Tall fescue is most abundant in late spring, summer, and fall. Forage samples were collected in the White River Basin of southern Missouri from fertilized and unfertilized fescue stands during May, July, September, and November. Protein did not vary significantly with respect to fertilizer treatment. Tall fescue in May had a crude protein content value higher than adequate for reproduction of white-tailed deer and only slightly below that yielding good growth and antler production. The protein values in other measured months were adequate to obtain some growth but retard antler development.
Tall fescue is useful in rehabilitation work.
Tall fescue is the most used and versatile of the grasses suited for reclamation of surface mines in the eastern United States. Tall fescue can be used to revegetate acid mine spoils having excess manganese, but it does not tolerate high aluminum concentrations. Tall fescue was found to be tolerant of pH 4 to 6 and manganese at 4 to 64 ppm. Tall fescue produces allelopathic compounds which adversely affect many plant species. In Pennsylvania tall fescue hindered woody plant growth and survival on strip-mined sites.