Tall Fescue Care Calendar

Fescue is dormant but may retain some green color in mild winters. Do not fertilize or apply herbicides. Use this time to plan your spring schedule.

Still mostly dormant. Soil amendments (lime/sulfur) can be applied now — they take weeks to adjust pH. Target pH: 5.5-6.5.

Pre-emergent must go down BEFORE soil hits 55°F — crabgrass germinates at that threshold. Note: spring pre-emergent prevents fall overseeding for 8-12 weeks. If you plan to overseed in fall, this is still fine — the barrier wears off by September.

Spring growth peak begins. Keep nitrogen light — heavy spring N promotes leaf growth at the expense of roots and increases summer disease risk. Never remove more than 1/3 of blade height per mow.

Transition to summer care. Reduce nitrogen going forward — excess N in late spring feeds brown patch. Begin deep, infrequent watering as temperatures climb.

Summer stress begins. Taller mowing height shades roots, retains moisture, and reduces soil temperature. Avoid fertilizing with nitrogen — it fuels brown patch. If you must feed, use iron for color without disease risk.

Survival mode for fescue. Growth slows dramatically in summer heat. Brown patch peaks during hot, humid nights above 70°F. Do not fertilize — let the grass ride it out. Some thinning is normal and will be repaired by fall overseeding.

Late August marks the transition to fall — the most important season for fescue. Begin planning your overseeding and aeration. If grubs are present (spongy turf, birds feeding), apply curative grub control (trichlorfon or carbaryl).

THE most important month for fescue lawns. Core aerate first, then overseed, then fertilize. Fescue does NOT spread — it only tillers. If you skip fall overseeding, thin areas will stay thin. Soil temps should be 50°F+ for good germination. Seed-to-soil contact is critical.

The winterizer application is the single most important feeding of the year for fescue. Applied after top growth stops but before the ground freezes, it feeds the roots all winter and produces the best spring green-up. Keep leaves cleared — smothered fescue develops snow mold.

Fescue enters dormancy when the ground freezes. Some green color may persist in mild transition zone winters. Avoid walking on frozen turf — it damages crown tissue.