Tall Fescue Pros and Cons – A Good Choice for Your Lawn?

One of the things I find the most interesting about lawns is the variation in the longevity of green. How long each type of turf stays green each year, in different climates, is a great way to appreciate the hardiness of each grass. One of my favorite grasses to watch throughout the year is tall fescue grass.

This grass is really cool as it serves as a transitional grass. While classified as a cool-season grass, tall fescue is often seen straddling the line between the sunny south and the frigid north. When given the right growing conditions, this turf can green earliest and stay green the longest. Check out even more tall fescue pros and cons below!

An Overview of Tall Fescue Grass Pros and Cons

A grass that can handle the heat and survive the cold, there are many benefits of tall fescue. Tall fescue is drought-tolerant and can handle shade very well. It is able to accommodate a heavy amount of foot traffic, making it an awesome turf for lawns with fluctuating temperatures that get good amounts of use.

A disadvantage of tall fescue is that although it can handle heat and drought, an extended drought will cause it to brown and go dormant. Despite the heavy traffic allowance, damage done to tall fescue cannot be repaired without reseeding. It grows very quickly, so it needs frequent mowing, and it can become susceptible to pests and disease in prolonged rainy conditions.

Advantages of Tall Fescue Grass

It is hard to find a grass that can tolerate heat and cold, drought and shade. If you do find a turf with those amazing attributes it is often expensive, hard to grow, or takes a lot of maintenance. Tall fescue is cheap and easy to grow and springs up fast. Best of all you can walk on this turf all day long and still have something living and green to look at tomorrow.

Transitional Zone Grass

A cool-season grass, tall fescue is often used to fill in the gap between drought-hardy and winter-tolerant turfs. Because tall fescue can grow tall and deep, it can quickly establish itself in a lawn and immediately begins adjusting to the climate. With enough water, proper soil, and regular maintenance this grass can grow in almost any climate.

Heat and Drought Tolerant

Tall fescue builds extensive, deep taproot systems. These systems allow it to survive the harsh summer heat and short droughts. A week or two without water may not cause dormancy for tall fescue. However, if the drought lasts longer than that without supplemental water then it may brown and go dormant for the rest of the summer.

Handles Shade Well

Tall fescue can grow under shade and is still able to spread at a rapid rate. The shade doesn’t decrease the thickness of the grass in those areas. Tall fescue will often benefit from areas of shade that other sun-loving turf grasses might not be able to survive in.

Deals with Moderate Foot Traffic

The blades of tall fescue can be bent and smushed without much damage occurring to the plant. This turf is able to be walked on extensively and will still bounce back and retain its green hues. While foot traffic is safe for this grass, anything heavier than that could cause lasting damage to your lawn.

Disadvantages of Tall Fescue Grass

There are some drawbacks to being a transitional turf. Tall fescue isn’t able to handle prolonged wet and cold seasons as well as some of the other cool-season grasses. Once damaged, repairs are impossible so reseeding is needed, and it can be a chore to mow and keep under control.

Cannot Handle Extended Droughts

If a drought lasts more than two or three weeks it is very likely that your tall fescue lawn will turn brown and go dormant. When this happens the turf will stay dormant until prolonged cool and moist conditions return. This could lead to unusable turf during your fun summer months.

Unable to Repair Bare or Damaged Areas

When a bare spot forms in an area of tall fescue it is unable to send out stolons or runners to fill in the gap. Instead, the bare zone will start to spread as the edge effect kills its way through your lawn. In order to fill in all the gaps, manual reseeding must take place. This can be a bit of a hassle, especially during the summer months.

Needs to be Mowed Often

In optimal conditions, tall fescue can be green from early March all the way through October. In order to keep that green grass tamed you will need to mow throughout the entire year. This can be the best thing ever if you love to mow, but can also be time-consuming or expensive if you outsource your lawn work.

Susceptible to Wet Climate Issues

Although it is a cool-season grass, tall fescue is more prone to wet climate issues than other similar grasses. The deep taproots of this grass allow it to draw water directly from the ground. When frequent watering also takes place on the surface, it can lead to over-saturation of the roots. This condition can cause pest and disease issues that could decimate your lawn.

Weighing Up Whether Tall Fescue is Right for Your Yard

Tall fescue is a tough grass to decide on quickly. Its versatility in different climate conditions is a huge advantage. However, it has serious disadvantages that might make it unsuitable for your yard.

I know tall fescue is best for a yard when most of the year is temperate with only a few weeks of drought in the summer. When you need a turf that can handle foot traffic, shade, and has a luscious green color, I would recommend tall fescue.

But if the summers are dry for months or there are long periods of wet and cold conditions, then tall fescue might be a poor option. If you want a low-maintenance lawn that can self-heal and only needs to be mowed once a month, then tall fescue might be too much of a hassle for you.

You need to weigh up all of these tall fescue pros and cons to help you figure out whether it is the right turf for your yard.

If some of the pros of tall fescue are attractive but the cons make it a no-go, check out some of the turf alternatives below:

Bermuda Grass: A heat and drought-tolerant plant that can survive even the harshest summers, this grass may be a better choice if your summers are scorchers. Bermuda grass is able to handle heavy traffic and can regenerate rapidly. This is a great substitute for tall fescue lawns that need to repair faster.

Perennial Rye: This grass can handle hot summers and cool winters. It grows quickly and can handle moderate traffic. Perennial rye can be seeded with tall fescue to fill in bare areas and provide some support during wet conditions.

Kentucky Blue: This is an excellent turf grass if you need a balance between warm and cool season grasses. Kentucky blue can handle traffic and has a very attractive coloring that makes it a great addition to any turf. While unable to handle extreme droughts, it can handle the temperature swings common with temperate winters and summers.