Advantages
- Grows well in shady areas
- Tolerates low fertility. Fine Fescue requires less fertilizers to keep healthy
- Tolerates drought. Fine Fescue require less watering than grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass or Bentgrass
- Quick germination and rapid establishment
Disadvantages
In high temperature Fine Fescue sloughs off leaves in order to keep the growing point alive. This causes the lawn to appear brown and dry.
- Does not tolerate wet, poorly drained soils
- Slow recuperative rate, so worn areas heal slowly
- Tends to thatch up quickly, so we recommend annual core aeration on Fine Fescue lawns
- Susceptible to Red Thread disease
- Chinch Bugs love Fine Fescues because of tendency for the Fine Fescue to create excessive thatch
Summary
Fine Fescue is an excellent species for shady backyards due to its shade tolerance. It requires almost half the fertilizer that Kentucky Bluegrass, so it is a good species for low maintenance areas. The fine textured leaves blend in well with other species such as Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass, so it is often included in standard grass seed mixes.