Tall Fescue
Uses Forage tall fescue is used either as a pure stand or, more commonly, in mixtures with other forage grasses and forage legumes. It can be utilized as dry hay, pasture or ensilage. Because of its excellent fall growth and retention of quality, forage tall fescue is often stockpiled (not harvested in the fall) to be utilized as winter grazing. Description Forage tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Shreb., is a long-lived, deep rooted, drought resistant, cool season perennial bunch grass. Many forage tall fescue plants produce extremely short rhizomes (underground stems) but it is difficult to distinguish plants established from rhizomes from simple growth of the crown. Tolerating a soil pH range from 4.7 to 9.5, forage tall fescue will have optimum production at a more neutral pH of 6-7. When grazed or clipped at relatively short heights of approximately 2 inches, forage tall fescue will form an excellent sod for pasture if plant populations are high. Two thirds of forage tall fescue growth occurs in the spring but fall growth is excellent while summer production dependent of the amount of heat stress and moisture availability. Forage tall fescue can contain an endophyte which enhances plant health and performance. In its natural form, the endophyte can be detrimental to animal health. Be sure to plant varieties that have low endophyte (less than 5%) or contain a ‘friendly’ endophyte. Never feed animals clippings from turf tall fescue lawns as this may cause animal health problems. Establishment ➤ Adjust soil pH to an optimum of 6-7. Forage tall fescue can tolerate a much wider range of soil pH but optimum pH allows for better establishment and seedling vigor.
➤ Use pre-emergent herbicides if necessary. Follow label directions and precautions. .
➤ Soil type: Forage tall fescue prefers well-drained soils but will tolerate varied soil types.
➤ Fertilizer: Proper levels of N, P and K are required.
➤ Seed bed: Fine, granular, and firm
➤ Seeding rate: 10-20 pounds/acre alone or in mixtures
➤ Seeding time: Forage tall fescue can be seeded in early spring, late summer or early fall with the best chance of success being fall planting.
➤ Seeding depth: 1/4-3/8 inch
Management ➤ Select varieties that have low (less than 5%) endophyte levels or contain a “friendly” endophyte.➤ Do not harvest or graze forage tall fescue until well established. Harvest or graze to a height of 2 inches.
➤ Once established, forage tall fescue has excellent tolerance for animal traffic.
➤ Minimize animal traffic on newly established stands especially when soil is wet.
➤ Frequent cutting or grazing promotes tillering and the formation of a dense sod. Infrequent harvest may result in an uneven or bunched sod.
➤ As forage tall fescue stands mature, legumes which may have been part of the original mixture may be choked out. Legumes may be re-established by adjusting soil fertility levels, doing some moderate ground preparation and re-seeding in the spring.
➤ Fertilize for optimum production based of the amount of forage removed and as recommended by soil test. Split fertilizer applications are best.
➤ Insects are generally not a concern but slugs can cause damage during establishment.
➤ Rust may be an occasional problem that is dependent on seasonal environmental factors. Although rust is rarely fatal to the forage tall fescue plant, rust spores in large numbers may cause problems for horses. Improved forage tall fescue varieties have some, but not complete, resistance to rust.
➤ Never substitute turf type tall fescue seed for forage tall fescue seed in any situation.