1. Do you want to be dazzled by tall fescue?
Tom Voigt
University of Illinois

2. Outline General tall fescue information Tall fescue maintenance
Tall fescue and the environment
Tall fescue cultivars
Tall fescue as a weed
Tall fescue in un-mowed roughs

4. General Tall Fescue (Schedonorus phoenix)
+ Excellent wear tolerance after establishment
+ Good in transition zone or warmer regions of U.S.
+ Good drought tolerance
+/- Moderate seedling growth and establishment
+/- Moderate soil compaction tolerance
- Poor recuperative ability and sod knitting
- Disease problems (e.g., brown patch)

5. Tall Fescue (Schedonorus phoenix)
Establishment Method: Seeding and occasionally sod.
Appearance: Medium-coarse to coarse texture with low density.
Growth Habit: Primarily bunch-type.
Environmental Adaptation: Good in transition zone or warmer regions of U.S.; adapts to wide range of soils and environments. Full sun; tolerates some shade. Does well in heat and drought. Tolerates short periods of submersion. Excellent wear tolerance after establishment. Moderate soil compaction tolerance. Poor recuperative ability and sod knitting. Disease problems (e.g., brown patch).

6. By the numbers: seed per pound, seeding rate, and days to germination
Approximately 178,000 to 234,000 seeds/lb.
Seeding Rate lb./1000ft2
Approximately 4-12 days to germination

7. Planting With Other Cool-Season Species
Kentucky bluegrass
Perennial ryegrass

8. 80% Tall Fescue/20% Perennial Ryegrass

9. 80% Tall Fescue/20% Perennial Ryegrass

10. Tall Fescue Maintenance
Mowing
Fertilizing
Irrigating
Cultivation

11. U. Of I. Tall Fescue Maintenance Research
Plots were maintained at four nitrogen fertility levels (0, 2, 4, and 6 pounds N per 1,000 ft.2 per year)
Plots were maintained three mowing heights (1, 2, and 3 inches).
Overall, plots maintained at 3 inches were usually the highest quality.
Tall fescue plots maintained at 1 inch had significantly more crabgrass cover than plots maintained at 2 or 3 inches.

12. U. Of I. Tall Fescue Maintenance Research (cont.)
All fertility rates usually produced tall fescue plots of significantly higher quality than the unfertilized tall fescue plots.
Fertility rates of 2 pound N per 1,000 ft.2 per year usually produced tall fescue of unacceptable quality during periods of more than one month following a fertilizer application.
6 pounds N per 1,000 ft.2 per year usually produced significantly higher turf quality during July and October than 4 pounds N per 1,000 ft.2 per year.
Plots receiving 2, 4, and 6 pounds N per 1,000 ft.2 per year had significantly less broadleaf weed cover than the unfertilized plots.

13. Tall Fescue Maintenance Recommendations
Related to brown patch incidence.
Mow at 2.5 to 3.5 inches.
Supply pounds of N/M/year.
Supply P and K based on soil tests.
Supply water as necessary.
Thatch is not normally a problem.

14. Tall Fescue Up Close

15. Tall Fescue and the Environment
Cool-Season Grass
Shade
Soil compaction
Drought
Diseases

16. Tall Fescue Characteristics

17. Tall Fescue is a Cool-Season Grass
Optimal root growth when soil temperatures are between 50° and 65°F and shoot growth when air temperatures are between 60° and 75°F.
Flower in late spring or early summer.
Photosynthesis - inefficient in hot conditions.
Establish early in late summer period.

18. Seasonal Turf Growth 36

19. Shade Tolerance
Rated to be very good relative to other cool-season turfgrasses
Improved tall fescue cultivars tend to perform better in shade than pasture types
(Ohio State)

20. Relative Compaction Stress Tolerance
Perennial ryegrass—very high
Kentucky bluegrass—high/medium
Tall fescue—medium
Creeping red fescue—low
(Shearman, Neb.)

