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Rhizomatous tall fescue not 'Dream Lawn' for KansasOn the surface, the rhizomatous tall fescue varieties now in the marketplace sound as if they could be perfect for High Plains lawns, but Kansas State University researchers have found that so far, they're not living up to their reputation. In Kansas, tall fescue already is one of the best adapted and most widely used lawn grasses, according to Rodney St. John, turf specialist with Kansas State University Research and Extension. The reasons driving tall fescue's popularity are its drought-tolerance, general toughness and ability to handle some shade. "One thing Kansans wish for, however, is that fescue could thicken or repair itself, as Kentucky bluegrass does. That would really cut down on the overseeding that tall fescue sometimes requires," St. John said. Bluegrass self-repairs by means of spreading, underground stems called rhizomes, he said. Supporters of rhizomatous tall fescue say it does the same. Alone or in blends, however, the likely-seeming rhizomatous tall fescue varieties in K-State field trials, started in 2004, have yet to perform as promised. "Most seed company literature says the plants needed to be at least 20 months old before their rhizome production will be substantial. We're well past that now," St. John said. "To date, no tall fescue variety--rhizomatous or not--has produced more rhizomes or spread more quickly than any other. And, Kentucky bluegrass has produced more rhizomes and covered bare areas faster than any of the tall fescues." Even so, K-State's turf scientists plan to continue collecting data, he said, in case Kansas conditions have been altering the turfs' reported timeline and/or performance. As additional varieties come on the market, the scientists also will be testing them. 9/8/08 Date: 9/2/08
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