The plant breeder has improved tal/fescues for turfgrass use. The new Rebel (left) comparedwith the old Kentucky-31 (right).

Turf-Type Tall Fescues Are Here!by PATRICK M. O'BRIENAgronomist, Mid-Atlantic Region, USGA Green Sectionand DR. RICHARD HURLEYVice President, Director of Research and Agronomy, Lofts Seed, Inc.

THAT A COOL season grass fornon-irrigated, low maintenanceareas is not easy to find should

not surprise anyone. Such areas aresynonymous with poor, droughty soils,low fertility rates, and general neglect.Add high summer temperature anddisease stress, sometimes heavy traffic,and shade problems, and not many turf-grass species are available for the job.Not until the new turf-type tall fescuescame onto the scene recently.

In earlier days, a mixture of Kentuckybluegrass and fine fescue (creeping red,chewings, hard, or sheep) was the popularand the accepted choice. Unfortunately,these grasses become dormant duringthe summer, and the turf turns browneven at a cut above two inches. Fortun-

ately, however, these grasses rejuvenatequickly with the return of moist andcool nights in the fall.

In the mid to late 1970s, formulationsof commercial seed mixes began tochange. Fine fescues were replaced withimproved perennial ryegrasses, the ryesestablished themselves easily and werequite compatible with Kentucky blue-grass, and these mixes continue to bepopular.

Today, however, so many more choicesare available in seed mixes for non-irri-gated turf areas that one must constantlybe reminded that no one grass, mixture,or blend is going to be a panacea. Never-theless, the new turf-type tall fescues seemto have a way of persisting and retainingtheir color better during long, hot, dry.

summers than any other type of cool-season grasses we know .. Tall fescue was first described in Inl

by Schreber, a German botanist, thenintroduced from Europe to the UnitedStates prior to 1850 by early settlers.Since 1940, it has been used widely forlawns, roadsides, pastures, airfields,athletic fields, waterways, utility rights-of-way, and for soil conservation pur-poses. This broad use has been due inpart to its adaptability to a wide range ofsoil types and climatic conditions.However, the extensive and rapid accep-tance of tall fescue since 1950 has beencaused by its valuable qualities as apasture grass.

The most widely used variety of tallfescue to date has been Kentucky-3I.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1986

The parental plants of Kentucky-3lwere found growing on a hillside of theWilliam M. Suitter farm, in MenifeeCounty, Kentucky, and brought to theattention ofE. N. Fergus, an agronomist,in 1931. They were released as a varietyin 1943 by the University of Kentucky.Kentucky-31 is valuable for pasture anderosion control because of its deep rootsystem and sod-forming qualities. Itsability to survive and remain green underdrought and cold weather conditionsmakes it unique among cool seasongrasses.

Until recently, tall fescue was not widelyconsidered a desirable species for turfexcept in a few areas. It has generally

been considered a weed in fine-leafIines.Prior to 1979, only Kentucky-3l andAlta, among the pasture-type tall fescues,were even considered for turf situations.They adapted well to heat and drought,diseases, insects, poor drainage, andshade, and they made an acceptable lawnwhere Kentucky bluegrass and the fine-leaf fescues grew poorly. Unfortunately,they also had the undesirable traits ofbeing very coarse, with a wide leaf bladeand a marked tendency to become clumpyand to bunch up after several years.

THE ERA ofthe turf-type tall fescueswas initiated with the release of

Rebel, in 1979. Rebel is a landmark vari-

ety because it displays all the advantagesof Kentucky-31 tall fescue while produc-ing a turf much finer (up to 33%) anddenser (up to 188% more tillers) thanKentucky-31. For the first time, a tallfescue could produce a turf that was heatand drought-tolerant, attractive, andpersistant without the coarse leaf andclump-type growth habit characteristicof pasture-type varieties,

Dr. C. R. Funk, turfgrass breeder atRutgers University, in New Jersey, isresponsible for the development of theturf-type tall fescues. Dr. Funk's tall fes-cue breeding program started in the early1960s with a collection of plants selectedfrom old turf areas in New Jersey and

TABLE I

KY-3) Tall Fes.cue Characteristics

Advantages

I. Greater heat and drought tolerancecompared to Kentucky bluegrass,perennial ryegrass, hard, chewings,creeping red fescues and bentgrass.

2. Produces an extensive, deep rootsystem

3. Provides a traffic-tolerant turf that istough, durable, and persist an\.

4. Adaptable to a wide range of soiltypes, pH, moisture, and growingconditions.

5. Adapted for use in full sun tomoderate shade.

6. Prod uces no thatch.

7. Tall fescue is moderately tolerant tosalinity, alkalinity, and waterloggedconditions.

Disadvantagn

J. Will not tolerate a close height of cut.Recommended cutting height of 3 to 4inches.

2. Produces a bunch type growth habit.

3. Does not blend well with othergrasses as a result of its bunchinggrowth habit.

4. Coarse blades, light leaf color, andclumping reduces attractiveness.

5. Minimal ability to spread withoccasional rhizome activity. Poorrecuperative capacity.

TABLE2-A

Tall Fescue AdaptationFor golf course use, tall fescue is best adapted in Zones

2, 3, 7 and 8 and the lower half of Zones I. 5 and 6.

