The time to plant bermuda seed is in mid-May. Is the soil hard? For most areas of the United States, we recommend using one of our native grass seed mixes.A regional, native wildflower seed mix works wonderfully with a regional, native grass seed mix.For specific requirements, individual grass species may be preferred. Tall fescue is grown as an "all or none grass," in that it is not compatible with bermudagrass. i would never plant bermuda and then overseed with fescue. Do you think this is a good idea? You have fescue, an evergreen, cool-season grass that is common in thinly growing bermudagrass lawns. Fescue’s optimum growth range is when temperatures are between 55° F and 75° F. During summer months when temperatures are higher than the optimum range, growth slows and turf can become more susceptible to disease and insect damage. There are multiple types of Fescue to ensure that you can get the desired look you may want for your lawn. Growing Your Fescue Grass. Although fescue lawns don’t require heavy maintenance, there are a few simple tasks you’ll need to complete in order to grow a healthy, full fescue lawn: Mowing—Planted fescue seeds need a few weeks to mature before being mowed. Fescue – Growing In a Bermuda Lawn. These herbicides contain chemicals that spread from the sprayed leaf blades to the roots, rhizomes, and stolons, killing off the whole Bermuda grass plant, not just the visible parts. And yeah if you don't mind it, just leave the bermuda anywhere it will grow. Bermuda grass and species of fescue are well-suited to be paired in a turf lawn. First, Bermuda likes to be mowed low and fescue likes to grow taller. Soil testing determines your lawn’s soil pH, soil type, and nutrients required so you can fertilizer properly. Fescue Grass Influence Your fescue has a chance to flourish come late fall and winter. Mow the fescue low and use an aerator or dethatcher (slit seeder) to make lots of holes/grooves in the lawn. As long as the sun exposure is a minimum of 6 hours, bermuda will thrive. The cool-season, cool-climate grasses (such as Tall Fescue) grow best at temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees and have a difficult time adjusting to hot, dry periods; they typically go dormant quickly during drought times. Do you think skipping the aeration would be better since it is fairly late in the bermuda growing season. The sun loving Bermuda grass can grow easily in poor soil as well and have the ability to recover quickly from damages such as cutting, fires etc. This was while I dug stumps and leveled terraces. Mow the lawn 1 1/2 inches tall to inhibit the fescue and give the bermuda seedlings lots of sun. if you choose bermuda overseed with a perennial ryegrass blend. The shade will cool the area and allow fescue to grow. Bermuda is a warm season grass and fescue is a cool season grass. However, you can plant Bermuda with seed, and establish a green lawn fairly quickly due to its aggressive nature. Depending on your location, you may be able to grow both Bermuda and Fescue grass. ©2020 Walter Reeves / The Simple Gardener, Inc. All Rights Reserved. bermuda is an option but overseeding is an extra cost. While Bermuda, on average grows to be about two inches, Fescue can grow to be several feet long if left unattended. Fescues are much more drought tolerant and deeper rooting than bluegrass, but as the roots intertwine and grow together, the deeper fescue roots actually bring water up to the bluegrass through osmosis and improve its drought tolerance, resulting in a hardier turf blend. Tall fescue grows with soil pH from 5.5 to 7.5. shaded) conditions. The seeds grow fast. Fescue can be grown from seed or placed down as sod. Mow the bermuda high and regularly at 2.0 inches. Tall Fescue is classified as a cool-season turfgrass with a C3 plant metabolism. Combining these types of grasses allows those who live in moderate-to-warm climates to maintain a green lawn throughout the year. Here in Atlanta, many yards have bermuda in the front yard and fescue in the back. Bermuda is a warm-season grass that goes brown and dormant in the fall and winter, while fescue species are cool-season grasses that will be green in the fall, winter and spring. Spray glyphosate (click for sources) on a home-made cotton “wiper” and kill the fescue that way. I have planted it in millet during the spring and ryegrass during the fall. Bermuda grass is more expensive and takes more maintenance. Spread 1-2 pounds of bermuda seed per 1000 square feet and water it in thoroughly. I'm hoping between essentially scalping the lawn with the mower, and then spraying, then topdressing, this would hopefully be enough to let the fescue seeds grow during their peak growing season, then I can spray often in the spring/summer next year to minimize it from coming back. It can be … Forget fescue for this Spring overseeding and get some Perennial Ryegrass (turf-type) which you can find at Lowe's or HD, then scalp the bermuda patches as much as you can, put down some topsoil, then seed, fertilizer, and water everyday for the next 2 weeks. Fescue lawns (Festuca arundinaceae) have many opposite qualities to bermuda grass -- they grow best in a cool, shady environment and stay green in the winter. The downside is it's not a fine-blade fescue like some of the higher-priced grass seeds. Bermuda grass does not grow well under low light (i.e. Current lawn (5000+ sq. 2. Bermuda sun/fescue shade combo is what the people who had my house before me did. Bermuda grass and species of fescue are well-suited to be paired in a turf lawn. For the first couple of weeks, apply 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water daily, enough to keep the top inch of soil moist but not soggy. Don’t spray a non-selective weedkiller on the fescue, you’ll inevitably get some of it onto the green bermudagrass crown. The time to plant bermuda seed is in mid-May. The Northeast is cooler and wetter than the area where tall fescue has traditionally been grown and, absent heat stress, even the endophyte-free varieties grow very well here. Eradicate the bermudagrass: 1. I’m new to the world of lawn care. Fescue – Growing In a Bermuda Lawn. Also, both types of grasses need nitrogen fertilizer, but on completely different schedules. A: It’s possible to plant bermuda seed into fescue but it will be two years before you get rid of the green and brown spotty winter appearance. There is a little bermuda growing but not much established grass. Ok, I want to plant grass