Red Fescue

Pests and Potential Problems

Red fescue is most susceptible to billbugs (Sphenophorus spp.), white grubs (Cyclocephala spp.), and plant diseases including dollar spot (Sclerotinia homeocarpa, Lanzia spp., Moellerodiscus spp.), pythium blight (Pythium spp.), and red thread (Laetisaria fuciformis) (UC IPM Online). Many turf type cultivars have high endophyte levels that resist many of the common insect problems (Cook, 2011).

Environmental Concerns

Concerns

Concerns

Red fescue is long-lived and spreads primarily by rhizomes. It is considered “weedy” by some and not so by others. It can spread into adjoining plant communities under ideal climatic and environmental conditions. For alternatives to control red fescue contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

Seed and Plant Production

Plant Production

Plant Production

Red fescue plugs are easy to propagate in a greenhouse. Seed is surface-sown into containers containing standard potting mix and seeds germinate within 15 days after planting. Germination occurs at 27 °C (80°F) and transplant survival averages 80 percent (Young, 2001), (Baskin and Baskin 2002). Roots should fill containers (but not be root-bound) and leaves and stems should be cut back to approximately 4 inches before transplanting. This typically occurs in 2 months. The largest red fescue seed producing area in the world is the Peace River region of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. In 1991, there were 125,000 acres of red fescue grown for seed. The major variety grown is ‘Boreal’ but only 10-20 percent is certified seed. An increasing number of proprietary varieties are being grown for seed in the Peace River region (Yoder, 2000). Red fescue is a long-lived perennial but seed production is relatively short, lasting only one to two years. Because of its rhizomatous growth habit, red fescue tends to sod in quickly. Seedheads are suppressed as the stand ages and the vegetative tillers increase resulting in smaller seed yields (Yoder, 2000). Because seedlings are very slow to develop, red fescue for seed production is often seeded with canola or wheat. The annual crop acts as a nurse or companion crop to provide a sheltered environment for the developing red fescue seedlings and provides a marketable product for the seed grower the first year. Row spacing, seeding rate and method of seeding depends on equipment available, whether or not a companion crop is used, and site and soil conditions. If a companion crop is seeded, red fescue is usually broadcast at 1-4 pounds per acre. When seeded alone, red fescue is drilled in 12-14 inch row spacing at 1-3 pounds per acre or in 7 inch row spacing at 3-5 pounds PLS per acre. (The Alaska Plant Materials Center uses 36 inch row spacing for ease of cultivation). Seeding depths should not exceed ½ inch. Due to the narrow row spacing, between row cultivation is not employed and weed control is accomplished by herbicide application. Red fescue is traditionally fertilized in the fall with 30-80 pounds per acre of nitrogen (Yoder, 2000). Red fescue plants mature unevenly across a field so swathing followed by combining is most commonly used to harvest seed. As fields mature they will change in color from green to red to brown. The time between pollination and seed harvest is 20-30 days. Seed yields average around 800 pounds per acre (900 kg/ha) (Yoder, 2000). Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) There are over 200 varieties of red fescue released. Many of them are proprietary varieties developed by private companies and have been developed specifically for lawn/turf applications and are not discussed here. The following red fescue releases have been made for conservation/restoration applications (often dual purpose turf/conservation) and most of the information is from USDA (1994) unless otherwise noted. ‘Arctared’ was released by the University of Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station and Agricultural Research Service in 1965 from a plant collection in the Matanuska Valley near Palmer Alaska. It grows best on medium textured soils, will survive extremes of temperatures, pH, moisture, and can thrive in both sun and shade. It is tolerant of fire. It is used throughout Alaska for revegetating mines and highway right-of-ways and is also used for lawns and golf courses. The Alaska PMC maintains Breeder and Foundation seed and Certified