Tall fescue grass is an important grass in the United States, and is widely used for pasture and soil stabilization on roads and other problem areas. Tall fescue is a European herb that was introduced to the United States in the 1800s. However, it was not used as a grass lawn until the introduction of the improved and disease resistant varieties Alta 1940 and Kentucky 31 in 1943. These two tall fescue varieties became the standards of all tall fescue lawns. Only recently have cleaner varieties that have become popular with lower lawn mowing uses.
A grassy grass, a tall, deep-rooted perennial. Radically bunched grass, forming a fern rather than a meadow. 31 Kentucky, a popular variety, has of course the rough edges of the leaf blades. If it is sown thickly and planted thickly, it can also form a lawn. However, if sparsely scattered plants become lumpy and improbable. Like Naevi, it is a cool-season herb, although it persists well through the hot summer. In addition to growing well in sunny areas, it has a light shade tolerance. But in the shade the growth is softer and thinner.
The seeds of tall fescue are much larger than those of Naevi, and must be sown in greater quantities. The seeds should be given a light soil cover for best germination. Seeding rates for fescue grasses are higher than for pastures, so that a certain dense stand can be found. Seeds about seven to eight pounds per 1000 feet of grass area. Although Kentucky 31 is the only tall fescue variety available for lawn use in many areas, newer cultivars are available for consideration.
The Rebel, which was first introduced in 1979, showed a lot of promise. It was derived from a diverse site that included three hybrid species of tall fescue, meadow fescue and perennial ryegrass. It has a fairly fine texture, good disease resistance, and is as low as it can be protected. The older varieties of flowering shrubs should be cut two to three inches high. Falcon is another tall tree with a finer texture and moderately low growth. It was introduced in 1980 and is still not available in many places at this time. The leaves can withstand heat and drought, which is common to older trees.
The number of tall fescue varieties is still very limited, and those that are for sale are often difficult to find. However, where available, they represent another choice for forests in the Midwest, where summers are often too hot and dry for good winter, and Winters are sometimes too cold for warm season grasses such as zoysia or bermuda. Tall fescue, and any other cool season grass, should be sown in the early fall. It can germinate at this time of year with enough time to grow before winter sets in. Also, few herbs germinate in the fall.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tall_Fescue_(Festuca_arundinacea)