Zones of Grass Adaptation in the United States

Key to Climate Zones:J. Cool- Humid2. Transition3. Warm - Humid4. Tropical5. Cool-

Semi-AridPlains

6. Cool-Semi-AridInter-Mountain

7. Cool - Humid8. Warm - Arid

TABI.E 3

Selecting Tall Fescue Varieties for Turf UseTurf-Types with Low Maintenance Varieties Pasture Types with Poor Turf

Improved Performance. with Moderale Turf Qualily" Qualily and Persislance".

TABI.E 2-B

Tall Fescue AdaptationFor golf course use, tall fescue is best adapted in Zones

2, 3, 7 and 8 and the lower half of Zones I, 5 and 6.

Dr. Richard Hurley. /985

• Improved Turf~Type Varielies have a finer leaf lexture with increased turf density. Thesevarieties will produce a darker green color, are more attractive and can withstand a closerheight of cut compared to K Y-31 types. These varieties have generally shown improvedshade performance.

•• Provides better turf performance compared to K Y-31 types. Good choice for lowmaintenance lawns, parks and cemeteries.

••• Not desirable for high quality turfs.

RebelRebel IIBonan7aJaguarMuslangApacheAridFalconOlympicAdventureHoundogFinelawnMojaveBrookston

C1emfineGalway

KY-31AltaKenhyGoarFawnJohnstoneTriumph

Zones of Grass Adaptation in the United States

Key to Climate Zones:1. Cool - Humid2. Cool-

Warm SeasonTransition

3. Warm - Humid4. Tropical5. Cool-

Semi-AridPlains

6. Semi-AridInter-Mountain

7. Cool - Humid8. Warm - Arid

2 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

surrounding eastern states. These plantswere the source for most ofthe germ plasmconstituting Rebel. Additionally, someparental germplasm was obtained froma number of accessions received from thePlant Germplasm Resource Laboratoryof the U.S.D.A. and from tri-specieshybrids of tall fescue, meadow fescue,and perennial ryegrass obtained fromthe U.S. Regional Pasture ResearchLaboratory, University Park, Pennsyl-vania. Clones of the original germplasmwere initially evaluated in turfs subjectedto frequent close mowing (3/4 of an inch).The ultimate goal was to develop all fes-cue varieties displaying finer leaf texture,denser turf, darker green color, and im-proved resistance to insects and diseasewith good heat and drought tolerance.

Superintendents in the South probablywere the first golf course superintendentsto appreciate the new turf-type tall fes-cues. They tried seeding them intomoderate shady areas where bermuda-grass and other warm season grasseswould not persist. Happily, it worked,and southern golfers now had grass liesin partially shaded areas. Obviously,most turfgrasses perform poorly in fullshade or in areas with excessive tree rootcompetition, but the cooling effect ofthe shade canopy seems to help tall fescuepersist through the summer in southernareas.

Recent university research indicatesthat mixing a shade-tolerant Kentuckybluegrass such as Glade or Ram I with aturf-type tall fescue will improve overallperformance in shaded areas. The addi-tion of Kentucky bluegrass seems to givean even finer-leaf texture to the turf. Ashade-tolerant Kentucky bluegrass maybe used in a mixture with tall fescue, butit should be limited to no more than 10percent by weight of the mixture.

Turf-type tall fescues are more shadetolerant than Kentucky-31 fescue. Theyalso take on an even finer-leaf texture inshade. This difference in shade tolerancebetween Kentucky-31 and the turf-typetall fescues shows up better at moderateto high maintenance levels, however.

Heat and drought tolerance are themajor advantages the turf-type tall fes-cues have over any other cool seasongrasses. Obviously, these are importantcharacteristics for rough grasses on a golfcourse. Tall fescue will retain green colorlonger into a drought and become greenfaster with the return of moisture thanKentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass.The narrow blade and more erect growthof the new tall fescues will provide a goodrough, although still not equal to Ken-

tucky bluegrass maintained in an adapt-able climate. Tall fescue, with its shortrhizomes, recovers poorly from divots.For this reason, Kentucky bluegrass isstill desirable in favorable climates, espe-cially in the secondary roughs adjacentto the fairways. However, the turf-typetall fescues are always a good choice forthe primary rough, and secondary rough,too, where Kentucky bluegrass or warmseason grasses are poorly adapted be-cause of no irrigation or the lack of shadetolerance.

