Fine fescues include creeping red, chewings, hard, and sheep fescues. All have fine-textured and wiry leaf blades that decompose slowly and may form a thatch of undecomposed leaves and stems after several years. This thatch may impede water in filtration and provide cover for small vertebrate pests like field mice if mowing height is more than 1.5 to 2 inches. Eventually, a fine fescue turf may require renovation to improve vigor and maintain cover. A light discing or replanting may be requir ed.
Germination is moderately fast, but establishment is slow often requiring several months.
During the first year, these grasses allow establishment of germinating weeds, trafficability is poor, and erosion potential can be severe. Initially, a small amount of nitrogen fe rtilizer should be applied to encourage fast growth that suppresses many weeds. Over time, the perennial ryegrass will give way to the fescues, especially if fertility conditions remain moderate or low within the sod strip. After establishment, fine fescues offer low fertility and mowing requirements, good competition with weeds, and fair to excellent drought tolerance. Bentgrasses are native west of the Cascade Mountains and are considered a Pacific Northwest climax species on many hillside sites.