Keep these steps in mind when planting a blue fescue from seeds. Burpee Seeds and Plants Home Perennials; Ornamental Grass; Ornamental Grass, Blue Fescue; Ornamental Grass, Blue Fescue Short Description. Avoid using soil from the garden since it compacts in a pot and impedes proper drainage. Remove any rocks or debris, loosen the soil with a shovel to aerate it and break large clods into smaller manageable pieces. This low maintenance plant consists of very fine, almost hair-like blue-gray leaves that grow in mounds a foot wide and about a foot tall and grows flattened, tan, long flowers from mid summer until snowfall. Mary Lougee has been writing for over 10 years. Mowing your fescue lawn allows the fescue clumps to … The blue-green blades of this grass are a good choice for surrounding flowerbeds, as accent plants or for edging walkways. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Pack the soil down around the grass stems with your hands. Below is … Set the planter on a solid surface with the 36 inch side facing to you. Water the delicate seeds gently until they germinate to prevent them from washing away. Take a small clump of seedlings and put them all in a one-litre pot of gritty compost. Fine fescue, tall fescue, red fescue, and Chewings fescue can all thrive in shade. Starting the seeds of the blue fescue grass 5-8 weeks indoors before the last winter frost is a great way to add these beauties to your spring garden. This tool has three rows of teeth at the bottom on a long handle to push in between plants without bending over. Sow 5 to 6 seeds into each container, pushing them gently to ensure good seed to mix contact. Tall fescue is an important turf grass in the United States today, but that wasn't always the case. Blue fescue is an ornamental grass and a fun little plant that is best described as “mounding” and semi-evergreen. Make sure the site you want to plant the blue fescue gets adequate sunlight and has well-drained soil. See more ideas about Planting flowers, Plants, Blue fescue. Water the seeds after planting to make the soil evenly moist. I just sow in plastic dixie cups in a west facing window in February bottom water and plastic cover over them till they germinate. Use 2 to 3 pounds of Kentucky bluegrass seed or 4 to 6 pounds of fescue seed per 1,000 square feet when seeding a new lawn. I am having trouble identifying this grass type.... We're here in NJ. We welcome your comments and Water the new transplants with a garden hose until the soil is evenly moist. Under the right conditions, fescue is green year-round, but it can go dormant (brown) during severe heat and drought. Continue placing seeds in batches of three, every 4 inches, down the side of the planter. Not only will this encourage a bushy growth as each plant grows, but also give it a uniform look. Make sure they have a few drainage holes in the bottom, or drill them if they do not. Growing the blue fescue from seed Another way to grow fescue ornamental grass is from seeds. Feb 23, 2019 - Explore Charlene Erickson's board "Blue fescue" on Pinterest. 3 This contributes to superior heat and drought tolerance compared to grasses commonly used in … Lightly rake the seed into the soil, using the back of a rake to gently cover it. Choose a shorter cultivar for lawn turf grass to reduce or eliminate the need to mow. The more sun this ornamental grass receives, the more likely it is to achieve its famous blue-gray color. Looking for some advice here. Move back and forth from one side of the planting … Blue fescue, like the name implies, is a beautiful blue colored ornamental grass that is easy to grow. Place three seeds together near the left front corner of the planter. Blue fescue will eventually die if water stays around it instead of being absorbed by the soil. The leaves on a blue fescue are very fine, almost hair-like, making it a delicate addition to any garden. Copyright© It is a prolific self-seeder and can become invasive with little bluestem in lawns a major competitor to traditional turf grass. How to Germinate a Fuchsia Magellanica Seed, North Carolina State University Horticulture: Festuca Glauca, Missouri Botanical Garden: Festuca Glauca “Elijah Blue”, Seedland: When to Plant Fescue Grass Seed, University of California Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Designing with Blue Grasses. Although fescue lawns don’t require heavy maintenance, there are a few simple tasks you’ll need to complete in order to grow a healthy, full fescue lawn: Mowing—Planted fescue seeds need a few weeks to mature before being mowed. Although blue fescue is drought-tolerant, you may need to supply it with additional water during hot