OTHER USES OF the turf-type tallfescues are around bunkers, on grass

mounds, or in depressions. Their deeppenetrating root system is ideally suitedto the adverse sandy conditions aroundbunkers. Extensive root development

also helps prevent the bunker edges fromcollapsing. With mounds regaining popu-larity as a desirable design feature, thenew fescues will stay greener longer forthe same reason. The driving range land-ing area is another good site for their use.The Congressional Country Club, inBethesda, Maryland, seeded its recon-structed driving range to Rebel tall fescuein 1981, and it has performed very well.

There are many other possible uses ofthe turf-type tall fescues on the golfcourse, including tee banks, pond andstream banks, non-mowed or naturalareas, and the clubhouse lawn. Natural,or non-mowed areas are a feature onmore courses today. If not mowed, theturf-type tall fescues will grow to approxi-mately 18to 24 inches tall. Obviously thispractice is only advisable outside the

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1986 3

primary rough areas. Tall fescue willpersist and stay green without irrigationunder this kind of management.

There are golf course sites where tallfescues are not well adapted and are notrecommended for use. Fairways and teesboth require a close height of cut(l/2-inch to 3/ 4-inch). Poa annua inva-sion is almost a certainty. Since tall fescuestill has a bunch-type growth pattern, itwill recover slowly from divot scars.Furthermore, compared to perennialryegrass, tall fescue germinates andestablishes itself more slowly. It is intol-erant of a close cut and it has less plantdensity. For these reasons, turf-type tallfescues are best adapted for areas otherthan tees and fairways. Some universities,however, successfully maintain thesegrasses on test plots at 3/ 4-inch cut withirrigation and fertilization. Plant breederspredict new varieties will someday besuited for the more intensely playedareas on the golf course.

New stands of the tall fescue can beseriously damaged by allowing trafficon newly seeded areas prematurely. Itdoes not germinate as quickly as peren-nial ryegrass, although it is seven to 10days faster than Kentucky bluegrass.

Because it also matures more slowlythan perennial ryegrass, a new planting

should not receive traffic the first winter,especially if the ground is wet.

Presently, there is limited advantagein blending the turf-type tall fescues.Most of the new varieties have the samedesirable characteristics - that is, rela-tively fine-leafed, excellent heat anddrought tolerance, and the same weak-nesses, such as susceptibility to brownpatch and Pythium. This factor mini-mizes the importance of blending, unlikeother grasses, especially bluegrasses. Asa precaution, avoid blending any of thepasture-type tall fescue varieties, such asKentucky-31 with the turf-type tall fes-cues.

There is a growing common practiceto mix the new tall fescue seed with 10percent Kentucky bluegrass. This is mostimportant to sod producers, since therhizomes of Kentucky bluegrass addstrength to the sod and improve recupera-tive potential. One important factor is toselect a Kentucky bluegrass variety thatis only moderately aggressive. The vari-eties A-34, Sydsport, Touchdown, Mid-night, and Mystic are examples ofKentucky bluegrass varieties that willout-compete tall fescues and create a blue-grass mono-culture three to four yearsafter seeding. The Kentucky bluegrassvarieties that are not overly aggressive

and are desirable for use in tall fescuemixtures include Baron, Merit, Victa,Ram I, Nassau, Glade, and the commontypes Kenbhie, Newport, Argyle, Delta,and South Dakota certified.

TURF-TYPE tall fescues may beseeded at lower rates than those

recommended for Kentucky-31. For golfcourse use, a seeding rate of five to sixpounds per 1,000 square feet is adequate.For a more rapid establishment, higherseeding rates may be used with fall seed-ings. This will produce a turf with gooddensity and fine-leaf texture. For verylow maintenance areas, seeding rates ofthree to five pounds per 1,000 square feetwill give good results.

Fortunately, it appears the new turf-type tall fescues minimize the need forannual reseeding, unless unexpectedloss occurs. The turf-type tall fescuesimprove with age, because of more til-lers and leaves. Overseeding is easilyaccomplished since tall fescue essentiallyproduces little thatch.

In addition to establishment by seeding,turf-type tall fescue sod is becomingincreasingly available. It can be just asattractive as bluegrass. Use of tall fescuesod provides the golf course superinten-dent an additional alternative for grassing

IABLE 4

Performance of Turfgrass Varieties Seeded under Two Different Levelsof Artificial Shade at North Brunswick, New Jersey after Four Years.

Turf Performance Score 9 ;:::BeslNo\-'ember II. J 980

76% 92%Variel)' Shade'" Shade'" Avg.

