Does Fescue Grass Spread? [How & When]

The stolons and runners are the major players in determining whether the grass, like Fescue, is best suited to spread or grow in a clump.

The spreading quality can be advantageous and disadvantageous, so look at the article to understand the nature of Fescue grass.

What Does Fescue Grass Look Like?

Fescue is a cold, heat, and drought-tolerant grass mostly adopted by North American homeowners.

Some of the general overviews of the Fescue grass are given below.

How Does Fescue Grass Spread?

The spread of the Fescue grass cannot be determined accurately as the rate depends upon its varieties.

So look at the category to understand the spreading pattern of Fescue grass seed varieties.

• Tall Fescue Grass: Kentucky 31, the widely used turf variety of Tall Fescue Grass, is a clump-type that uses vertical shoots called a tiller and seed to spread with a growth rate of 2 inches weekly.

• Creeping Red Fescue Grass: Due to a quicker spreading rate (horizontally), Creeping Red Fescue is ideal for landscaping. The grass uses short rhizomes to expand but is not invasive.
• Hard Fescue Grass: Given the name, Hard Fescue is the most resilient clump-type bluish-green grass that spreads slowly compared to others. It is the only variety with salt tolerance.
• Chewings Fescue Grass: A close cousin of Tall Fescue, Chewings Fescue grass has the tiller to spread out its stems and fill the ground in bunches but is a Fine Fescue species.
• Sheep Fescue Grass: Resembling the Idaho and Arizona Fescue, Sheep Fescue grass is a dense perennial upright variety. It uses seeds to spread roots instead of runners.

How To Control Fescue Grass From Spreading?

The spreading nature of Fescue grass, especially the clumping type like Tall Fescue, makes it a non-invasive plant unable to seed on its own.

But they cover your barren lawn after deeply establishing themselves in the ground under the optimum growing conditions.

However, you can control their spread by altering the growing condition or interrupting their growth.

• Frequent mowing can boost root development, but cutting it to a minimal height (<2 inches) can help eliminate it.
• Fescue grass loathes high temperatures, so you can try to stress them by increasing the heat.
• Also, water can be an enemy of Fescue grass, so try watering them regularly to kill them entirely.
• Tilling and digging out the entire clump roots can also help control its spreading speed.
• Meanwhile, use contact herbicides in the fall, especially to control Tall Fescue grass to prevent harming plants like Bluegrass.
• Alternatively, you can use Eraser 41% Glyphosate, a non-selective herbicide that kills the entire grass clan it touches.