Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is valued for its year-round color and tolerance for cold, heat, drought, and shady conditions. With the variety of seasons in middle Tennessee, it grows well and remains one of the most popular sod options.
Unlike grasses that spread by rhizomes and stolons running horizontally underground, tall fescue is a bunch-type grass. It grows in clumps and spreads primarily through vertical shoots called “tillers,” which grow from the base of the grass plant itself. This provides easy tall fescue grass maintenance and is generally non-invasive to flower beds. However tall fescue does have limited ability to repair lawn damage.
Annual aeration, overseeding, and scheduled fertilization/herbicide care are recommended.
Tall fescue was introduced into the United States in the late 19th century, but it did not establish itself as a widely used perennial grass until the 1940s. Tall fescue is the most heat tolerant of the major cool season grasses. Tall fescue has a deep root system compared to other cool season grasses.
