FALL MEANS FESCUE TURF RENOVATION
 2010 summer weather conditions throughout the southeast United States have been brutal to say the least. Temperatures have been 5-6 degrees above normal since June 1st and rainfall has been sparse and scattered at best. Fescue turf areas have declined significantly as a result and their overall appearance at this time is generally poor. The good news is that cooler weather conditions will soon be occurring along with shorter daylight time periods, and hopefully more abundant rainfall, creating idea conditions to renovate Fescue turf through aeration and overseeding. The best times to Fescue aerate and overseed are generally September 1st through no later than mid/late October.
 Prior to any Fescue turf renovation it is important to control and eliminate any unwanted weed growth or competitive grasses from turf areas. Broadleaf and grassy weeds can be controlled using selective herbicides. OLM recommends that competitive grasses such as Bermudagrass be eliminated applying a nonselective herbicide such as Round Up. Completion of any herbicide applications should be completed approximately two weeks prior to any seeding to ensure that residual herbicide activity does not interfere with seed germination.
Key to any Fescue turf renovation is soil preparation. Turf soil areas must be disturbed or cultivated as much as possible without significantly harming the existing turf. OLM recommends preparing soil using a core aerator, verticutter or ‘power slit’ seeding machine to create good seed to soil contact. Remove any excessive dead turf grass vegetation debris from turf areas using a steel rake. It is important to aerate on moist soil so that the aerator tines penetrate at 2-3 inches. Irrigate turf areas two days beforehand if necessary.
 Also important to Fescue turf renovation is the application of a ‘starter type’ turf fertilizer. Fertilizer should be applied following the completion of soil preparation and/or seeding. Follow manufactures’ recommended application rate on fertilizer material bag. Follow up turf fertilization applications are recommended later in the fall, generally 6-8 weeks following this initial fertilization.
 Prior to aeration and seeding operation, it is recommended that you lower your mowing height slightly to reduce the grass canopy and allow seed to fall directly onto soil.
Following soil preparation spread Fescue grass seed at a rate of between 3-5 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet. Do not exceed this rate unless turf area has little or no existing Fescue turf. Always use certified grass seed containing a blend of several ‘turf-type’ Fescue seed varieties. Certified seed is required to have a label showing the results of various tests on that particular batch of seed. Results of these tests include the percentage of each specific variety of seed, germination percentage, and the number or percentage of weed seed found in each quantity.
 Watering of renovated Fescue turf areas is critical for successful seed germination and establishment. It is recommended that approximately one inch of water is immediately applied following aeration and seeding. Following this initial watering, apply enough water daily to prevent the top one-half inch of soil from drying until seedlings are 1.5 inches tall. Once seedlings have fully germinated, adjust watering schedule to supply approximately one inch per week. There is no need to water turf if rainfall supplies the correct amount.
 The best time to water a lawn is in the morning, preferably before noon. This allows the grass to dry before nightfall, reducing the risk of disease.
Fescue turf will recover from this summer’s hot, dry conditions once cooler weather conditions persist. However, it is critical that Fescue turf areas receive proper renovation through the aeration and overseeding procedures outlined above to aid the turf in its recovery.
If you have any questions regarding Fescue turf renovation, please do not hesitate to contact OLM so that we may assist you. |
