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fescue going dormant in summer

Prettypetals_GA_7-8

15 years ago

Hi, We live in NW Georgia and are currently growing fescue grass. Its beautiful nine months out of the year but the hot, hot summer months it goes dormant. Is there another grass seed we can sow that will look great in the summer but allow our fescue to come back when the weather gets a little cooler? We love the fescue but here in Ga. when summer hits the rain goes away and so does the fescue. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Judy

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Comments (5)

yarddoctor
15 years ago
Dear Pretty Petals,

Thank you very much for your inquiry. Tall fescue is a great choice in your area, and unless watered judiciously during the summer months, will go dormant and there is not much you can do, as you have learned. The good news is that is comes back (and most likely better than if you over water and it gets diseased and dies instead of just going dormant). I hope that makes sense.

As for another grass, I am afraid that the other grass would need to be a warm season grass, most likely bermudagrass. I have seen this done and it can work, but you have to manage the yard for tall fescue, not bermudagrass (which means you will not fertilize the bermudagrass during the summer) otherwise the bermudagrass crowds out the tall fescue and during the fall/winter you will not be as happy. If you do use bermudagrass, go with a common bermudagrass. One word of caution, if you put bermudagrass in your lawn, there is no turning back, as this grass is impossible to eradicate.

Perhaps you could describe how you manage the tall fescue and maybe there would be some things to prolong it into the summer months.

Again, thanks for the question and let me know if you have more.

Respectfully

Trey Rogers, The Briggs & Stratton Yard Doctor, YardDoctor.com
Prettypetals_GA_7-8
Original Author
15 years ago
Yard Doctor, My husband aerates in fall and reseeds fescue then. He fertilizes in fall and spring. Lime goes down in the fall also. Can we just broadcast bermuda seed and water it and it come up or do we need to aerate first?? He is afraid if he aerates now it would kill what fescue is left. We haven't watered much due to the drought and water restrictions. The other times of year we usually get an adequate amount of rain so we rarely water then. Thank you, Judy
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Prettypetals_GA_7-8
Original Author
15 years ago
Yard Doctor, We purchased some Sahara Bermuda seed today and was wondering if you think that would be ok? We didn't know how to tell if it was common bermuda or not. Thanks, Judy
yarddoctor
15 years ago
Dear Pretty petals,

Thank you very much for your inquiry. The Sahara bermudagrass is a common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon). The aeration would help in getting bermudagrass established, but would not be absolutely necessary. This grass will spread on its own, and you are not going to have a perfectly full lawn this first season anyway. This is more of a two year project.

It will be important to continue the practices for the tall fescue. Also, the bermudagrass is not something you try and then forget. It will stay in this yard forever. Make sure this is what you want.

Again, thanks for the question and let me know if you have more.

Respectfully

Trey Rogers, The Briggs & Stratton Yard Doctor, YardDoctor.com
tutim35_aol_com
14 years ago
I am living in Ga and have a fescue lawn. I have several large dead spots in my yard and have not been able to get anything to grow in them when I seed those areas. I had the soil tests done and all of the nutrients are there but I never get any results. I'm not sure if I am overwatering. any sugestiongs?

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