21. Soil Compaction
Tall fescue suffered a significant quality decline (% coverage, shoot density, and size of individual plants) with increasing compaction
Rooting did increase with increasing compaction
(Carrow, GA)

22. Tall Fescues and Drought
Very good overall resistance to drought (the ability to avoid and tolerate drought).
Excellent drought avoidance (the ability to postpone tissue dehydration primarily by deep rooting).
Fair drought tolerance (the ability to recover after experiencing drought stress).
In general, dwarf cultivars (e.g., Bonsai) show inferior rooting and poor tolerance to soil drying compared to pasture types or non-dwarf turf types.

23. Deficit Irrigation
Turf-type tall fescues maintained quality when irrigated:
50% ET every two days
75% ET every 4, 7, or 14 days
60% ET twice weekly
ET = evapotranspiration or sum of water lost through evaporation from the soil and transpiration from the turf
(Kansas, Colorado)

24. Brown Patch and Gray Leaf Spot on Tall Fescues
Night temperatures > 60° F.
More than 10 hours foliar wetness per day for several days
Lush turf (> ½ N/month)
Low P and K
Gray Leaf Spot
Temperatures 77° – 86° F.
Extended period of foliar wetness
Shady locations with poor air circulation
High N with wet foliage
Young seedlings

25. Environmental Tolerances
Acid and alkaline soils
Low management
Quick establishment
Wet and dry soils
Dry shade
Erosion control

26. Endophytic Fungi on Tall Fescues
Acremonium coenophialum
found in leaves and seeds of grass plants
produces substances toxic to microbes and animals (do not plant if tall fescues are for grazing)
improved tolerances to leaf-feeding insects (e.g., sod webworms), some nematodes, environmental stresses, weed invasion
increased growth and tilllering, better recovery from brown patch and dollar spot
request endophytic seed when purchasing
short lived in seed

27. Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (RTF)
Ohio State research tested six different RTF varieties: Labarinth RTF, Grande II, Titan Ltd., Rendition, Kittyhawk 2000 and Winter Active Fescue
Winter Active and Grande II were dense, and had excellent color and a fine leaf texture.
Rhizome Activity/Development
Winter Active Fescue %
Titan Ltd. + Rendition + Kittyhawk %
Grande II - 11%
Labarinth RTF - 10%
Rendition – 6%

28. Tall Fescue Cultivars

29. National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP)
Volumes of turf cultivar information.

30. NTEP Tall Fescue Data
1983 (30 Entries, 41 Sites), 1987 (65 Entries, 42 Sites), 1992 (30 Entries, 41 Sites), 1996 (129 Entries, 31 Sites), 2001 (160 Entries, 34 Sites), 2006 (113 Entries, 30 Sites), 2012 (116 entries, 22 sites)
Trial - Locations/Entry Info., Turfgrass Quality, Color, Leaf Texture, Density, Spring Greenup, Seedling Vigor/Estab., Living Ground Cover, Drought Tolerance, Frost Tol./Winter Kill, Diseases/Insects, Data by Locations , Endophyte Levels

31. Urbana NTEP Tall Fescue Trials
2006 NTEP Trial
Tall Fescue Trial

32. Developing Tall Fescue Cultivars
Low-Maintenance Types
Kentucky-31, Fawn, Alta, Chesapeake, Clemfine, ...
Original Turf Types
Rebel, Falcon, Olympic, Mustang, Falcon, ...
Improved Second Generation Turf Types
Rebel II, Tribute, Apache, Bonanza, Jaguar II, ...
Moderately Low-Growing Turf Types
Rebel Jr., Hubbard 87, ...
Ultra-Dwarf Turf Types
Bonsai, Shortstop, Mini Mustang, ...
(Hurley, Lofts Seeds)

33. Top Tall Fescue Performers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin in NTEP 2001 Trial
2nd Millenium, DaVinci, Padre, Finelawn Elite, Escalade, Raptor, Grande II, Falcon IV, Titanium, Justice, Coyote II, Ultimate, Inferno, Avenger, Blackwatch, Cochise III, Lexington, Greenkeeper WAF, Firebird, Chipper, Solara, Houndog, Rembrandt, Rendition, Riverside, Quest, Magellan, Rebel Exeda, Stonewall, Silverstar, Silverado II, Guardian-21, Dynamic, Wolfpack, Mustang, Desire, Barvado, SR 8550, Apache III, Turbo, Kalahari, Picasso, Ninja, Fidelity, Scorpion, Piedmont, Corgi, Millenium
Top in IL Trial