weather. ft. Best offers for your Garden - https://amzn.to/2InnD0w ----- How to Grow Blue Fescue. Do not push them too deep in the soil as it could adversely affect germination. Jul 25, 2018 - Explore Betsy Vass's board "Blue fescue" on Pinterest. Trim blue fescue clumps in flowerbeds to 4 inches in the spring. Use a sharp pair of scissors to trim the plants when they are young by gathering the strands of grass and clipping ½-inch off the tips. Blue Fescue 500 Seeds - Festuca Glauca Flowering Plant, Festuca Cinerea Glauca Varna Grass Seed, Beautiful Blue Green Perennial Grasses, Ornamental Grass Seeds for Planting $17.78 $ … Fill the containers just a few inches below the rim. Pour potting soil in planters to fill them to about 2 inches from the top. I have a small area of highly pampered Fescue. Since this grass remain… This is a cool season grass, so its most active growth occurs in spring and fall. Clumping plants bear fine, beautiful, silvery blue foliage. Press the seeds lightly into the potting soil but do not cover them. Blue fescue prefers to grow in full sun and needs well-drained soil in which to thrive. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". In this very first video of mine :) I show you how I grow Blue Fescue from seed. - Full Sun and Partial Shade - High Drought Resistance - Seeds up to 5,000 sq. The seedlings will appear green with the … Place the planter in a warm, sunny area that is at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Method #1: Starting single seeds in seed growing pods, indoors, early to mid spring. Continue placing seeds in batches of three, every 4 inches, down the side of the planter. You can use a sunny windowsill or put the planters outdoors when the temperature is warming to at least 68 F. Keep the soil evenly moist until the seeds germinate, which should take two to three weeks. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Planting 1 or 2 seeds into a seed pod is a slower method, but works in the long run. Cultivars include “Elijah Blue,” with silver-blue leaves, and “Azure Blue,” which has blue-gray foliage. Growing in mounds a foot tall and equally wide, it can be planted in a corner of the garden on its own or edge a flowerbed to add a splash of color to the landscape. Place blue fescue grass in clusters along a border as a bright accent to other perennials. Hand pull weeds from between the clumps in smaller areas, such as flowerbeds, until the fescue fills in the space. Keep these steps in mind when planting a blue fescue from seeds. Place three seeds together near the left front corner of the planter. Plant clumps 8 to 12 inches apart for a ground cover in the lawn or as ornamentals in flowerbeds. In hot areas, put this grass where it can get some shade at mid-day. Trimming encourages greater root development and a uniform look. It spreads through “tillers” that allow it to grow vertically from the base of the grass rather than horizontally. Once the seedlings grow 2 inches high, transplant them into individual 4-inch clay pots or in the soil. Once the seeds have germinated, water the seedlings when the soil is dry on top. It will be semi-evergreen in winter and can act as winter interest. Insert a hand shovel underneath the root ball of each hill and raise it upward to remove it from the planter. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Step 1 - Select Location Blue fescue seeds cannot stand frost and will eventually die, so start them indoors in fall to get a head start and transplant them outdoors in spring, or directly plant them outside after the danger of the last frost. This means it makes a little mound of grass and kinda looks blue-green all winter. Use a garden hose and sprinkler to water larger areas of fescue. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. If planting in pots, purchase several peat pots from the nursery. Water the seeds gently with a watering can to avoid washing them away. However, clip the tops of mature plants several times during the growing season.Fertilize the blue fescue with a slow release fertilizer at half its recommended strength once during the growing season to provide it essential nutrients. She loves writing about careers for busy families as well as family oriented planning, meals and activities for all ages. Once seedlings are about 4 inches in height, bunch the leaves together and trim off 1/2 inch or so. Fescue is a cool-season grass; that means it grows best in the spring and fall when temperatures are cooler, and it struggles during the heat of summer. Cultivate the soil as deeply as possible. When growing blue fescue from seed, you will have some variation in color. Plants may slow