Turf Type Tall Fescue

Characteristics	General Maintenance Requirements	Recommended Uses
medium to dark green, moderate density turf with medium blade width cool season bunch-type grass with extensive root system prefers full sun but is moderately tolerant of part-shade, but will thin out over time in shaded areas our turf type tall fescue is a blend of 90% fescue and 10% bluegrass; un-netted fescue crops may be a 80%-20% blend of fescue to bluegrass	weekly application of water varies with season, see calendar for details two applications of fertilizer in the fall and one application in mid-spring mowing height between 3 and 4 inches	well suited for tough play lawns and for moderate recreation and foot traffic in parks or commercial green space

Kentucky Bluegrass - Poa Pratensis

dark green, dense, low-growing turf with thin blade width and excellent leaf uniformity forms dense sod via rhizomes (spreading stems that establish roots) cool season grass best suited to sunny locations and well-drained soils, may tolerate part-shade, but will thin out over time in shaded areas our 100% bluegrass turf is a blend of multiple Kentucky Bluegrass varieties

somewhat higher maintenance turf than fescue can require more fertilizer and watering than fescue de-thatching (aerating) can become necessary over time mowing height between 3 and 4 inches bluegrass that is highly maintained can be mowed to lower heights, call us for more information on our specific bluegrass blend

athletic applications (sports fields) or general lawns

Heat Tolerant Bluegrass

medium green color and a finer leaf blade than most fescue varieties superior performance in partial shade and maintains color in winter months rapid establishment and excellent recoverability better disease resistance to brown patch vs tall fescue often blended with traditional Kentucky Bluegrass varieties to provide the optimal features of each

mowing height can vary...please ask our sales team about your specific needs can require more fertilizer that other cool season sod varieties Scott's High Temp Bluegrass Brochure Scott's Heat Tolerant Variety List

athletic fields residential lawns as long as partial sun is available commercial green spaces

Netted Versus Un-Netted Fescue

Lavery’s has historically cultivated turf type tall fescue with a polymer mesh, or net, embedded in the root pad of the turf. The net allows us to harvest fescue year-round. For general lawn applications, netted fescue is a good product to use. The net is located in the root zone and does not become visible unless the sod is physically disturbed, or extensive traffic has completely eroded the above ground plant. The mesh is designed to break down in UV light, but this process occurs over long periods of time, not overnight.

In recent years, we have begun cultivating fields of our turf type tall fescue without netting. Our netted and un-netted fescues are grown from the same seed, and interchangeable in terms of end use, UNLESS you are installing fescue for a sports application. Sports fields in our region have started to request fescue playing surfaces. We recommend using only un-netted fescue for a sports application. Because sports cleats penetrate into the soil, netted fescue would be hazardous to players as they run through the field and their cleats catch in the net in the root zone.

Fescue roots, while extensive, lose tensile strength in the summer. The loss of tensile strength does not impede grass health or growth, but can make it difficult for the sod to be harvested in a continuous roll (like carpet). When planning to use un-netted fescue for a specific application, be aware that the un-netted fescue normally is only available in the cooler times of year.