TALL FESCUE

Festuca arundinacea

 

Tall fescue

 

Forage type

 

A perennial grass species exhibiting a very strong and well devloped root system, reaching down to 1,5 meter into the soil. Tall fescue has a long vegetation period, and is resistant to any environmental stressors e.g. temperature or moisture levels. It is well suited for weaker soils, but also for seasonally flooded areas (peaty and marshy soils). It regrows very rapidly after cutting. Tall fescue is very aggressive and can croud out other species in the sward. It is mostly used as a component for cut meadows, and sometimes also for pastures, since it is highly resistant to trampling. It is characterised by very high yields of green mass, but avarage nutritive value (it contains a lot of silica).

 

 

Turf type

 

 

There are also turf varieties of tall fescue, characterized by a finer leaf blade and a lower growth habit. These varitetes are mostly used for establishing amenity lawns exposed to mechanical damage, as well as for sward establishment on escarpments, roadsides, and greens on difficult terrain conditions.