What Happens to Cool Season Fescue Grass in Winter (2024)

FAQs

What happens to fescue grass in the winter? ›

During winter, Fescue grass blades do not grow much, but the root system may continue to grow (except during the coldest weeks of winter). Fescues tend to retain some of their green color during winter, though some yellowing or browning is normal.

It is a normal natural process for grass to stop growing, turn brown, and enter a dormant state during winter. Much like animals that hibernate in the winter, your lawn is basically in survival mode to protect itself from harsh cold weather.

Cool-season grasses include Kentucky Bluegrass, Fescues, Bentgrass and Ryegrasses. They are often referred to as "northern grasses" because they are hardy and well adapted to cold winter climates. Cool-season grasses grow vigorously in the cool months of fall and spring.

While tall fescue can survive quite cold conditions, it is less cold tolerant than Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss. subsp. inermis), or reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.)

In essence, the grass goes into a state of rest, causing visible changes in its appearance and growth patterns. During this period, Tall Fescue ceases to grow, and its color may turn pale or straw-like, giving the lawn a less vibrant appearance.

Fescue grass is more like a broadleaf evergreen shrub, such as a holly. During dormancy, the shrub remains green, although the color may not be as rich, and the shrub stops growing. Fescue never goes into full dormancy. As a cool season turf during the winter dormant period root development continues.

Cool-season grasses will start to slow down once temperatures drop below 56ºF consistently and will also enter a "summer dormancy" period if drought stressed. Warm-season grass growth will slow down when temps get below 74ºF and tend to go dormant in the winter when temperatures consistently remain under 60ºF.

Frost or heavy snow can cause Fescue to also turn brown. When Fescue is coated in frost, its cells can become brittle, and the turf can get easily damaged if any pressure is put on the lawn. Therefore, it is imperative for foot traffic and lawnmowers to stay off the lawn until it can thaw out.

There are two types of winter grass used: annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Both types adapt well to sun or shade situations. Annual ryegrass, which is sometimes called Italian ryegrass, is cheaper and dies out readily in late spring following an autumn planting.

Kentucky bluegrass has runners that help it spread on its own. But many northern grasses are bunch-type grasses which don't spread, so seeding is needed to fill in bare spots. Perennial ryegrass and fescue are among the non-spreaders.

Will fescue come back after summer? ›

Fescue lawns turn brown and become dormant during a drought, but green up and grow with a return to cooler, wetter weather.

Fescue is a cold-season grass and thrives in the winter and cooler months. Mowing needs to be done weekly, except when new grass is present. Proper height for fescue grass is 3-4 inches in the cooler months.

The easy answer is that frost will not kill grass seed, but that does not mean that you should plant grass seeds when there is danger of frost. While the seeds will survive until the next growing season, any seeds that sprout into seedlings will not.

Depending on the climate where you live and the species of your grass, the growth of your grass will either significantly slow down or go into dormancy during the cold winter months. You should never mow your lawn when temperatures are below freezing point or consistently below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Frost or heavy snow can cause Fescue to also turn brown. When Fescue is coated in frost, its cells can become brittle, and the turf can get easily damaged if any pressure is put on the lawn. Therefore, it is imperative for foot traffic and lawnmowers to stay off the lawn until it can thaw out.

Tall fescue is a seed grass, meaning it grows from seed instead of rhizomes or stolons. It's classified as a “cool-season” grass, which means it grows best in the spring and fall. Tall fescue is a perennial, so it will come back year after year. It's often used in lawns because it's very tolerant of heat and drought.

Tall fescue: It stops growing once temperatures reach 90 F or drop below 50 F. Kentucky bluegrass: Temperatures exceeding 80 F or below 50 F will cause its root growth to cease almost completely.

Overseeding your fescue lawn once per year can help prevent drought stress, disease damage, and bare patches. At Turf Masters, we broker our own seed for overseeding, and it's not something you can find in the store. We choose our seed based on findings from the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP).