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1998, No. 1
NTEP Evaluation of Fine Fescues Completed
After four years of testing in Urbana, an evaluation of 59 fine fescues was completed.
As part of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP), the fine fescue trial was repeated at more than 20 sites across the U.S.
Planted in September, 1993, these turfgrasses have been rated for turf quality 28 times; evaluation commenced in April, 1994, and was completed with the October, 1997 rating.
Fine fescues make up a group of grasses that include creeping red fescues (Festuca rubra ssp. rubra [strong creepers] and F. r. ssp. trichophylla [slender creepers]), sheep fescues (F. ovina), hard fescues (F. longifolia), and chewings fescues (F. rubra ssp. committee).
All of these types have narrow leaf blades and high density.
The creeping red fescues are rhizomatous, while the sheep, hard, and chewings fescues have a bunch-type of growth habit.
The creeping red and chewings fescues are medium to dark green, the sheep and hard fescues tend to be gray green or blue green.
As a group, these species show tolerance to low maintenance settings and are among the best adapted turfgrasses to dry, shaded environments.
The grasses, however, lack tolerance to traffic, high nitrogen fertility, and wet settings.
Their fine leaf texture is sometimes considered to be unattractive, as is their high density.
Presently, increased use of fine fescues is occurring in unmowed sites due to their attractive seedheads and tolerance to low maintenance.
Table 1. Commercially named fine fescues performing acceptably in NTEP trials in Urbana, Illinois, 1994 - 1997.
| Cultivar |
Type |
Cultivar |
Type |
| Bridgeport |
chewings |
Sandpiper (PRO92/20) |
chewings |
| Brittany |
chewings |
Seabreeze |
slender creeper |
| Dawson |
slender creeper |
Shadow(E) |
chewings |
| Eco (MB63-93) |
chewings |
Shadow II (PST-44D) |
chewings |
| Flyer II (ZPS-4BN) |
strong creeping |
SR5100 |
chewings |
| Jamestown II |
chewings |
Tiffany |
chewings |
| K-2(MB65-93) |
chewings |
Treasure (ZPS-MG) |
chewings |
| Medina |
chewings |
Victory (E) |
chewings |
| Nordic |
hard |
Victory II (Pick4-91W) |
chewings |
| Reliant II |
hard |
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Table 1 lists fine fescues that performed acceptably during the four years of evaluation.
To be listed in this group, these grasses had turf quality rated above the mean at 16 out of 28 evaluations made over the four-year growing period.
In this trial, these grasses were grown in full sun, received 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per year, were maintained at 2 + inches, and received no irrigation.
It is interesting to note that as a group, the chewings fescues performed better than the other types in this trial.
Look for these chewings types combined with Kentucky bluegrasses when purchasing a sun-shade seed mix.
It is anticipated that new NTEP fine fescue trials will be planted in the fall of 1998.
It is hoped that both a mowed and an unmowed trial will be established at that time.
(Tom Voigt)
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