This grass is more shade tolerant than most of the cool season grasses of the north, grows well in the transition areas where cool season grasses won t take the warmer climate and in the upper areas where the warm season grasses won t tolerate the cooler weather. Tall fescues are used extensively in transition areas for the sowing of lawns, athletic fields such as baseball fields, play fields, polo fields, in commercial sites like hospitals, or any place a good, dense utility lawn is desired. When planted in areas North of the transition zone, tall fescue can experience more problems including winter kill. Bermuda grass can effectively choke the fescue out. The mix is chosen for the independent characteristics that will be used together for shade, sun, toughness of turf and texture finish.
Fescue varieties number in the hundreds, with more added each year.
Originally used as a pasture grass, Kentucky - 31 is now used in lawns, athletic fields and erosion control sites in addition to fine pasturage. Newer varieties have been developed of Kentucky tall fescue with finer leaf textures and better disease resistance. It is now known that Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue has toxins produced by Endophyte fungus that can affect serioiusly the health of animals that graze on this grass. Especially horses, but also other farm animals. Visit our pasture page for information on Endophyte Free varieties.