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Choices for shorter grass?

11 years ago

The fescue backyard has been an issue now for a couple years since I started to mow correctly. Now the kids and dogs are complaining that it is too tall. The small dog has trouble going to the bathroom unless its a fresh mow. At 3 and 3.5 inches, there really isn't a problem. After a day or two and for the next few days before the next mow, it is a problem. Any types of cool season grass that I can keep shorter?

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Comments (4)

johngood5
Original Author
11 years ago
zone 7
plenty of sun
tiemco
11 years ago
Zone 7 is pretty vague. How about a town and state? All of the major cool season grasses can be cut lower than 3 inches, including tall fescue. When you cut shorter, you are putting more stress on the grass, and it will likely require more watering and more frequent mowing since you should only remove 1/3 of the total blade length. Both KBG and perennial rye can be cut to fairway heights but this requires the right cultivars, and the correct cultural practices for this extreme height. For tall fescue the lowest I would go would be 2 inches, and this would require gradually lowering your cut height, not all at once.
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johngood5
Original Author
11 years ago
Maryland

Is it still possible to maintain a thick lush fescue lawn at 2.25" or 2.5"? I always keep it at 3" to 3.5". Someone chime in that does this...

I can get KGB sod in the area. The front yard is fescue and they only touch in a small area. What would that be like...mainting fescue front, kgb back.
tiemco
11 years ago
I routinely cut my tall fescue below 3 inches, especially during periods of multiple days of rain. The lawn looks very thick and lush. This spring has been exceptionally wet, and yesterday I cut it around 2 inches in preparation of 3 days of rain. The highest I generally cut is 3 inches. KBG and TF mix pretty well, and caring for both would be very similar. The water and fertilizer inputs are about the same. Here is a link that you might find interesting.

http://buckeyeturf.osu.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1191&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=170

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