How and When to Plant Fescue Grass Seed

A man holds grass seeds.
  • 1-2 hours
  • Beginner
  • 50
What You'll Need
Tiller or hoe
Lawn spreader
Garden hose
Light roller
Fescue grass seed or seedlings
Garden gloves
Garden boots

Fescue grass is a type of grass that can be planted either in a new yard that doesn’t already have grass, or along with existing grass to fill in empty spots in your lawn. It grows best in the upper Southern and Midwestern parts of the U.S. up to the northern part of the country.

Fescue can be planted in either the spring or fall, but it grows better if you plant it in the fall. You shouldn’t plant it in the summer because the temperatures are too warm and the seeds or seedlings will die.

Step 1 - Prepare

Before you get ready to plant your fescue grass, you need to make sure you have all your tools and materials ready. Make sure to wear your garden gloves and boots.

Step 2 - Aerate the Soil

Dig up the soil and get it loosened up by using a hoe or tiller. Your soil needs to be aerated effectively so that the seeds won’t just sit on the top of the ground, but instead will land in the holes created by the aeration process. Fescue grass grows best if the soil temperature is between 50 and 65 degrees and the air temperature is between 60 and 75 degrees.

Step 3 - Plant the Seeds or Seedlings

Next, it’s time to plant the seeds or seedlings. If using grass seeds, you can either spread them around by hand or use a lawn spreader. It is best if you make sure that the grass seeds are planted about ¼ to 1/8 of an inch below the surface of the ground. Don’t pack down the soil, just pat it down lightly with the light roller. Fescue can be planted in either a yard with no other grass in it or you can put the seeds/seedlings in an already grassed area that has holes in it, to fill in the patches of bare ground. Fescue is especially good for this, as it is a grass that spreads rapidly when it grows.

Step 4 - Water the Seeds/Seedlings

Next, use the garden hose to water the seeds/seedlings of your grass until they are moist, but not drowned with water. If you don’t get enough rain, you need to do this every day until you see the plants start to come up through the soil. This is especially true in the summer, as hot temperatures aren’t good for growing or planting fescue grass and if it is done at this time, they must receive enough water to survive. On the other hand, frost can also kill it, so be careful when planting it in the fall as well.

All in all, planting fescue grass can help to make your home lawn look plush and green if you follow these steps and plant it correctly.