Managing Fescue During HOT Summers - Philosophy?

[PW405]

^ I see. I've changed the Syringe cycle set to manual operation only. I can run it while I'm at work if the temps get out of control again. Luckily, the tropical storm pushing up from the gulf has allowed a very unusual cold front to sweep through. High's in the 70' in June? I'll take it!

Looking ahead to the fall overseeding, I was considering OutsidePride's Combat Extreme Transition Zone:
http://www.outsidepride.com/seed/grass- ... -seed.html

The concept of rhizomatous fescue is quite enticing. I'm technically in USDA Zone 7a, so not sure if I should go for their Combat Extreme southern zone.

Anybody have a favorite fescue seed suggestion?

Thanks for all the help.

[McLovin]

I like Bullseye. I used to could get 50 lb bags but last year I overseeded with the Prime Time blend that I can pick up locally for a pretty good price. It always has Bullseye plus two or three other cultivars.

https://sleequipment.com/primetime-fesc ... e-bag.html

[Green]

The concept of rhizomatous fescue is quite enticing. I'm technically in USDA Zone 7a, so not sure if I should go for their Combat Extreme southern zone.

Anybody have a favorite fescue seed suggestion?

Thanks for all the help.

Zone 7A in Oklahoma? Wow. My uncle is in 7A here in CT and less than an hour away. But, your 7A is probably a bit different than our 7A in terms of weather patterns...two-thirds of the way across the country going Southwest.

That said, any Tall Fescue should be good in 7A. Check NTEP ratings of various cultivars in Oklahoma test plots for more specific info.

Personally, I like Bullseye as well.

[RockinMyLawn]

Any definitive idea if this disease or heat stress for PW405 's pictures?

I have similar & it's either yellow or green - no spots or lesions on the blades

[nclawnguy]

Don't get sucked into brands of tttf, look at ntep data for your area. I dabbled with rhizomatous tttf in the past, after seeing kbg go to work in my last house, I think the rhizo tttf is a joke.

I have terrible brown patch all over my front yard tttf. It's been a rainy few weeks. It's pretty bad in my area. I'm not really paying much attention to my lawn this year, working on other landscape projects in my yard. My wife even said how bad it looks, she's used to having a pristine yard. Maybe next year.

By the way, back yard k31, no brown patch, looks nice and healthy, go figure.

[smast16]

Don't get sucked into brands of tttf, look at ntep data for your area.

+1 for this. I thought I wanted bullseye and was sold on it until I looked at my local ntep. Bullseye just hasn't scored that well in my area. And dont look at just one year either, track the cultivars year after year over several years.

[PW405]

Any definitive idea if this disease or heat stress for PW405 's pictures?

I have similar & it's either yellow or green - no spots or lesions on the blades

It appears that I do have some disease activity in this area, possibly combined with heat/drought stress. These particular pictures make it a little harder to see, but, have a closer look:



I applied some Bayer Advanced Lawn Fungus control 8 days ago, and so far I haven't seen that it has helped much. Luckily, a cold front has arrived to provide some relief from the near 100° temps of two weeks ago.

Now... if we could just get some rain!

[Owlnsr]

By the way, back yard k31, no brown patch, looks nice and healthy, go figure.

This. The k31 outperforms all TTTF I've put in my backyard. I'm convinced that the stuff is indestructible. It will outlast the cockroaches.

[PW405]

Don't get sucked into brands of tttf, look at ntep data for your area.

+1 for this. I thought I wanted bullseye and was sold on it until I looked at my local ntep. Bullseye just hasn't scored that well in my area. And dont look at just one year either, track the cultivars year after year over several years.

This is good advice, as OK State is about 70 miles from my lawn and they participate in the program. They only have Fescue NTEP data for two years. Both years, it appears "PST-5EV2" takes the cake:

2013: http://www.ntep.org/data/tf12/tf12_14-1/tf12ok113t.txt
2014: http://www.ntep.org/data/tf12/tf12_15-4/tf12ok114t.txt

The question is, where do I find PST-5EV2 seed? A few Google searches indicate it might be named "Embrace", but seems to only be sold from Landmark Turf & Native seed. Do they even sell to residential customers?

[Ain'tEasyBeingGreen]

From the pictures is looks as if the blade tip are torn from a dull blade, instead of cut. This puts undue stress on the lawn. When was the last time you sharpened your blades?

[smast16]

Well, there in lies the trouble. Not everything on trial is available for us. What I did was look at what seed is available at different sites and local stores, and then came back to ntep to see how well they stood in my area.

I have a hunch, and I could be way off, but I think some of these unnamed cultivars are "in development".

[andy10917]

There is even a site for test results for cultivars that are earlier in Development. It is pretty expensive to run a cultivar through the NTEP.

[Green]

A site...as in one site? Like an "official" one?
I know the universities do their own studies...

[andy10917]

Yes, a real site. It's useless if you don't know the code for the cultivar you're interested in. You might as well be reading a Bulgarian restaurant menu.

[Green]

So, if I Google the code of a cultivar, it will lead me to that site?

[andy10917]

Probably not. I published the site name a bunch of years back - it's here somewhere. Not enough value to me to find it - try if you'd like...

[Green]

I haven't found it just yet. But what search happens that fast?
I did, however come across the NRCS.USDA soils website. Not sure if that's a site that you're into.

[Green]

Ok. "Detective Green" found it:
http://ctbt-us.info/

[PW405]

From the pictures is looks as if the blade tip are torn from a dull blade, instead of cut. This puts undue stress on the lawn. When was the last time you sharpened your blades?

I sharpened my blade in November, and again in early April. I've concluded I need a new mower. This mower has been through 14 seasons, and it just doesn't have the power to get a clean cut, it appears. Replacement is overdue, certainly.

That'll do, cheap Craftsman mower. That'll do.

[RockinMyLawn]

Any definitive idea if this disease or heat stress for PW405 's pictures?

I have similar & it's either yellow or green - no spots or lesions on the blades

It appears that I do have some disease activity in this area, possibly combined with heat/drought stress. These particular pictures make it a little harder to see, but, have a closer look:



I applied some Bayer Advanced Lawn Fungus control 8 days ago, and so far I haven't seen that it has helped much. Luckily, a cold front has arrived to provide some relief from the near 100° temps of two weeks ago.

Now... if we could just get some rain!

Ahh - that's really digging deep LOL!

I still really think it's more heat related for your (& mine) esp. if you have to really look for tell tale signs that closely.