34. Top Tall Fescue Performers in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin NTEP 2006 Trials (combined 2010 evaluations)
3rd Millenium, AST9003, Braveheart, Bullseye, Catalyst, Cochise, Corona, Crossfire 3, Essential, Faith, Falcon V, Finelawn Xpress, Firecracker LS, Firenza, Greenbrooks, Hemi, LS 1200, Monet, Mustang 4, Rhambler SRP, Rocket, Shenandoah Elite, Shenandoah III, Sidewinder, Speedway, Stetson II, Talledega, Tanzania, Traverse SRP, Tulsa Time, Turbo, Van Gogh, Wolfpack II, Xtremegreen
Also in top group in 2006 IL Trial

35. Top Tall Fescue Performers in Illinois NTEP 2006 Trial (2007-2011 evaluations)
06-Dust, Bullseye, Catalyst, Corona, Crossfire 3, Darlington, Falcon IV, Falcon NG, Falcon V, Fat Cat, Firecracker LS, Firenza, Gazelle II, Greenbrooks, Hemi, Honky Tonk, Hudson, Hunter, Justice, Magellan, Ninja 3, Rembrandt, Renovate, Reunion, Rhambler SRP, Shenandoah III Skyline, Stetson II, Talledega, Terrier, Tulsa Time, Turbo, Van Gogh, Wolfpack II
Also in top group in 2001 IL Trial

36. Top Performers in Midwest and Illinois in NTEP 2006 Tall Fescue Trial (2007-2011 evaluations)
Bullseye, Catalyst, Corona, Crossfire 3, Darlington, Falcon V, Fat Cat, Firecracker LS, Firenza, Gazelle II, Greenbrooks, Hemi, Honky Tonk, Hudson, Hunter, Justice, Magellan, Ninja 3, Rembrandt, Renovate, Reunion, Rhambler SRP, Shenandoah III Skyline, Stetson II, Talledega, Terrier, Tulsa Time, Turbo, Van Gogh, Wolfpack II

37. 2012 NTEP Tall Fescue Trial in Urbana

38. Ky. 31

39. Top Performers in Illinois NTEP 2012 Tall Fescue Trial (2013-2015 evaluations)
4th Millennium SRP, Avenger II, BIZEM, Black Tail, Bullseye, Catalyst, Faith, Firebird 2, Firecracker SLS, Firewall, Grande 3, GTO, Hemi, Hot Rod, Kingdom, Maestro, Michelangelo, Raptor III, Reflection, Regenerate, Rowdy, Saltillo, Technique, Temple, Terrano, Titanium 2LS, Traverse 2 SRP, Xtender
Also in top group in 2006 IL Trial

40. Tall Fescue Use Recommendations
Use non-dwarf turf-type tall fescues for lawns, parks, golf course roughs where moderate quality turf is desired and
Use pasture types (e. g., Kentucky 31, Alta, Fawn) for utility purposes.
Allow to become fully established prior to trafficking
Use high seeding rates when planting dwarf types
Plant a blend
Use caution when mixing species

41. Tall Fescue as a Weed
Hand dig, spot-apply glyphosate, control with chlorsulfuron in industrial settings

42. Un-Mowed, Low-Maintenance Roughs, Parks, and Roadsides

43. Orchardgrass Redtop Tall fescue Timothy
Exotic Grasses
Orchardgrass
Redtop
Tall fescue
Timothy

44. Orchardgrass

45. Redtop

46. Redtop

47. Tall Fescue

48. Timothy

49. Orchardgrass, tall fescue, and Timothy mix

50. Exotic Grasses in Low-Maintenance Areas - Un-Mowed Roughs, Parks, and Roadsides
Relatively easy to establish and maintain
Seed is inexpensive and available
Attractive, especially in the early season
Shade tolerance

51. Questions?