Tall Fescue
Lolium arundinaceum (LOW-lee-um ah-run-di-NAY-see-um)
Tall Fescue as a Lawn Tall fescue is native to Eurasia and North Africa. It is the most widely grown cool-season turfgrass in North Carolina. It is tolerant to heat and drought, disease resistant, and persists with minimum care. It has a bunch-type growth habit and tends to clump so may need to be re-seeded each year in areas where it struggles. While similar to Kentucky bluegrass , annual ryegrass , and perennial ryegrass , tall fescue has rolled vernation in the leaf bud and rough leaf blade margins. Like perennial ryegrass, tall fescue has non-clasping auricles. The backside of the tall fescue leaf blade is less glossy than that of ryegrasses. Tall fescue is sometime grown in mixtures with Kentucky bluegrass . As with other turfgrasses, tall fescues is difficult to manage as a weed within another turfgrass. It can be selectively removed from some warm-season turfgrasses. Select an adapted turfgrass species and cultivar, and use proper mowing and fertilization techniques to maintain a dense, actively growing, desired turf. Digging or removal by hand is one way to control undesired perennial turfgrasses. You may spot treat an infested area with an appropriate non-selective herbicide, but realize it will also kill the desired turfgrass. For more information, please refer to the NC State Extension TurfFiles entry for Tall fescue . Refer to " Caring for Your Lawn and the Environment " for guidelines on fertilizing and mowing.
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 25 attributes.