Fine fescue (red fescue)
Festuca rubra
Needle-fine blades and the best shade tolerance of the cool-season grasses. It gets by on little fertiliser or water, but does not take traffic — best under trees and in spots nobody walks on.
At a glance
| Family | Poaceae |
|---|---|
| Season type | Cool-season |
| Heat tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Cold tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Shade tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Wear tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Drought tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Mowing height | 30–60 mm |
| Propagation | Seed |
| Upkeep | Low upkeep |
| Native range | Europe, Asia, North America |
Growing conditions
| USDA hardiness zones | 3–7 |
|---|---|
| Sunlight | Shade |
| Watering | Low |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Soil pH | 5.5–6.5 |
| Common problems | Dollar spot / Snow mould / Rust |
How to grow it
Climate and sun
A cool-season group with outstanding shade tolerance — the grass to use under deciduous trees or along a north-facing path where nothing else takes. It is weak on heat and traffic, so keep it out of walkways.
Planting
Sow seed in early autumn. Poor soil is fine; rich soil just helps its competitors. Growth after germination is slow in shade, so expect to weed by hand and build density over a full year.
Watering
Very little. It tolerates drought and loses less to evaporation in shade. Overwatering brings root rot and moss.
Mowing
Cut at 40–70 mm, once or twice a month. It can also be left unmown as a soft, tumbling no-mow lawn.
Feeding
One light autumn feed a year. Nitrogen softens the leaf and brings disease; near-zero feeding is the norm.
Problems and winter
Dollar spot and snow mould, both worse in still, shaded air — never let fallen leaves sit on it. Worn patches do not repair themselves, so overseed them in autumn.