Cool-Season Fall Lawn Care for Fescue Lawns
Cool-season grasses such as tall fescue benefit from maintenance during the fall. After a hot summer, many fescue lawns are thin or discolored from the heat of summer. The cooler temperatures of fall provide the right conditions for recovery and regrowth. Fescue grows best when air temperature is between 60 and 75 degree. As the temperatures cool and fescue begins to grow again fertilization, seeding, and soil management will help it look good in the fall and great in the spring.
Mowing and Irrigation
Maintaining proper mowing height is important for healthy fescue growth. The general rule is to remove no more than one-third of the leaf blade at a time, keeping the grass between 2½ and 4 inches tall. Regular irrigation should continue into the fall, with lawns receiving about ½ to 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation.
Fertilization and Soil Testing
Fescue lawns respond well to fertilizer applications in the fall, when root growth resumes. Fertilizer should be applied once air temperatures are consistently within the 60–75°F range. Over the course of the fall season, a total of about two pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet is recommended. Before applying fertilizer, a soil test helps determine nutrient needs and prevents over-application.
Aeration and Seeding
Core aeration relieves soil compaction and improves conditions for seed germination. Because fescue is a bunchgrass that does not spread by rhizomes or stolons, thin or bare areas should be filled through interseeding—adding new fescue seed to existing turf. Interseeding typically requires 3–4 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet, while establishing a new lawn may require 5–8 pounds. In West Tennessee, seeding is generally done from late September through mid-October, depending on soil temperature. Blends that combine tall fescue with fine fescues such as Chewings fescue or Kentucky bluegrass improve performance in areas with partial shade.
For high performing fescues check out the results of the latest studies from the following organizations:
Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance: https://www.tgwca.org/
Alliance for Low Input Sustainable Turf: https://a-listturf.org/
Seed Protection and Watering
After seeding, applying 80–100 pounds of clean straw per 1,000 square feet helps retain moisture and protect seed from birds. Light, frequent irrigation keeps the soil moist until seedlings establish. Once established, watering should be deeper and less frequent.
Disease and Weed Management
Brown patch, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, may occur in cool-season grasses. Preventive fungicides containing azoxystrobin—such as Scotts DiseaseEx, Heritage G, or Strobe 2L—can help manage this disease when applied before temperatures reach the 70–90°F range. Very low nitrogen rates during summer can also improve recovery from brown patch. For weed control, broadleaf herbicides containing 2,4-D and dicamba are effective against unwanted broadleaf weeds. Pre-emergent herbicides should be applied when soil temperatures are around 70°F for five consecutive days, but not in areas where reseeding is planned, as they inhibit seed germination.
Following these management practices in the fall promotes stronger roots, denser turf, and a more resilient fescue lawn heading into spring.
Related Videos:
Pre-Emergent Herbicides
Lawn Aeration
Fall Lawn Care for Warm-Season Grasses
Understanding Fertilizer Calculations for the Lawn and Garden
Keys for Growing Cool-Season Grasses in the Southern U.S.
Related Resources:
The Cool-Season Turfgrasses: Basic Structures, Growth and Development
Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Establishment and Renovation
Selecting, Establishing & Maintaining the Fescues
Mowing and Irrigation
Maintaining proper mowing height is important for healthy fescue growth. The general rule is to remove no more than one-third of the leaf blade at a time, keeping the grass between 2½ and 4 inches tall. Regular irrigation should continue into the fall, with lawns receiving about ½ to 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation.
Fertilization and Soil Testing
Fescue lawns respond well to fertilizer applications in the fall, when root growth resumes. Fertilizer should be applied once air temperatures are consistently within the 60–75°F range. Over the course of the fall season, a total of about two pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet is recommended. Before applying fertilizer, a soil test helps determine nutrient needs and prevents over-application.
Aeration and Seeding
Core aeration relieves soil compaction and improves conditions for seed germination. Because fescue is a bunchgrass that does not spread by rhizomes or stolons, thin or bare areas should be filled through interseeding—adding new fescue seed to existing turf. Interseeding typically requires 3–4 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet, while establishing a new lawn may require 5–8 pounds. In West Tennessee, seeding is generally done from late September through mid-October, depending on soil temperature. Blends that combine tall fescue with fine fescues such as Chewings fescue or Kentucky bluegrass improve performance in areas with partial shade.
For high performing fescues check out the results of the latest studies from the following organizations:
Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance: https://www.tgwca.org/
Alliance for Low Input Sustainable Turf: https://a-listturf.org/
Seed Protection and Watering
After seeding, applying 80–100 pounds of clean straw per 1,000 square feet helps retain moisture and protect seed from birds. Light, frequent irrigation keeps the soil moist until seedlings establish. Once established, watering should be deeper and less frequent.
Disease and Weed Management
Brown patch, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, may occur in cool-season grasses. Preventive fungicides containing azoxystrobin—such as Scotts DiseaseEx, Heritage G, or Strobe 2L—can help manage this disease when applied before temperatures reach the 70–90°F range. Very low nitrogen rates during summer can also improve recovery from brown patch. For weed control, broadleaf herbicides containing 2,4-D and dicamba are effective against unwanted broadleaf weeds. Pre-emergent herbicides should be applied when soil temperatures are around 70°F for five consecutive days, but not in areas where reseeding is planned, as they inhibit seed germination.
Following these management practices in the fall promotes stronger roots, denser turf, and a more resilient fescue lawn heading into spring.
Related Videos:
Pre-Emergent Herbicides
Lawn Aeration
Fall Lawn Care for Warm-Season Grasses
Understanding Fertilizer Calculations for the Lawn and Garden
Keys for Growing Cool-Season Grasses in the Southern U.S.
Related Resources:
The Cool-Season Turfgrasses: Basic Structures, Growth and Development
Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Establishment and Renovation
Selecting, Establishing & Maintaining the Fescues