What is the thick grass on your lawn? (2024)

During the growing season, you may notice clumps of grass on your lawn that are just out of place. It grows a little faster, is generally a lot greener and honestly sticks out like a sore thumb. It is probably tall fescue.Rietzwenkgras versus Kentucky Blue GrassFescue is not a weed. It is actually a type of grass that has been used in the United States for quite some time. The installation is widely used along roadsides or other utility applications due to its low-maintenance properties and reliability. However, it does not deliver the bestresidential lawnplant. The plant itself has very thin leaves, a very clumping growth habit and will not create the soft, uniform lawn you are looking for. On the other hand, Kentucky Blue Grass is a beautiful lawn option and quite popular in central Indiana. It is often seen on professional sports fields and is a thin blade of grass. It gets its name from the fact that it often has a "blue" tint in high season. But although it looks great in peak season, blue grass is very temperamental and often prone to disease and drought. There is a hybrid version of fescue called Turf Type Tall Fescue. This relatively new species is designed to maintain the durability of fescue with the aesthetic qualities of bluegrass. Although it is coarser than blue grass, it is very disease and drought resistant and is a good option for a residential lawn.Control fescue in your lawnBecause fescue is a grass species, it is not controlled with "safe for lawns" herbicides. The only products that control fescue are broad-spectrum herbicides designed to kill all plants and grasses, such as Kentucky Blue Grass. This makes fescue difficult to control. Additionally, it has an extensive root system, which means it takes a lot of broad-spectrum herbicide to kill the plant. The deep root system also poses a challenge when digging the plant out with a shovel. You may think you've dug up the entire plant, but there may be some roots down there that will grow back. If you only have a few lumps, try spot treatment with a product like Round Up, or dig with a shovel. If you use an herbicide, use caution and follow label directions. For lawns with a lot of fescue, consider a complete renovation this fall! If you're not sure what you have or how to treat it, give us a call. Or even better: send us a photo. Go to ourscontactpage and upload a photo of the problem you are facing.