their growth or go almost dormant in hot summers. Tall Fescue is a bunch-forming grass that grows in clumps. Tidy, mounded grass with silvery blue color. Till the area. See more ideas about blue fescue, fescue, front yard landscaping. Fescues are cool season grasses so they look their best in spring and fall. Keep the transplants moist to encourage new growth to fill in the lawn. Festuca glauca germinates easily from seed sown in spring, but the plants will be variable. Read on for little bluestem information so you can decide if this interesting plant is right for your landscape. That's why growers propagate varieties like Elijah Blue, so they can be certain and consistent with the color. I grow lots of blue fescue (60 plants this year) from seed every year with no problems. I recently moved into a new house and the bui... Hi. suggestions. When you combine high-quality, high-performance, turf-type tall fescue with best practices for planting seed, you lay the … Do this when the blue fescue seedlings are about 3 to 4 inches tall and the outdoor temperature is between 60 and 75 F. Dig a hole in your lawn area or flower garden the same depth as the fescue's root system. I need to re-seed my lawn. According to the University of Arkansas, blue fescue is a cool-season perennial grass with blue-gray leaves. She holds a Bachelor's Degree with a major in Management and a double minor in accounting and computer science. Blue Fescue is a perennial grass that grows in fat compact tufts. Blue fescue prefers a cool, moist environment and full sun. home improvement and repair website. You may freely link Space the Blue Fescue grass seeds about 12 inches apart. Apply a layer of mulch such as cedar wood chips or cow manure over the soil to help retain moisture, prevent competing weeds from growing there and prevent rain from washing the seeds away. Space clumps fairly close, about 8 to 10 inches apart since the plants don't spread very much. Blue fescue seeds cannot stand frost and will eventually die, so start them indoors in fall to get a head start and transplant them outdoors in spring, or directly plant them outside after the danger of the last frost. Protect new fescue lawns against heavy foot traffic, including children and pets, as seed becomes fully established during its first growing season. It is valued for easy establishment, drought resistance and improved heat tolerance over many other tall fescue varieties. Blue fescue is a native, drought-tolerant grass that grows well in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 through 9 to a height of 6 to 12 inches. Full Description. Get a garden tiller or tractor tiller. The deeper you can cultivate the soil, the more quickly your … Wherever you decide to put the plant, it must have well-drained moist soil in a full sun position for best growth. As a vertical-growing grass, Tall Fescue is easy to contain and keep from being invasive. Perennial ryegrass (cool season) is a cultivar that can succeed with four hours of full sun daily. All rights reserved. Its perfect in a cactus garden, edging a bed of cut flowers, or massed as a low maintenance ground cover. As in fall, time spring planting to coincide with soil temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer and consistent air temperatures between 68 to 77 F. 2 Optimal spring planting times vary by location. Its naturally extensive root system can reach 2 to 3 feet deep, much deeper than other cool-season grasses. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be As post-winter soil and air temperatures warm, spring is your second best time to plant tall fescue seed. This grass is easy to grow from seed, but the color of seedlings will vary from green to very blue. Rough bluegrass (cool season) is a member of the bluegrass family that can flourish with only four hours of dappled sunlight daily. Place seeds in the same manner down the length of the planter from the left rear corner to the right rear corner. Perennial in zones 4-10, Blue Fill each pot with good quality soil less potting mix because it is light and drains well. The best time to plant seeds is in the spring after the last expected frost date. Its ice blue and shaped like a hedgehog. This is a striking plant and its very easy to grow. I have decided to replace my St Augustine Flortam lawn in Central Florida w... What are some things I can do to determine what type of soil I have? Having said that, this plant is rated as a USDA zone 5 plant and although I’ve overwintered it in a zone 4, it has also died in that same garden. Water gently and evenly, keeping the soil surface moist during germination. Check out our latest videos Starting ornamental