Tall Fescue

Tall fescue is found throughout the UK, it has similar features to meadow fescue, however it is distinguished by being taller, and coarser, with a rough upper leaf and margins. The well developed root system means it is tolerant of drought, damp and frost, which has created interest among plant breeders, looking to cross highly productive ryegrass and resilient fescue species as festuloliums. Recent thinking has altered the Latin so that the flat leaved fescues (meadow fescue and tall fescue) have been given their own genus, separate from the finer leaved fescues.

Uses

Research and plant breeding has been done to utilise the stress resistant genes of fescue and cross it with the highly palatable, high yielding ryegrass species for forage.

Persistence

A perennial species.

Strengths

Very robust, it grows well in favourable conditions.

Frost Tolerance

Very good frost tolerance.

Sowing Rate Advice

10kgs per acre / 25kgs per ha.

Not usually sown as a pure stand.

Mixture Sowing Rate Advice

0.5 - 2kgs per acre / 1.25 - 5kgs per ha

Ideal Sowing Time

Sow from May to September.

Management

Regular grazing will help to stop the plant becoming coarse.

Distinguishing characteristics

Seed
The seed is oblong in shape, tapering to a blunt point. It is beige in colour and has a papery, smooth texture. It may have a tail like awn and a length of 6mm.

Flowering Plant
It has stiff, broad leaves up to 10mm wide, with rough edges and margins (unlike meadow fescue) tapering to a point. The shape of the plant comprises of loosely tufted, stout culms. The culms are smooth towards the panicle, but the branches of the panicle are rough to the touch. The ligule is short, up to 2mm tall, with narrow auricles, both are covered in fine, wispy hairs. The stem base has tough, whitish sheaths. This tall plant can reach from 60 - 200mm in height, or more on fertile soils.

Additional Info

Flowering from June - August. Average seeds per kg - 450,000.

Works well with

It can work well as a structural plant in environmental mixtures along with cocksfoot and Timothy, designed to create a tussocky grass sward for birds and invertebrates. It has also been used in mixtures designed specifically with strong upright grass species to stand long into the winter for out wintering, cattle grazing (foggage).

You can find Tall Fescue in the following mixtures

• 'HERBAL' Grazing Ley - Four Year Drought Resistant Ley
• ‘HERBAL’ Grazing Four Year Ley 70% ORGANIC
• Herbal Heavy Land Ley - for Medium and Clay Soil
• Herbal AD Mix 4 Year Ley
• Herbal AD Mix for Heavy Soils 4 Year Ley
• GS4 Legume & Herb Rich Sward
• Beetle Bank & Tussocky Grass Margin (AHL3 & AHL4)
• Beetle Bank Tussocky Grass Margin 70% ORGANIC
• Natural Pony Paddock - with Herbs & No Ryegrass
• Stockless Arable 'High Clover' Fertility Builder (SAM3)
• Stockless Arable 'High Clover' Fertility Builder 70% Organic
• Heavy Land Legume & Herb Rich Sward (OP4/SAM3) 70% Organic
• Light Land Legume & Herb Rich Sward (GS4/SAM3)
• Light Land Legume & Herb Rich Sward (OP4/SAM3) 70% Organic
• ‘LAMINS’ Drought Resistant Four Year Grazing Ley Dry, Light Land
• ‘LAMINS’ Drought Resistant Four Year Grazing Ley 70% ORGANIC
• Herbal Heavy Land Ley - for Medium and Clay Soil - 70% ORGANIC
• Equine Pasture Mix - Long Term No Ryegrass