Lolium arundinaceum

Tall Fescue as a Lawn

Tall fescue is native to Eurasia and North Africa. It is the most widely grown cool-season turfgrass in North Carolina. It is tolerant to heat and drought, disease resistant, and persists with minimum care. It has a bunch-type growth habit and tends to clump so may need to be re-seeded each year in areas where it struggles.

While similar to Kentucky bluegrass, annual ryegrass, and perennial ryegrass, tall fescue has rolled vernation in the leaf bud and rough leaf blade margins. Like perennial ryegrass, tall fescue has non-clasping auricles. The backside of the tall fescue leaf blade is less glossy than that of ryegrasses. Tall fescue is sometime grown in mixtures with Kentucky bluegrass.

As with other turfgrasses, tall fescues is difficult to manage as a weed within another turfgrass. It can be selectively removed from some warm-season turfgrasses. Select an adapted turfgrass species and cultivar, and use proper mowing and fertilization techniques to maintain a dense, actively growing, desired turf. Digging or removal by hand is one way to control undesired perennial turfgrasses. You may spot treat an infested area with an appropriate non-selective herbicide, but realize it will also kill the desired turfgrass.

For more information, please refer to the NC State Extension TurfFiles entry for Tall fescue.