Fescue is a popular cool-season grass used widely across the United States for its durability and adaptability. Homeowners often choose it for its deep green color and tolerance to moderate shade and traffic. The question of whether fescue returns every year depends entirely on which specific type of fescue was planted.
Differentiating Annual and Perennial Fescue
The life cycle of the fescue determines if it will return year after year. Fescue grasses are categorized into two main groups based on their inherent life cycle: annual and perennial.
Perennial fescue types, such as Tall Fescue and the various Fine Fescues (like Creeping Red, Hard, and Chewings), are designed to live for multiple years. Tall Fescue, often the most common turf type, is a bunch-type grass that survives the winter and heat by drawing energy from its root system. As long as environmental conditions do not kill the plant outright, these varieties will return each spring from the existing root crown.
Annual fescue, such as Annual Ryegrass, completes its entire life cycle in a single growing season. It germinates, grows, produces seed, and then dies completely when faced with extreme heat or cold. This type of grass is often used for temporary winter cover or quick establishment, and it must be re-seeded annually if the goal is a consistent stand of grass.
Understanding Fescue’s Seasonal Dormancy
Perennial fescue sometimes appears to die even though it is genetically programmed to return. This visual change is due to seasonal dormancy, which is triggered by environmental stress. Fescue enters dormancy when subjected to prolonged periods of high heat, above 85°F, combined with drought conditions.
During this time, the grass conserves energy and moisture by shutting down above-ground growth. The leaf blades turn a straw-like brown color and become brittle, mimicking the look of dead grass. This color change is not a sign of death, but rather the plant sacrificing its leaves to protect the living root system and the crown at the soil level.
The plant’s extensive root system, which can reach depths of two to three feet, remains alive below the soil surface. Once favorable conditions return, including cooler temperatures and adequate moisture, the plant will exit dormancy. It will then resume active growth and green-up from the protected crown.
Key Practices for Long-Term Fescue Persistence
Ensuring perennial fescue thrives and returns vigorously requires consistent maintenance practices that minimize summer stress. Proper watering is a primary factor for preventing lethal dormancy and maintaining a healthy root system. Deep, infrequent irrigation encourages the development of deep roots, which helps the plant withstand summer drought.
When watering, the goal should be to saturate the soil to a depth of four to six inches, which usually means applying about one inch of water per week if rainfall is insufficient. Watering deeply in the early morning allows the moisture to be absorbed by the roots before the heat of the day causes excessive evaporation.
The height at which fescue is mowed also plays a significant role in its persistence. Maintaining a higher mowing height, typically between 3 and 4 inches, is important during the warmer months. Taller grass blades shade the soil, keeping the root zone cooler and reducing moisture loss from the surface.
Additional measures like fall aeration and fertilization prepare the grass for successful winter survival and spring growth. Core aeration relieves soil compaction and improves the movement of air, water, and nutrients to the root zone. Applying a slow-release, high-nitrogen fertilizer in the fall strengthens the roots and crowns, providing the energy reserves needed to initiate rapid growth.