats occur within a 40-160 acre area, correctly managed fescue can be a usable component. Management of fescue grassland must stress the establishment and maintenance of forb species such as ladino clover, Korean and Kobe lespedeza, crotons and ragweed within the stand. Unmanaged fescue develops a dense sod and deep litter that hinders movement of small animals and makes soil nutrients unavailable to other plants. Ideally, forb cover should comprise 30 to 50 percent of the foliage with about 50 percent of the forbs being legumes. Forbs provide seeds for birds and small mammals.
Legumes provide seeds and forage and attract insects.
Fescue height at the beginning of the winter dormant season should be 3 to 6 inches. This height is too short for winter cover but is necessary to permit free travel by young flightless birds the following spring. Canopy coverage can be 100 percent but stem density should be low enough to al-low some bare ground. Litter depth should be less than 2 inches. Following are management options for maintaining fescue fields with preferred plant species composition and structure.