Chewings fescue

What is Chewings fescue?

Chewings fescue (Festuca rubra subsp. commutata) is one of five fine fescue types used for turf. It is a close cousin of creeping red fescue but grows in tufts instead of spreading by rhizomes. Purdue says it is named for George Chewings, who first grew and sold it in New Zealand from seed brought over from England.

Chewings fescue grass is prized for shade. Purdue rates its shade tolerance excellent, the top mark among the fine fescues, and also rates it among the best for low mowing. It needs little nitrogen, and Purdue rates its resistance to weed invasion good to excellent.

Because it does not spread, damaged spots fill in slowly. Like other fine fescues it fades in hot, humid weather and does not like wet soil or heavy fertilizer. Purdue rates it poor for snow mold resistance.

How to identify Chewings fescue

Pull up a few shoots and look closely where the leaf blade meets the stem. Here is what to check on Chewings fescue:

• Vernation: Folded in the bud.
• Ligule: Thin membrane, very short, about 0.3 mm (0.01 in.) for fine fescues.
• Auricles: None.
• Collar: Hard to see (indistinct).
• Leaf tip: Sharp and bristle-like.
• Leaf blade: Very narrow and folded; veins usually not visible; dull underside.
• Sheath: Fused on young shoots, like creeping red fescue (Purdue). Hard and sheep fescue have overlapping sheaths.
• Seedhead: Closed, coarse panicle (NC State, for the fine fescues).
• Growth habit: Bunch-type; very rarely a few short rhizomes.

Where Chewings fescue is grown in the US

Chewings fescue is the second most common fine fescue in northern lawn seed. Purdue's 2018 survey of 232 retail lawn seed products in Indiana and Minnesota put the odds of finding it in a bag at 27 percent. It is used in home lawns, shaded yards, business grounds, parks, golf courses and no-mow areas.

Like the other fine fescues, it is a shade and low-care grass. Penn State and UMass list fine fescues for low-fertility, acidic, dry and shaded sites. The University of Minnesota names Chewings and strong creeping red as the fine fescues most tolerant of tree shade, and suggests mixing several fine fescue types for home lawns. Penn State notes that Chewings lacks strong rhizomes and handles lower mowing than creeping red fescue.

It does poorly in hot, humid weather and on wet soil. NC State says fine fescues belong in the North Carolina mountains and should be mixed with Kentucky bluegrass there. For shade mixes in our area, see our Pennsylvania grass seed guide.

Chewings fescue pros and cons

Pros

• Excellent shade tolerance
• Handles lower mowing than most fine fescues
• Good traffic tolerance for a fine fescue
• Low nitrogen needs
• Low thatch risk
• Good to excellent drought resistance

Cons

• Does not spread to fill bare spots
• Weak in hot, humid weather
• Poor snow mold resistance (Purdue)
• Weaker sod than creeping red fescue
• Dislikes poorly drained soil and high fertilizer

Grasses that look like Chewings fescue

How and when to plant Chewings fescue

Ways to plant: Seed. Purdue rates its sod potential poor to good because bunch-type growth makes weaker sod.

Seeding rate: 3.5 to 6 lb per 1,000 sq ft (Purdue).

Germination: 5 to 12 days (Purdue).

When to plant: Late July to late September is best; mid-March to mid-April is second best (Purdue).

Seeding dates change from state to state. See when to plant grass seed by state, or our Pennsylvania grass seed guide if you are in PA.

How to care for Chewings fescue

Mowing: Keep it at 2.5 to 4 in., 0.5 to 1 in. higher in shade. Never remove more than one-third of the blade, and skip mowing when the lawn is drought-stressed (Purdue).

Watering: Established lawns seldom need water in spring or fall. In summer, if you water, give about 1 in. a week in deep, spaced-out soakings (Purdue).

Fertilizing: Use 0.5 to 2 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft per year in one or two feedings, mainly in fall (September to October). Skip June through August (Purdue).

Nitrogen per year: Under 2 lb N per 1,000 sq ft per year (Purdue); Penn State says 1 to 2 lb for fine fescues.

Overseeding: Seed late July to late September at 3.5 to 6 lb per 1,000 sq ft (Purdue). NC State uses fine fescues at 1.5 lb per 1,000 sq ft when mixed with tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass.

Thatch: Lower thatch risk than creeping red fescue because it is a bunch grass (Purdue).

Common Chewings fescue problems

If a pesticide is needed, use only products labeled for that use; the label is the law. If you hire someone to treat a lawn, make sure they hold your state’s pesticide applicator license; see our pesticide applicator license guide. To put a name to a lawn weed, use our weed identification guide.

Questions we get about Chewings fescue

Similar lawn grasses

Creeping red fescueFestuca rubraHard fescueFestuca brevipilaTall fescueLolium arundinaceum