seed is available through the Alaska Seed Growers, Inc. (Hunt and Wright, 2007a). ‘Banner II’ (F. rubra ssp. commutata) was developed by McCarthy-Burlingham Research and Rutgers University and is endophyte enhanced for insect resistance. It is broadly adapted to areas where fine fescues and bluegrass are used. Breeder seed is maintained by McCarthy-Burlingham Research and Certified seed is available from O.M. Scott and Sons. ‘Boreal’ was selected at the Canada Department of Agriculture Research Station, Beaverlodge, Alberta in 1966. The intended use is for lawn and pasture and is best adapted to southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Breeder seed is maintained by the Beaverlodge Research Station and Certified seed is available from United Grain Growers Ltd, Edmonton, Alberta. ‘Cindy Lou’ was developed by Cebeco Zaden B. V., Vlijmen, The Netherlands from selections of turf in northern Europe and released in the United States by International Seeds, Inc., Halsey, Oregon in 1991. It is adapted to mostly the northern tier of the United States and the southern region of Alaska and produces superior quality turf especially with lower mowing heights. Breeder seed is maintained by the developer and Certified seed is available from the releasing company. ‘Eco’ (F. rubra ssp. fallax) was released in 1993 by McCarthy-Burlingham Research and was bred from germplasm collected in Europe and North America. It is endophyte enhanced and shows good recovery after drought. It is disease resistant and produces high seed yields. It is adapted to northern climates suited to fine fescue and bluegrass. Breeder and Certified seed is maintained and available from the releasing company. ‘Ensylva’ was released in 1978 by International Seeds Inc., Halsey, Oregon and was developed by Cebeco Zaden B.V., Vlijem, The Netherlands. It is extremely fine-leaved, producing an attractive and dense turf under a wide variety of conditions. It is adapted to mostly the northern tier of the United States and the southern region of Alaska. Breeder and Certified seed is maintained and available from the releasing company. Henderson Ridge Selected Class Germplasm was released by the Alaska PMC in 1993. It was collected on the Island of Attu in the Aleutians, Alaska in 1993. No purposeful selection from this material was made. It is better adapted to the coastal and southeastern regions of Alaska than Arctared. The Alaska PMC maintains early generation seed for commercial production (Hunt and Wright, 2007b). ‘Herald’ was developed by Cebeco Zaden, and released by Van Engelen Zaden, The Netherlands. It has good seedling vigor, good resistance to dollar spot, and is lower growing than some strong creeping fescue-varieties. It is adapted to mostly the northern tier of the United States and the southern region of Alaska. Breeder and Certified seed is maintained and available from the releasing company. ‘Jamestown’ (F. rubra ssp. fallax) was developed at the University of Rhode Island from clones found on an abandoned golf course on Jamestown Island off the coast of Rhode Island and was released by Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station in 1974. It is fine-leaved with excellent persistence under low mowing and is adapted to most of the United States with the exception of the southeastern states. Breeder seed is maintained by Lofts Seed Company in cooperation with Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station and Certified seed is available. ‘Jamestown II’ (F. rubra ssp. fallax) is an improvement of Jamestown containing endophytes which improves stress tolerance, persistence, and insect resistance. It is not recommended for forage production because of possible adverse effects on grazing animals by endophytes. It is adapted to most of the United States with the exception of the southeastern states. Breeder seed is maintained by Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station and Certified seed is available. ‘Pathfinder’ is an advanced generation synthetic cultivar selected from the progenies of 18 clones and was released by Lebanon Seaboard, Inc. in Pennsylvania in September, 1991. It has good drought tolerance and extensive rhizomes that give it good spreading characteristics and the ability to recover from injury. It has performed well in field trials conducted in Canada and the United States and seed is commercially available (Ford, et al., 2001).

