Season

The choice of spring or autumn sowing depends on the reliability and quantity of anticipated rainfall. Tall fescue cultivars of Mediterranean origin normally should be sown in autumn, varying from February to May for different places, to take advantage of a subsequent moist, mild winter and to encourage well-established root systems before the onset of dry summer conditions. Continental (summer active) tall fescue cultivars also are normally autumn-sown where winters are mild and summers are hot, but can be spring sown where they will be irrigated or where summer rainfall is reliable. High summer temperatures can damage young tall fescue seedlings (Lowe and Bowdler, 1995), which incur added risk with spring sowing. Spring sowing avoids competitive winter-annual weeds [e.g., winter grass = annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.)], but incurs competition risks with summer-adapted weeds.

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