Garden Column for the Salisbury Post
Darrell Blackwelder
September 19, 2001

	 With lawn renovations now underway, many have questions
about which turf grass seed is best for overseeding their lawn.
With so many different fescue varieties on the market, it can be
quite confusing.  There are currently over 50 different types of
turf type fescues on the market, not to mention hard type
fescues, creeping red, and bluegrass cultivars.
	When you arrive at your local retail outlet you will
probably find only four or five different types of seed.  The
reason is that it is impossible for nursery dealers and retail
outlets to inventory every turf grass seed.  Many carry turf type
blends from major seed companies and custom blends of their own.
	Fescue blends are recommended in an effort to prevent the
rampant spread of brown patch in the late spring.  Brown patch is
a fungal disease that can be a major problem with fescue,
especially in the early summer months.
	Turf grass blends containing bluegrass or red fescue seem to
do well in shady areas.  Local garden centers generally have
blends of fescues adaptable to both full sun or shade.
	Many homeowners often experience "sticker shock" when they
glance at the cost of turf type fescue.  Most turf grass seed is
produced in Oregon, therefore shipping is a major factor in the
cost, not to mention the cost of research that went into breeding
and evaluating the seed. Turf­type fescues are produced in
carefully controlled fields with little or no weed problems.
Hand rouging weeds is not an uncommon practice in turf type
fescue fields.  Use of herbicides is an expensive practice seed
producers incorporate to control weeds.
	Contrast this to Kentucky 31 fescue, the standard grass,
which is not a turf type fescue.  Kentucky 31 was originally bred
as a pasture grass and in many opinions, still does as well as
the more expensive turf type fescues for cool season lawns.
However, leaf blades tend to be coarse and not as aesthetically
pleasing as the turf type grasses.  Kentucky 31 tends to be less
drought resistant and more susceptible to brown patch.
	Much of the Kentucky 31 is harvested from pastures in the
Midwest.  The cattle are not allowed to graze certain pastures
and seed is harvested during the mid summer.
	Bare areas should be seeded with 7 to 10 pounds of fescue
per 1000 square feet.  Those overseeding should half the rate at
3 to 5 pounds per 1000 square feet.
	Cooperative Extension is in the process of planting a turf
variety test plot of 14 different types of turf including two
plantings of warms season grasses. The plots will be located at
the Agriculture Center on Old Concord Road in Salisbury.