A good lawn is not just "grass". Instead, there is the right mixture of different grasses for every location, soil and degree of use. The various red fescue grasses are wonderfully suited for both ornamental and landscape lawns, of which there are clumping and runner-forming species in over 100 different varieties. Red fescue is unbeatable on poor soils on which hardly any other grass can grow.
Red fescue also thrives on very poor soil
Red fescue is extremely frugal
Red fescue is extremely frugal and extremely hardy. This type of grass thrives in very poor soil and does not need to be fertilized. While this grass species is considered fertilizer friendly, it should not be spoiled too much with nutrients - otherwise competing species can be promoted. In addition, red fescue grows very well in more shady locations. All of these properties make the red fescue perfect for locations where grass seed does not seem to be possible.
Differentiation between different species of red fescue
The clump-forming, very densely growing varieties are particularly suitable for lawn seed. In agriculture, for example for sowing grassland or grazing cattle, red fescue (Festuca rubra rubra) is mainly used.
Nest red fescue (Festuca rubra commutata)
The very fine and dense-growing nest red fescue is used for ornamental and herb lawns, for meadows and utility
- and landscape lawn. It is only moderately resilient (and therefore not suitable for sports and play turf), but also grows in partially shaded and otherwise problematic locations.
Red fescue with short stolons (Festuca rubra trichophylla)
This red fescue is also only moderately resilient, but very undemanding and versatile.
Red fescue (Festuca rubra rubra)
The red fescue is mainly used for grassland, meadows and pastures in problematic locations.
Also very suitable for cattle pasture and grassland
Although the red fescue only has a moderate nutritional value, it is very tolerant of bites (just like the other species can be kept very short in conventional lawns without any problems) and makes no demands on location, soil and care. Fertilization and watering are basically superfluous, and the plant prefers a rather barren substrate - perfect for mountainous locations, dry areas and nutrient-poor soils where high-quality forage grass does not grow.
tips
In addition to the red fescue, other Festuca species are also used for landscape and utility lawns; For example, the common sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina) and the predatory-leaved fescue (Festuca trachyphylla), which thrive primarily in very dry locations.