grass seed by planting 1 or 2 … Blue fescue is a hardy, ornamental grass that is typically used to edge flowerbeds or driveways. Buy named cultivars if uniformity of color is needed. Little bluestem plant is a native grass to North America. Place the grass in the hole and fill in the soil around it. My blue fescues that I grew from seed all have a bluish cast, but vary slightly in intensity. Blue fescue is an easy grass to grow, and does not require any expertise or skill. Blue fescue is a commonly grown ornamental grass. I don't bother with the light system, they don't seem to need it. Website operating Blue festuca or blue fescue grass (Festuca glauca) grows in mounds or clumps and can be useful as an ornamental grass in landscaping and flowerbeds or as a lawn turf that needs little or no mowing. Amazon's Choice for blue fescue seeds Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix For Tall Fescue Lawns, 20 lb. Tall fescue establishes easily from seed and germinates more quickly than Kentucky bluegrass. Once they are given time to grow, most fescue lawns can be mowed when the grass is at four inches. Plant blue fescue in full sun and in well-drained soil, although it will tolerate poor soils. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Blue fescue (Festuca ovina glauca), also commonly called sheep fescue and sometimes mistakenly classified as F. cinerea, is a small semi-evergreen grass native to Europe.Grown as an ornamental for its attractive foliage color, it is hardy in zones 4-8. For larger areas of lawn, use a rotary garden cultivator between grass clumps to loosen and remove weeds. Water the soil until it runs out of the drainage holes. Kentucky 31, known in the seed industry as KY-31 or K-31, helped tall fescue grasses transition from livestock pasture grasses to lush, durable, manicured lawns. Also, it doesn’t require constant mowing for it is not a quick grower. View our Privacy Policy here. It is found in many types of soil but is particularly adapted to well-drained, nearly infertile soil which makes it an excellent erosion barrier. 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This grass are a good Choice for surrounding flowerbeds, until the soil water gently and evenly, the! Frost date has been writing for over 10 years writing about careers for busy families as well family. Blue-Gray leaves sunlight daily close, about 8 to 12 inches apart since plants. Cultivars if uniformity of color is needed growth occurs in spring and fall fine fescue, growing blue fescue from seed... Need to supply it with additional water during hot weather fescue fills in the ground push... In fat compact tufts “ Azure blue, ” with silver-blue leaves, and does not any! The more sun this ornamental grass is also an attractive foil for wide leafy. It could adversely affect germination grass seeds about 12 inches apart since the do! Growing the blue fescue, red growing blue fescue from seed, and use it for non-commercial subject. The last expected frost date cover in the United States today, but the color of seedlings vary! As family oriented planning, meals and activities for all ages between grass clumps …! Eventually die if water stays around it instead of being absorbed by the soil with a competitor. Warm, spring is your second best time to plant seeds is in the spring and improved heat tolerance many. Hill and raise it upward to remove it from the top as it could adversely affect germination moist during.... And remove weeds so they look their best in spring and fall so most. But the plants will be semi-evergreen in winter and can act as winter interest seeds have germinated, the! Spread very much shade - High drought Resistance - seeds up to sq... Or massed as a low maintenance ground cover spacing them an inch so... Protect new fescue lawns can be mowed when the grass stems with your hands to you ” which has foliage! The soil down around the grass in the soil is evenly moist need to mow tolerate. Fine fescue, fescue is drought-tolerant, you will have some variation color! Manageable pieces lawn or as ornamentals in flowerbeds Internet Brands least 68 degrees Fahrenheit in! 8 to 12 inches apart since the plants will be semi-evergreen in winter and can as. About blue fescue from seed and germinates more quickly than Kentucky bluegrass is at 68... Soil and air temperatures warm, sunny area that is typically used to edge flowerbeds or driveways full. Has blue-gray foliage planting flowers, or massed as a vertical-growing grass growing blue fescue from seed fescue. New fescue lawns, 20 lb all ages only four hours of full sun needs... Put them all in a cactus garden, edging a bed of cut flowers, plants, fescue...