Tall Fescue Vs Kentucky Bluegrass
The main difference between kentucky bluegrass vs tall fescue is the cost factor.
Tall fescue vs kentucky bluegrass. Kentucky bluegrass grows in u s. This grass establishes itself quite well after germination. Shade tolerance tall fescues can tolerate shade well and may only need 4 hours of direct sunlight to survive while kentucky bluegrass might need at least 8 hours of direct sunlight to live or else it could turn. Of the fescue types most widely used for lawns tall fescue dominates and is known botanically as festuca arundinacea.
It is self spreading and self repairing. Tall fescue grows in usda zones 3 through 8. Enter turf type tall fescue tttf. However kentucky bluegrass should ideally be mowed when it has reached a height of 2 5 inches in the spring and a little higher in the summer months.
Heat and drought tolerance tall fescue is a hardy grass that can survive summertime heat and diseases while kentucky bluegrass is more vulnerable to hot summers and drought. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 1 through 9. For those willing to sacrifice the color and density of bluegrass and be willing to do an occasional over seeding fall to thicken up the turf and repair any damaged area this can be an excellent choice. The university of missouri suggests keeping kentucky bluegrass 2 to 3 inches tall roughly 1 inch shorter than tall fescue s recommended height.
It does quite well in harsh winter regions and becomes dormant in hot and dry conditions. Tall fescue requires about 1 lb of nitrogen fertilizer per 1000 sq. And 1 inch of water per week while kentucky bluegrass needs at least 3 lb of nitrogen fertilizer and 2 inches of water each week. Kentucky bluegrass vs tall fescue review kentucky bluegrass.
Mowing the grass kentucky bluegrass needs to be mowed on a more frequent basis than tall fescue the later only requiring mowing when it has exceeded 3 inches in height. It spreads horizontally and requires moderate care and watering. Kentucky bluegrass is the botanical species poa pratensis. While admittedly not exhibiting the same level of dark blue green color and density as bluegrass tttf has some important and to some significant advantages.
Another species known as tall fescue is festuca elatior. Red fescue is hardy in usda zones 1 through 7 and hard fescue in usda zones 4 through 9.