By Bradley S. Park, Sports Turf Education & Research Coordinator &
James A. Murphy, Extension Specialist in Turf Management
Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet FS1186 | December 2012
Use of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) as a forage and conservation grass increased in the United States with the release of ‘Alta’ and ‘Kentucky 31’ in 1940. It has long been used for control of soil erosion along right-of-ways such as highway roadsides. By the 1960s, ‘Kentucky 31’ became more widely recognized as a useful turfgrass in the transition zone (boundary between the temperate and subtropical climates) of the United States due to its good heat tolerance and adaptation to a wide range of soil (pH, fertility and moisture) and light conditions.
- Selecting Varieties
- Purchasing Seed
- Establishment of Tall Fescue
- Maintenance of Tall Fescue for Sports Turf
- Performance of Tall Fescue Varieties
