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The Best Turfgrass for North Texas
The Best Turfgrass for North Texas. Well-adapted to the diverse soil of North Texas, turf-type tall fescue grass (Festuca arundinacea) grows throughout most of the region without irrigation except in the panhandle where moderate irrigation is often needed. The grass is one of the best turf choices, according to the Texas A&M University. The...
Well-adapted to the diverse soil of North Texas, turf-type tall fescue grass (Festuca arundinacea) grows throughout most of the region without irrigation except in the panhandle where moderate irrigation is often needed. The grass is one of the best turf choices, according to the Texas A&M University. The only serious drawback to tall fescue is its inability to withstand heavy foot traffic. A cool season perennial, the grass forms a deep root system that allows it to withstand the drought conditions of Texas well.
Benefits and Varieties
Unlike most cool season turfgrass varieties, tall fescue will remain green year round. It tolerates shade or sun well, unlike warm-season grass varieties. Its greatest growth is achieved during the spring and fall. More than 70 tall fescue turfgrass varieties exist that do well in North Texas but the variety K-31 is still widely used, according to the Texas A&M University's website. The newer varieties offer thinner blades and a more pleasing visual appearance for the home lawn.
Fescue History
Early settlers introduced tall fescue to the United States from Europe prior to 1850. The grass quickly caught on for use along roads, as a pasture forage and as a turf choice. Selective breeding took off and in 1979 the first thin-bladed turf variety was developed and quickly became a popular lawn choice. The improved variety did not have the clumping characteristic that earlier varieties suffered from, according to the Michigan State University.
Seeding Requirements and Characteristics
Tall fescue turf that is left unmowed will attain a height of 18 to 24 inches before seed head production begins. The grass tolerates a mowing height of 1 1/2 inches well. Consider using 6 to 8 lbs. of tall fescue grass seed per 1,000 square feet when planting for turf purposes, according to the Texas A&M University. Densely cover the area to insure uniform grass development because tall fescue takes awhile to spread out due to its bunch grass heritage.
Establishment in North Texas
Plant tall fescue grass seed or sod in the fall months in North Texas. The excessive summertime heat of the region makes it difficult to establish seeds or sod in the spring because the young plants will often suffer or perish because they will not have sufficient time to build up an ample root system to tolerate the drought or heat of the area. The soil in North Texas lacks ample nutrients so fertilize tall fescue once per year in the region using 3 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
