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Think twice about fescueSummers in Oklahoma usually have two things that can be counted on. They are hot and dry. The last two summers have been a bit atypical in the sense that the rainfall has been above normal levels. But we Okies shouldn't get too comfortable with all the moisture. The last twenty years have been predominantly wet and we are due for a dry spell. More now than ever before, it is important to select the best plants to use in the landscape. Tough, drought-resistant plants are the specimens that need to be put into use. Unfortunately for homeowners with a shady lawn, fescue grass is not one of those plants. If there is any difficulty in distinguishing a Bermuda grass lawn from a fescue lawn; the one with the sprinkler system running on a daily basis is the fescue. That is a slight exaggeration, but fescue is a higher maintenance grass. Being a cool season grass, fescue requires twice the water that Bermuda uses to keep it green during summer months. Bermuda is a warm season grass that thrives in high temperatures and full sun. Often times fescue is installed into a yard because the trees have grown to maturity and the Bermuda that is present becomes less vigorous in the shade. Because cool season grasses are more tolerant of shady situations, fescue is a great choice for the area. It may not however, be a great choice for a region where water is scarce and temperatures are high. Another factor to consider is that the tree providing the shade is in competition with the grass for the water. So the fescue may hoard the water and the tree could suffer if excessive water isn't applied to compensate for the competition. As we approach the optimum time to seed fescue grass, I encourage those gardeners who are considering installing fescue to think about some other options. One solution is to utilize the area as a shade garden. There are several perennial plants that could be planted in the shade. I always thought it was more fun to garden in the shade anyways. Just be careful not to damage the tree's root system by tilling the soil. Most tree roots are within the top 12 inches of soil. For advice about selecting plants for shade contact the Master Gardeners at 405-713-1125 or visit your local garden center. Another route would be to simply mulch the area around the tree. A sturdy, long lasting mulch in the area will divert all available water to the tree and will also help keep weeds at bay. A nice patio table or bench parked on the mulch under the tree would make for a great place to stop and take a rest in the shade. We are approaching the optimum time to start fescue grass from seed. A class about cool-season lawns is available to the public on Aug. 21 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., at 930 North Portland, OKC, Okla. But remember to think twice before setting up the sprinkler to water that seed in. Drier days are coming and water sources will continue to increase in scarcity and value. 
8/25/08 Date: 8/19/08 Advertisement
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