I have a patch of fine leaf fescue (Festuca rubra) in a home lawn in Fluvanna County Virginia. Can I convert my entire lawn to this grass?
Recommendation: There are several different fine leaved fescues available for purchase and use in the home lawn and it is impossible to distinquish the variety you have. Fine fescue is a good turf for cool climates in areas that recieve little foot traffic or in shaded areas. These species do not take heat or wear well, they do not require much nitrogen, and need to be maintained at a tall mowing height (3-4 inches). Check your local cooperative, lawn and garden retailer, or hardware store for fine fescues (a.k.a., red, hard, hard-red, chewings, or fine fescues). In most home lawn situations, newer turf-type tall fescues would be a much better choice than fine fescue. Turf-type tall fescue would tolerate wear much better, respond more readily to nitrogen application, and resist disease. Be sure to avoid the larger leaf tall fescues such as Kentucky 31 as they will not have the fine leaf texture that you desire. A good source for turfgrass variety information can be found at Http://www.
