Yes, Tall Fescue is a perennial cool-season grass. This makes it a popular choice, particularly within the challenging transition zones of the United States, which experience both hot summers and cold winters. As a cool-season variety, its most active growth occurs during the milder temperatures of spring and fall, allowing it to maintain color and density when many other grass types struggle.
What Defines a Perennial Grass
A perennial plant lives for more than two growing seasons, unlike annual grasses which complete their life cycle in a single year. Perennial grasses survive winter or extreme summer heat by storing energy in underground structures. They regrow from dormant buds located in the crown tissue near the soil surface, meaning they do not need to be replanted annually. This ability to regenerate allows perennial varieties to return each year, offering a more permanent ground cover.
Tall Fescue’s Specific Growth Mechanism
Tall Fescue achieves its perennial status through its robust, extensive root system. This deep rooting is a major factor in its ability to withstand prolonged periods of drought and high summer temperatures. By reaching moisture and nutrients lower in the soil profile, the plant avoids the drought-induced dormancy that affects shallower-rooted grasses.
The grass exhibits a “bunch-type” growth habit, spreading primarily by producing new vertical shoots, called tillers, from the base of the plant. Tall Fescue forms dense clumps that expand outward slowly, unlike grasses that spread horizontally via stolons or rhizomes. The lack of aggressive horizontal spread means that damaged or thin areas do not self-repair quickly, which impacts maintenance.
Distinction Between Turf and Forage Types
Tall Fescue has been selectively bred into two main categories based on its intended use. The older type is Forage Tall Fescue, often represented by Kentucky 31 (KY-31). This forage type is characterized by coarse, wide leaf blades and is typically used for pastures, utility areas, and erosion control due to its durability.
The second category is Turf-Type Tall Fescue (TTTF), engineered to possess finer leaf blades, a darker green color, and a denser growth pattern. TTTF combines the deep-rooted toughness of the species with the manicured appearance desired for modern lawns and athletic fields.
Maintenance Considerations for Perennial Fescue
Maintenance schedules are timed to Tall Fescue’s peak growth in the spring and especially the fall. Fertilizer applications should be concentrated in the autumn to support the development of strong root systems and new tillers before winter dormancy. Mowing should be consistently maintained at a higher height, generally between two and three inches for turf types, to protect the crown and encourage a deeper root system.
In extended dry periods, the grass will enter summer dormancy, turning brown to conserve resources. To prevent this, the lawn requires approximately one inch of water per week, applied deeply to encourage the roots to seek moisture. If dormancy is allowed, the grass will revive when cooler temperatures and moisture return.
The bunch-type growth habit necessitates a different approach to repairing thin or damaged areas. Because it does not creep laterally, Tall Fescue lawns benefit from periodic overseeding, particularly during the optimal fall window. Overseeding introduces new plants to fill in the spaces between clumps and re-establish density. The best time for this renovation is in late summer or early fall when daytime temperatures are in the mid-70s, allowing the young seedlings time to establish before the onset of winter.