Fescue Grass Types: How Many Are There?

Whether you live in a warm or cold climate, there is a fescue grass type to suit your location. Fescue grass was introduced to the United States in the 1800s as a pasture crop brought over from Europe. Thanks to its versatility, fescue became a common grass found in yards across America in the early 1900s. Today, there are several hundred different types of fescue grass, making it a popular option across most of the country. With so many options, how do you select the best type of fescue for your lawn?

Different Types of Fescue Grass (The Short Answer)

Fescue grasses have been cultivated into over 300 hundred variations to accommodate the demands of agriculture and livestock grazing.  Within these variations, several fescue types produce wonderful lawns. Here are some of the most common options for fescue lawns.

• Tall Fescue
• Turf Type Tall Fescue
• Hard Fescue
• Fine Fescue
• Chewings Fescue

Fescue Grass Types and How They Compare

Several fescue types of grass stand out amongst their peers. Here’s what I believe are the best types of fescue grass to consider for your lawn.

Tall Fescue Grass

Tall fescue grass is a great all-around choice and finds a home in many lawns, making it to the top of the list. This type of fescue enjoys heavier soils, so if you live in an area with a lot of clay in the ground, then this could be a fescue variety that will do well for you.

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. In addition, Tall Fescue has a high tolerance for shade, drought, heat, and even disease.

Turf Type Tall Fescue Grass

Turf Type Tall Fescue isn’t afraid of foot traffic and has found a home in many sports fields and public spaces. Because it maintains a rich green color for eight to nine months of the year, it can keep a yard looking nice and healthy for most of the year. Turf Tall Fescue has a coarser appearance with a thicker blade and is actually a primary selection for pasture grass by farmers across the country.

This fescue variety grows best during spring and fall. As a result, seeding and overseeding should be done during fall when the grass is growing. Additionally, this is the time you will want to get out the aerator.

Turf Type Tall Fescue is also tolerant to shade, drought, and heat. When it comes to fertilizer, this fescue type has a deep root system and is great at finding nutrients. As a result, you’ll find that this fescue type needs less fertilizer than other types.

Hard Fescue Grass

If you are one of those people that finds mowing a bit of a chore, then Hard Fescue could be the answer. Hard Fescue is a low-maintenance grass that needs less mowing than most grasses, and needs to be cut long. So, if you like a longer lawn, Tall Fescue is a perfect solution.

You have more than likely walked through a park or driven by a road medium that has Hard Fescue Grass. This is because it is very resilient and can be left unattended to grow in poor nutrient soil, in the shade, in cold climates, and will put up with drought, foot traffic and will even fight off most diseases. So, if you want a nice, green lawn with very little effort, then take a look at Hard Fescue Grass.

Fine Fescue

Clay, rocky, and sandy soils are no match for Fine Fescue. This fescue type, with its narrow blade and blue-green color, is a low-maintenance grass that can take on some of the harsher growing environments. Fine Fescue is accustomed 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.

Chewings Fescue

Chewings fescue variety is another common type that makes its way into fescue seed blends. It has a similar appearance to Fine Fescue with a thin blade and blue-green color, and is classified as an aggressive variety. It has a tendency to overtake and spread quickly through a lawn. As a result, if you have a patchy lawn with shaded areas, Chewings Fescue will quickly fill in the gaps. So, if your other grass is struggling, Chewings could be a good choice.

This grass tolerates infertile, rocky, sandy soil, like most fescue varieties. It is a common selection for lawns in both the northeastern and northwestern states. If you happen to be a golfer, you may have seen Chewings Fescue in the rough on many golf courses.

Which Type of Fescue Grass is Right for Your Lawn?

Fescue can generally handle a whole bunch of challenging conditions. Still, fescue grass types differ in how they handle varying factors. Let’s take a look at the chart below and see which is the best match for your lawn requirements.

Trouble Finding a Perfect Fescue Grass Type

If you are looking for a fescue type that ticks all of the boxes, you’re in luck. Fescue blends are a mixture of various fescue varieties in seed form that include the most popular and successful types. Manufacturers combine a selection of fescue seeds so 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. For example, whether you have a shaded or very sunny yard, there is an option specifically blended to work for you and your situation.

Other Things to Consider When Choosing a Type of Fescue Grass

Before you select a fescue variety, make sure that you consider the following items. Even though different fescue types work in similar conditions, some of them need different levels of maintenance and extra care.

• Which Fescue Type is Best for New Lawns?
• Which Fescue Type is Best for Overseeding?
• When Can You Plant New Fescue Seed?
• Do you Need an Irrigation or Sprinkler System?
• Does the Fescue Type Need Fertilizer?