Turf Type

Fine Fescue
A good choice for a shade tolerant turf type, though does not withstand normal wear and tear well. It is recommended to blend fine fescue with a perennial ryegrass.

Fine fescue 'clumps' as it grows, meaning that the plant does not spread like Kentucky bluegrass. Instead, fine fescue will expand in diameter which makes it a desired turf-type for areas that have planters or areas of the lawn designated for gardens or mulched areas. As a homeowner or property manager, you can value this turf type for it's low maintenance appeal.

As a shaded-tolerant grass, fine fescue will take longer to establish and longer to recover from damage. On the plus side though, fine fescue requires less water since shaded areas in general retain more moisture than sunny spots in the yard (remember not to overwater as this may promote disease activity).

Insects can damage any turf-type, and fine fescue is no exception. Grubs, a sub-surface feeder, can be controlled with a Grub Control (as a preventative) or Dylox (as a curative), while surface feeding insects can be controlled with a surface-feeding insect control. For more information in insects, refer to Turf: Insect ID.

Pros:

• Ability to adapt to sandy soils or soils with high acidity
  
• Ability to survive and recover from drought conditions
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Low maintenance/easy to control

Cons:

• Does poorly in full sun
  
• Poor adaptation to clay soils
  
• Does not do well in high moisture
  
• Susceptible to disease in high humidity
  
• Performs poorly in high traffic areas