How Many Fescue Grass Types Are There?

There is a fescue type for every climate. Fescue was originally introduced to America in 1800s as a European pasture crop. Fescue grass was popularized in America in the early 1900s due to its versatility. Fescue grass is a popular choice in most parts of the country today. There are many varieties. How do you choose the right fescue grass for your lawn?

Different Types Of Fescue Grass (The Short Answer).

To meet the needs of agriculture and livestock grazing, fescue grasses can be cultivated in over 300 different varieties. There are many fescue varieties that produce beautiful lawns. These are the most popular fescue types for lawns.

Tall Fescue
Turf Type Tall Grassescue
Hard Fescue
Fine Fescue
Chewing Fescue

Types of Fescue Grass and How They Compare

Several fescue varieties of grass stand out from the rest. Here’s what I believe are the best types of fescue grass to consider for your lawn.

Tall Fescue Grass

Tall fescue is a great grass for all kinds of lawns. This fescue is suited for heavier soils. If you live in an area that has a lot clay, this may be the right fescue choice.

Also, Tall Fescue grass is known to handle warmer and cooler weather compared to other fescue types, so if you’re in the central states, this could be a good choice. Tall Fescue grass is also resistant to heat, drought, and disease.

Turf Type Tall Grass

Turf Type Tall Fescue isn’t afraid of foot traffic and has found a home in many sports fields and public spaces. Turf Type Tall Fescue can keep your yard looking great for up to nine months because it keeps its rich green color. Turf Tall Fescue is a coarser grass with a thicker blade. It is a popular choice for farmers looking to plant pasture grass.

This fescue variety is best grown in spring and autumn. This is why overseeding and seeding should be done in fall when the grass has started to grow. You will also want to bring out the aerator.

Turf Type Tall fescue is also resistant to heat, drought, shade, and extreme heat. This fescue type is great at finding nutrients thanks to its deep root system. As a result, you’ll find that this fescue type needs less fertilizer than other types.

Hard Fescue Grass

Hard Fescue might be the perfect choice if you’re one of those people who finds mowing difficult. Hard Fescue is low-maintenance and requires less mowing than other grasses. It also needs to be cut longer. Tall Fescue is the perfect choice if you want a longer lawn.

Most likely, you have walked through a park or driven on a road that contains Hard Fescue Grass. It is resilient and can be left alone to grow in poor soils, in the shade, or in cold climates. It will also withstand drought and foot traffic and fight most diseases. Hard Fescue Grass is a great choice if you want a green lawn that takes little effort.

Fine Fescue

Fine Fescue can withstand all soil types, including clay, sandy, and rocky. This fescue grass type is low-maintenance, and can tolerate some of the most difficult growing environments. Fine Fescue is used to drought and low-nutrient soils. You’ll find Fine Fescue in nearly all fescue lawn seed blends due to its ability to take on the most challenging growing conditions.

Chewing Fescue

Another type of fescue that is commonly used in fescue seed mixes is the Chewings fescue. It is an aggressive variety and has a similar appearance as Fine Fescue. It has a thin, blue-green blade and is very similar to Fine Fescue. It can quickly spread through lawns and overtake. Chewings Fescue is quick to fill in the gaps in a patchy lawn. Chewings Fescue is a good choice if your grass is not doing well.

Like most fescue varieties, this grass can tolerate infertile, rocky and sandy soil. It is a popular choice for lawns in the northeastern and northern states. Chewings Fescue can be found in the rough at many golf courses if you are a golfer.

Which Fescue Grass Is Right for Your Lawn

Fescue is capable of handling a variety of difficult conditions. There are many different types of fescue grass. Let’s take a look at the chart below and see which is the best match for your lawn requirements.

Type	Heat	Cold	Drought	Shade	Clay	Sandy	Traffic	Low Care
Tall	X	X	X	X	X
Turf	X		X	X			X
Hard		X	X	X			X	X
Fine		X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Chew		X	X	X		X		X

It’s difficult to find the perfect Fescue Grass type

If you are looking for a fescue type that ticks all of the boxes, you’re in luck. Fescue blends combine a variety of fescue types in seed form. They include the most successful and popular varieties. Manufacturers mix a variety fescue seeds to ensure that the blends cover all bases. Because fescue grass is so robust, you’ll even find fescue seeds mixed in with other grass types, such as ryegrass and bluegrass.

So, if you head to your local big box store, you’ll find a variety of fescue seed blends to suit your needs. There are options for every situation, so no matter what your yard is like, there’s a blend that will work.

Other Factors to Consider when Choosing a Fescue Grass Type

Before you decide on a fescue variety to choose, be sure to consider the following. Although different fescue types are able to work in similar environments, they require different levels of care and maintenance.