Do you want to be dazzled by tall

fescue?

Tom VoigtUniversity of Illinois

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

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)

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).

By the numbers: seed per pound, seeding rate, and

days to germination • Approximately 178,000 to

234,000 seeds/lb. • Seeding Rate - 7-9 lb./1000ft2 • Approximately 4-12 days to

germination

Planting With OtherCool-Season Species

•Kentucky bluegrass

•Perennial ryegrass

80% Tall Fescue/20% Perennial Ryegrass

80% Tall Fescue/20% Perennial Ryegrass

Tall Fescue Maintenance

•Mowing

•Fertilizing

•Irrigating

•Cultivation

U. Of I. Tall FescueMaintenance 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.

U. Of I. Tall FescueMaintenance 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.

Tall Fescue Maintenance Recommendations

•Related to brown patch incidence.

•Mow at 2.5 to 3.5 inches.

•Supply 2 - 4 pounds of N/M/year.

•Supply P and K based on soil tests.

•Supply water as necessary.

•Thatch is not normally a problem.

Tall Fescue Up Close

Tall Fescue and the Environment

•Cool-Season Grass•Shade•Soil compaction•Drought•Diseases

Tall Fescue Characteristics

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.

Seasonal Turf Growth

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)

Relative CompactionStress Tolerance

Perennial ryegrass—very highKentucky

bluegrass—high/mediumTall fescue—mediumCreeping red fescue—low

(Shearman, Neb.)

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)

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.

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)

Brown Patch and Gray Leaf Spot on Tall Fescues

Brown Patch•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

Environmental Tolerances

•Acid and alkaline soils• Low management•Quick establishment•Wet and dry soils•Dry shade• Erosion control

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

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 - 12.3%– Titan Ltd. + Rendition + Kittyhawk 2000 - 13% – Grande II - 11%– Labarinth RTF - 10%– Rendition – 6%

Tall Fescue Cultivars

National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP)

•http://www.ntep.org/

•Volumes of turf cultivar information.

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)

• 2006-2011 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

Urbana NTEP Tall Fescue Trials

Tall Fescue Trial

2006 NTEP Trial

Low-Maintenance TypesKentucky-31, Fawn, Alta, Chesapeake, Clemfine, ...

Original Turf TypesRebel, Falcon, Olympic, Mustang, Falcon, ...

Improved Second Generation Turf TypesRebel II, Tribute, Apache, Bonanza, Jaguar II, ...

Moderately Low-Growing Turf TypesRebel Jr., Hubbard 87, ...

Ultra-Dwarf Turf TypesBonsai, Shortstop, Mini Mustang, ...

(Hurley, Lofts Seeds)

Developing Tall Fescue Cultivars

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

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

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

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

2012 NTEP Tall Fescue Trial in Urbana

Ky. 31

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

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

Tall Fescue as a Weed• Hand dig, spot-apply glyphosate, control

with chlorsulfuron in industrial settings

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

Exotic Grasses

• Orchardgrass • Redtop • Tall fescue• Timothy

Orchardgrass

Redtop

Redtop

Tall Fescue

Timothy

Orchardgrass, tall fescue, and Timothy mix

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

Questions?