After 10 years of promotion and improvement, the revolution in the turf industry finally has spread throughout the country. The revolution has been caused by the introduction of turf-type tall fescue plants, propagated by seed.

Tall fescue, as the name implies, originally was a variant of the Festuca genus. In the spring, with good fertility and plenty of water, the leaf of these old tall fescue plants, named “Alta,” ?EUR??,,????'??K-31,” and then “Fawn,” can grow more than an inch each day. Maintaining a lawn against such tyranny requires frequent mowing. As a result, even though used widely for playing fields and rough areas, such grasses achieved a limited popularity.

What occurred during the last ten years is the opening of a whole new market for turf because of the invention of turf-type grasses from this same tall fescue plant.

Production of turf-type fescue seed has expanded rapidly in the U.S. and primarily in Oregon. Production of the tall fescue seed in that state was approximately 16 million pounds as recently as 1983.

Now, production from 75,000 acres will be harvested in 1989, which could yield as many as 100 million pounds. Even so, companies still sell seed of other species of grass, such as perennial ryegrass and bluegrass seed, in abundance. Most of this new seed is for new markets.

In spite of fancy names, such as Mustang, Tempo, Bonanza, Mesa, Falcon, Rebel and so forth, the tall fescue plant has strengths and limitations. Those responsible for turf management would do well to learn these limitations and modify their expectations. Consider the strengths and limitations as follows.

Textures

The quality of a lawn often is measured by its fineness, but even the most improved turftype tall fescues are coarser than the broadest fine fescue, a distant cousin. Yet in many southern lawns, where St. Augustine grass is the standard of quality, turf-type tall fescue is finding rapid acceptance. It is clearly much finer bladed than this coarse grass, which can only be established vegetatively.

Density

Akin to texture is the overall density of the turf. This measure of quality again leaves turf-type tall fescue in, at best, a distant also-ran status. But the very newest experimental types are approaching the density of Kentucky bluegrass, a long-time standard. These new types are entering the market rapidly; many of the turf-type perennial ryegrass varieties have three to four times as many leaves per sq. ft.

But where tall fescue thrives, a more open leaf canopy may help the plants fight disease.

To avoid clumpiness in lawns that receive poor maintenance, it is necessary to reseed annually. Even in hot areas, where no other grasses survive, the new tall fescue can provide a nice lawn with some annual reseeding.

Color

Dark green, or forest green more accurately, is all the rage. And the newest varieties such as Monarch, Bonanza, Phoenix, Arid, Mesa, etc., are clearly the leaders to dark genetic color. Of course, all varieties are green and when combined in a mixture will develop a pleasant uniform green turf.

The color of the newest experimental varieties is rapidly approaching that of the best perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrasses. But turf-type tall fescue does hold its color better in dense shades and this discovery is expanding the revolution even further.

Drought Avoidance

According to Dr. Robert Shearman of the University of Nebraska (see LASN Vol. 5 No. 4), “Turfgrasses can resist drought stress by the avoidance mechanisms. Drought avoidant turfgrasses are capable of continuing growth under drought stress conditions. Drought avoidance is achieved by mechanisms such as reduced evapotranspiration (ET), deep root systems, high root/shoot ratios, ability to redistribute roots, reduced radiation absorption, and xeromorphic structures.”

This is where turf-type tall fescue shines. The plant can go dormant during periods of heat stress, much like fine fescues, and the roots penetrate deep below the soil surface. By creating a three-foot deep, and sometimes deeper, reservoir for water use, tall fescue plants act as water-savers.

But where soil depth is limiting, the broader leaves create relatively more evapotranspiration. In such cases, hard fescue, a fine, wiry-leafed plant, is more suitable. Turf-type tall fescue is well adapted to a wider variety of soil types from sand and gravel to clay. Few other grasses offer this versatility.

Durability

In the high maintenance and low use category, perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass are better choices in cool climates. In high traffic areas under moderate maintenance, however, and where any other limiting factor exists, such as low PH, poor soil, or restricted water use, turf-type tall fescue is the logical choice. The newer varieties have lower crowns and are thus protected from heavy foot traffic and even light vehicle traffic, such as golf carts.

Turf-type tall fescue is a natural for sports fields, especially in areas with hot summer temperatures. Good maintenance cannot be neglected, however.

This grass can be a water-saver and therefore, it is a democratic grass.; made for everyone. No longer a concept or a hope, turf-type tall fescue is here and a growing component in every seed company’s inventory.