Fescue – Chewing’s

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Chewings Fescue (Festuca rubra var. commutata) is a fine-leaved, perennial cool-season turf grass valued for its fine texture, shade tolerance, and relatively low fertilizer requirements. It produces dense, attractive turf and is well suited to residential lawns and other lower-maintenance turf applications.

Chewings Fescue has a finer blade and softer appearance than grasses such as Tall Fescue. It performs well in full sun and can tolerate partial shade, making it a useful choice for lawns where sunlight is limited.

Chewings Fescue has a relatively restrained growth habit compared with more vigorous turf grasses, making it a good option for customers who prefer less frequent mowing. It is a bunch-type grass and does not spread aggressively through rhizomes, so maintaining adequate turf density is important for a uniform lawn.

Regional Fit

Western Oregon — Excellent Choice

Chewings Fescue is well suited to Western Oregon’s cool-season growing conditions and can be an excellent choice for fine-textured lawns, partially shaded areas, and lower-maintenance turf. Its relatively low fertilizer requirements and ability to tolerate periods of summer dryness make it useful for lawns where reduced inputs are desired.

Southern Oregon — Good Choice With Irrigation

Chewings Fescue can perform well in Southern Oregon, particularly in cooler or partially shaded locations where adequate irrigation is available. Hot, dry summer conditions can place significant stress on cool-season turf, so supplemental water may be needed to maintain actively growing, green turf during extended dry periods.

Central Oregon — Good Choice With Irrigation

Chewings Fescue can be used in Central Oregon with irrigation and proper lawn management. The region’s hot, dry summers and temperature extremes can be challenging for cool-season turf, making adequate moisture particularly important during establishment and summer growth.

Without sufficient irrigation, Chewings Fescue may become stressed or dormant during summer.

Eastern Oregon — Good Choice With Irrigation

Chewings Fescue can be grown in Eastern Oregon where irrigation is available, particularly in partially shaded areas. Its fine texture, shade tolerance, and relatively low-input growth habit can make it useful for residential lawns.

The region’s hot, dry summers require supplemental water to maintain green, actively growing turf through summer. Without adequate moisture, the grass may experience drought stress or become dormant.

Northern U.S. — Good Choice in Suitable Regions

Chewings Fescue can perform well throughout many cooler regions of the Northern U.S. and Canada where cool-season lawn grasses are appropriate. It is particularly useful in areas with moderate summers, adequate moisture, partial shade, or where lower fertilizer requirements and less frequent mowing are desirable.

The Northern U.S. includes a wide range of climates. In hotter and drier areas, including Central and Eastern Oregon, irrigation may be necessary to maintain green, actively growing turf through summer. Regional climate, winter severity, soil conditions, and irrigation availability should be considered when selecting a lawn grass.

Southern U.S. — Limited Use

Chewings Fescue is a cool-season turf grass and is best suited to the cooler parts of the Southern U.S. where cool-season grasses are commonly grown. Prolonged summer heat can place significant stress on the grass, particularly in warmer areas.

Irrigation may be needed during hot and dry periods. Chewings Fescue is generally not recommended as a permanent lawn grass in the hottest parts of the Southern U.S.

Planting Directions

Pacific Northwest Planting

Chewings Fescue can be planted in either spring or fall, with fall generally providing the best conditions for cool-season turf establishment. In the Pacific Northwest, early fall is particularly favorable because cooler temperatures and increasing moisture allow the grass to establish before winter.

Prepare a firm, weed-free seedbed and sow the seed shallowly. Good seed-to-soil contact is important because Chewings Fescue seed is small. Keep the seedbed consistently moist during germination and early establishment.

Northern U.S. Planting

Chewings Fescue is generally best planted in late summer or early fall in northern regions. Plant early enough to allow the grass to establish before winter arrives.

Spring planting is also possible, but newly established turf may require more attention as temperatures rise and summer moisture becomes limited.

Southern U.S. Planting

In suitable areas of the Southern U.S., Chewings Fescue is generally best planted in fall as temperatures begin to cool. Spring planting is possible, but establishment can become more difficult as temperatures increase.

Avoid planting immediately before periods of intense summer heat. In areas with hot, dry summers, irrigation will be important during establishment.

Establishment & Growth

Chewings Fescue establishes from seed and develops fine, dense turf once established. As a bunch-type grass, it does not spread aggressively through rhizomes, so maintaining adequate turf density is important for a uniform lawn.

Its relatively restrained growth habit makes it a good choice for customers who prefer less frequent mowing. Chewings Fescue can generally be mowed around 1½–2½ inches, with the exact height adjusted for seasonal conditions, shade, and lawn use.

Best Uses

Chewings Fescue is particularly well suited for:

• Residential lawns
  • Partially shaded lawns
  • Fine-textured turf
  • Lower-maintenance lawns
  • Areas where less frequent mowing is desired
  • Lower-fertility sites
  • Lawn renovation
  • Overseeding
  • Turf mixtures with other fine fescues

Water & Drought Tolerance

Chewings Fescue can tolerate periods of dry conditions and may survive drought by becoming dormant. However, it is drought tolerant, not drought proof.

In areas with mild summers, established Chewings Fescue may tolerate periods of reduced irrigation. In Central and Eastern Oregon, hot temperatures and very dry summers mean irrigation is necessary for turf to persist and remain actively growing.

If maintaining green turf throughout the summer is important, supplemental irrigation should be provided during extended periods of heat and drought.

Shade Tolerance

Chewings Fescue is one of the more shade-tolerant cool-season turf grasses and can perform well in areas receiving partial shade.

It is particularly useful for residential lawns where trees, buildings, or other structures limit sunlight. However, even shade-tolerant turf requires adequate light to remain healthy, and heavy, continuous shade may result in thinning.

Maintenance

Chewings Fescue is a relatively low-maintenance turf grass. It generally requires less nitrogen fertilizer and can require less frequent mowing than more vigorous cool-season grasses.

Avoid removing more than one-third of the grass height when mowing. Maintaining adequate moisture during establishment is especially important.

During summer drought, allowing the grass to enter partial dormancy can reduce water requirements. If green, actively growing turf is desired, supplemental irrigation may be necessary. More planting tips can be found on our Lawn Seed Planting Tips page.

**For larger quantities than listed for sale please contact us for availability and pricing.

Seeding Rates:

• To sow a new turf lawn:  150 – 200 lb./acre
  
• To over-seed an existing lawn:  75 – 100 lb./acre