References

Barkworth, M., Anderson, L., Capels, K., Long, S. and Piep, M. (eds) 2007. Manual of Grasses for North America. Intermountain Herbarium and Utah State University Press. 627 p. Baskin, C. and Baskin, J. 2002. Propagation Protocol for Production of Container Festuca rubra L. Plants. University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. In: Native Plant Network. http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org Moscow, ID: University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery. (accessed December 6, 2011) Cook, T. The Fine Fescues. Oregon State University, Horticulture and Crop & Soil Science. [Online] http://groups.hort.oregonstate.edu (accessed December 16, 2011) Ford, T., Meyer, W, Smith, D., Bara, R, Funk, C. 2001. Registration of ‘Pathfinder’ strong creeping red fescue. Crop Science 41 (5); 1641-1642. Hunt, P., Wright, S. 2007a. ‘Arctared’ Red Fescue – Erosion Control, Soil Stabilization, Turf Throughout Alaska. Fact Sheet. State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Agriculture, Plant Materials Center. 2p. Hunt, P., Wright, S. 2007b. Henderson Ridge Germplasm Red Fescue – Erosion Control, Soil Stabilization, Turf Throughout Alaska. Fact Sheet. State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Agriculture, Plant Materials Center. 2p. Ogle, D., L. St. John, M. Stannard, L. Holzworth. 2011. Conservation Plant Materials for the Intermountain West. Technical Note 24. USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. Boise, ID. 57 p. PLANTS Database. Festuca rubra. [Online] http://plants.usda.gov U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. (accessed December 6, 2011) Padmavathiamma, P. and Li, L. 2009. Phytoremediation of Metal-Contaminated Soil in Temperate Regions of British Columbia, Canada. International Journal of Phytoremediation. 11:6. 575-590. UC IPM Online. Common problems found on Red Fescue. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu (accessed December 16, 2011) USDA. 1994. Grass Varieties in the United States. Agriculture Handbook No. 170. United States Department of Agriculture, Soil

Conservation

Service. 296 p. Walsh, R. 1995. Festuca rubra. In:

Fact Sheet

Alternate Names

Please consult PLANTS for infraspecific taxa.

Uses

Erosion control: Red fescue is an excellent soil binder and used extensively for stabilizing waterways, slopes, banks, cuts, and fills. Recreation and beautification: This grass is used as a turf for lawns, athletic fields, golf courses, and playgrounds. Crop: It is used as a cover crop in orchards.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description

Festuca rubra L., red fescue, is a cool season, sod-forming grass. Leaves of red fescue are bright green, wiry, and narrow. They are pressed together in a “V” shape and appear nearly round. Stems are usually bent at the reddish or purplish base and grow about 2 feet tall. The panicle seedhead is contracted or narrow.

Adaptation and Distribution

Distribution

Distribution

This grass is hardy, wear-resistant, and shade tolerant. It is drought resistant after establishment, and adapted to sandy and acid soils. It prefers well-drained soils, but requires ample moisture for establishment. Its prime area of use in the Northeast consists of New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the New England states. In the other states of the Northeast region, the grass is adapted to the cooler zones. In areas of high temperatures and humidity, the grass may turn brown or deteriorate during the summer. It will generally recover in the fall when temperature and moisture conditions are more favorable. Robert H. Mohlenbrock USDA NRCS 1995 Northeast Wetland Flora @USDA NRCS PLANTS For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

Establishment

Red fescue is rarely seeded in pure stands. Instead, it is used with grasses and legumes for specific purposes, such as lawns, erosion control, or recreational areas. Seedbed preparation, fertilizing, liming, rate and dates of seeding, and weed control requirements are generally governed by the companion grasses in the mixture. When red fescues are added to a mixture they usually constitute 25 to 60 % of the mixture by weight. In shaded areas, red fescue is often the key grass in the mixture.

Management

To maintain stand vigor and density on lawns and recreational areas, apply fertilizers at the recommended rate annually, For critical erosion areas, less frequent use of fertilizers may be satisfactory, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Red Fescue., When red fescue dominates a stand, mowing consistently below 1-1/2 inches can cause severe damage to the stand,

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Morphology/Physiology

Reproduction

Suitability/Use

Red Fescue

Red Fescue

Red Fescue

Red Fescue