Rebel Tall Fescue 5.9 5.2 5.6A-34 Kentucky Bluegrass 6.0 4.9 5.5Reliant Hard Fescue 5.1 4.0 4.6Scald is Hard Fescue 5.3 3.5 4.4Jamestown Chewin'gs Fescue 4.7 4.0 4.4

Biljart Hard Fescue 5.0 3.4 4.2Banner Chewings Fescue 5.n 3.4 4.2Kcntucky-31 Tall Fescue 4.1 3.9 4.0Pconfine Perennial Ryegrass 5.2 2.4 3.8Fortress Strong Creeping Red Fescue 4.0 3.1 3.6

Nugget Kentucky Bluegrass 3.9 2.9 3.4Highlight Chewings Fescue 4.7 1.8 3.3Ruby Creeping Red Fescue 3.3 2.3 2.8Park Kentucky Bluegrass 3.7 1.6 2.7Glade Kentucky Bluegrass 3.1 1.7 2.4

Linn Perennial Ryegrass 2.4 1.3 1.9

LSD at 5% 1.0 1.2 0.8

'Light reduction ratings of shade cloth used.

TABLE 5

Use of "Turf-Type" Tall Fescue on Golf CoursesSeeding lones of

Location Seed Mixture Rates Dates Adaptation

Roughs a) 90% Tall Fescue 150-200 411-51300r Lower Half10% Kentucky Blue n lane 8115 - 10[ 15 of I. 5 & 6

b) 100% Tall Fescue 200-250 8/15 - 10(15 2nlacre 2

Shaded Sites a) 90% Tall Fescue 150-200 8(15-10115 Lower Half10% Kentucky Blue nlacre of 1.5. & 6

b) 100% Tall Fescue 200-250 8[15-10115 2,3 & 8n[acre

Driving Range a) 90% Tall Fescue 150-200 4/1-5[30or Lower Half10% Kentucky Blue n[ acre 8/15 - 10/15 of 1.5 & 6

b) 100% Tall Fescue 200-250 8[ 15 - 10( 15 2n[acre

Clubhouse Lawns a) 90% Tall Fescue 150-200 4[1-5(300r Lower Half10% Kentucky Blue #jacre* 8[ 15 - 10[ 15 of!. 5 & 6

'(4-5nll.OOO sq. ft.)b) 100% Tall Fescue 200-250 8115 - 10[ 15

#{acre*'(5-6n[ 1,000 sq. ft.)

Tee, Green and 100% Tall Fescue 200-250 8115 - 10115Bunker Baoks n[acre

Pond and 90% Tall Fescue 150-200 411 - 5130 or Lower HalfStream Banks 10% Kentucky Blue nlacre 8/15-10115 of 1,5,6 & 2

Mounds 100% Tall Fescue 150-200 8115-10115n[acre

No Mow Areas 100% Tall Fescue 120-200 4/1 - 5[ 30 or Lower Halfor Natural n[acre 8[15-10/15 of I, 5, 6 & 2

4 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Where mounds are in, tallfescue is up.

It even grows well in partial shade....

clubhouse or half-way house lawn sitesand tee, green, and bunker banks or steeppond or stream embankments that aresubject to erosion.

One major difference between thenew tall fescues and Kentucky bluegrass/perennial rye grass turf is the fertilityrequirement. Tall fescue requires onlyhalf the amount of nitrogen. Its require-ment is similar to that of the fine-leaffescues. Usually I 1/2 to 2 pounds nitro-gen per 1,000 square feet per six-monthgrowing season is adequate to maintainthe stand. If fertilizer is completelywithheld, however, density and fine-leaftexture will be lost. On the other hand,tall fescue responds to higher fertilizationlevels with a darker green color and fastergrowth.

Another major advantage is the excel-lent resistance and tolerance of the tallfescues to insects, especially grubs. Sodwebworms are not a problem either.Many perennial ryegrass varieties arebadly affected by this insect pest.

The major disease problems are BrownPatch and Pythium. They also occur onKentucky-31, but are rarely considered aserious problem on low maintenancelawns. Fortunately, the diseases arelargely cosmetic in most areas andregrowth of new leaves eventually occursfrom the crown. Leaf Spot (Net blotch)is another disease. The new tall fescuesgenerally have improved resistancecompared to the pasture-types. The leafinfection causes the turf to look off-colorwith a tan appearance due to the charac-teristic color of the Leaf Spot lesions onindividual leaves. Further improvementlooks promising with the release of newvarieties displaying improved Leaf Spotresistance.

Over the past 30 years we have witnessedmany trends and improvements in coolseason turfgrasses. In the 1950s, MerionKentucky bluegrass became popular. Inthe 60s and 70s many improved Kentuckybluegrasses became commercially avail-able. The 1970s was the decade for theimprovement, commercial release, andacceptance of perennial ryegrasses. The1980s seems to be the decade for the turf-type tall fescues, and rightly so.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThe authors would like to thank Dr. JosephM. DiPaola, associate professor, NorthCarolina State University, for his helpfulsuggestions.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1986 5