and I was wondering if I can plant a Kentucky Bluegrass/ Tall Fescue mix with bermuda grass. It takes longer to grow. Some say Kentucky 31 is a weed, but I don't agree with that. fescue worked in our area with a similar climate. Examples include Ornamec Over-the-top and Turflon Ester. Planting Fescue - posted in Pasture & Grazing: My research and Extension Agent have convinced me to plant endophyte friendly fescue in a 17 acre pasture. Without getting too scientific on you you actually have a "Fescue Mix" which is a grass seed mix is made up of two or more different species of grasses. ©2020 Walter Reeves / The Simple Gardener, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mow at the maximum hight of your mower. Fertilize four times between planting and September unless you encounter a summer drought. The reality is fescue and bermuda don't get along well. I live in South Carolina and I was going to buy mostly the mix and then some bermuda grass and mix the seeds together in the seed scatterer. Since my lawn is composed of way too many different types of grasses (bermuda, fescue, centipede, zoysia…don’t ask) I’m not sure if the attachments are weeds or some type of cool weather grass. Combinations That Work Best. Besides, can Bermuda and fescue grow together? Q: My lawn care company recommended it would be better if I planted bermuda seed rather than keep the fescue that is in my full sun back yard. Zoysia is a much more dense turf, far fewer problems with fungus, loves the heat and sunshine, never needs re-seeding, can grow in poor soils much better, and weed control is MUCH easier on the rare occasion that weeds are able to make a stand. ft) has Bermuda but it is not growing well due to high shade in the back yard. Mow the fescue low and use an aerator or dethatcher (slit seeder) to make lots of holes/grooves in the lawn. To entirely kill off Bermuda grass from your fescue lawn, you need a systemic weed grass killer. Since bermudagrass can usually crowd out fescue, your first job is to figure out how to make the bermudagrass thick. turf type tall fescue also looks really good and is used on many athletic fields in the transition zone. My solution? Still, mixing the two grasses can help homeowners to keep a green-looking lawn all year long. In late winter, when temperatures are high enough for fescue to start growing, use a cheap, general purpose fertilizer (you don’t want slow-release). Raising the mowing height of the fescue can help by increasing the strength and density of the grass and also by shading out any low-growing Bermuda grass that has made its way into the lawn. Trim nearby trees (or switch to fescue, which likes light shade). Fescue, on the other hand, can withstand the cold better than its competitor and takes seed more easily. A: It’s possible to plant bermuda seed into fescue but it will be two years before you get rid of the green and brown spotty winter appearance. Since my lawn is composed of way too many different types of grasses (bermuda, fescue, centipede, zoysia…don’t ask) I’m not sure if the attachments are weeds or some type of cool weather grass. The main characteristics of this grass are its high persistence and aggressive nature. You'll have to keep the fescue mowed short (1 inch) to prevent overshading until the baby bermuda … Q: Okay, don’t laugh. That will leave a dead spot in spring…..ripe for further invasion by crabgrass or fescue grass. Back yard gets a maximum of 3-4 hours of direct sunlight and it is not enough for the grass to grow – have only patches of grass in the backyard. I’m new to the world of lawn care. Q: Okay, don’t laugh. Browse and purchase gardening books by Walter Reeves, plus select titles by other authors. Browse and purchase gardening books by Walter Reeves, plus select titles by other authors. Tall fescue will generally yield more than other forage grass species, but all other things being equal, tall fescue neutral detergent fiber levels are generally lower than orchardgrass on the same calendar date. Well almost because if you use a common seeded variety where the seeds are fertile, the wind will … Wildflowers can be sown with grasses to create a flowering meadow or prairie. As Sod, they are both about the same price if Fescue isn’t a … Is there too much shade? To grow Bermuda, you will really need a barrier of some kind to contain it like a side walk or a shade barrier it cannot cross. Does water flow over the spot when it rains? Maybe it needs aerating. Fescue grass is often known to be good for its roots but does require attention when it comes to growth. A: Hey – I’ve had a lawn for thirty years – and I get weeds in my grass too! This helps to hold freshly-prepared soil in place, and allows the lawn to take in water without creating mud puddles. Fescue costs less than Bermuda and has multiple varieties, such as fine fescue. Bermuda can be grown from seed, or placed on the yard as sod. That’s your key for winning. They also can only survive drought periods for approximately 3 weeks, after which they die. The roots of bermuda will crowd out the fescue for sure. If you have a shaded area with bermudagrass, or a small bermuda area you are changing over to tall fescue, here is the plan to follow. It works fine if you don't mind a bit different looking grass in different areas. So, many homeowners choose to seed Bermuda grass to get a thick stand of green grass. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Bluegrass and fescue blends help each other adapt to site conditions. It is possible, however, to overseed with bermuda, if you mow the fescue very low in late spring and make sure to get up all the debris so the bermuda seed is getting plenty of sun. Combining these types of grasses allows those who live in moderate-to-warm climates to maintain a green lawn throughout the year. Fescue, on the other hand, will grow in much shadier conditions. You need to channel the water elsewhere. Water deeply, so the soil is moist to a depth of 6 inches, but only water twice a week -- watering more frequently and shallowly will benefit the Bermuda grass more than the fescue. Tommy cowett with Growingreen discusses the technique of converting a cool season lawn to a warm season lawn. Unfortunately there are problems mixing the two grasses. The lawn will be pretty patchy next winter but will begin to be all bermudagrass by the following summer. To seed bermuda grass does not grow well under low light (.... 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