The warm season grasses used in the more temperate areas need the open sun for the longest period of time and don't do as well in the shade. This leaves a large area to be covered by a grass that can hold it's own in these situations and fescues fit the description of a grass that can fill that gap. Fescues are adapted to lower maintenance than some of the other grasses and require less fertilizer and mowing schedules. Fescues prefer water but are drought tolerant when forced to be. Tall Fescue is adapted to the whole of the transitional area of the warm and cool season grasses and is the most dominant of the Fescue family.
Tall fescue is adapted for a range of soils and weather conditions from very cool to very warm.
The adaptability of the tall fescue in shade tolerance leads this grass to be included in mixes of grass that don't tolerate shadier lawns. Tall fescue is adapted for the use of athletic fields and used in many variety mixes of fescues. This fescue also likes water but is adapted more for the hot, dry season areas by its ability to go into dormancy and return if enough water is applied to keep it living. Chewings Fescue is adapted for the best non-aggressive tendencies and is highly desirable in mixtures of all the cool season grasses particularly perennial rye grass. Chewings fescue adapts the best in regions where the summers are cooler.