Césped

Tall fescue, or Festuca arundinacea, is a cool-season grass, widely adapted and used in many parts of the world, for both turfgrass (lawns, parks) and forage uses (pastures, hay, grazing). The first US variety was called Kentucky-31, selected and developed in Kentucky around 1931. Since then there have been many improvements, although some people still use Kentucky-31 because it is inexpensive.

When the temperature and soil moisture are ideal, you could see new seedlings emerge after 7 days. If however, those two variables are not ideal, it will probably take longer.

Plants have certain times when they do certain things. For example, each year a perennial plant will try to reproduce itself and put energy into making seed. This is when they become stemmy. The same is true for rhizome production. We usually see rhizome production most active in the spring and in the fall; mostly in the spring. If your bare spot is bigger than 3" in diameter, consider adding some seed, as open spots can become home to weeds faster than the surrounding grass plants can fill in that large of a void.

There are reasons why bare spots exists. For instance, there may be problems with the soil in that area, which either prevents grass from growing or makes it difficult for it to continue to live. Take a look at your bare spots and see if there are obvious issues with the soil. If not, and if the spot continues to either stay bare or become bare again each year, consider replacing or amending the soil.

We recommend fertilizing with a starter fertilizer at time of seeding. Make sure to use a starter fertilizer, as it will include extra phosphorous to help the plants early growth. It is also very important to check the pH value for your soil. If it is under 5.7, add lime to improve the pH levels. Your soil may need other amendments in addition to food (or fertilizer) for the grass. The best way to know your needs is to get a soil test to actually determine your lawns fertility needs. If this is not possible, check with your local extension agency or nursery to find the recommendations for your area. There is good data that shows late fall applications are very helpful in root development. These may be more important and beneficial than early spring fertilizer applications.

It is tough to grow tall fescue on clay, but not impossible. Most important is to increase your soil pH by adding lime. If possible, increase the organic matter either by introducing through cultivation, or frequent topdressings and aerations.