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View Full Version : When is the latest I can plant Fescue in TN?

zanemoseley
09-21-2009, 09:48 AM
I read that mid September was the best time to plant Fescue and was all set to do so last week but we have gotten tons of rain since then, got 6.25" in one day. The rain has slowed but there is still a chance of rain every day this week. So when is the latest I'd want to plant Fescue in TN? I've heard early October is still pretty good but not really sure. The first time I planted was in March which I don't want to repeat as I didn't have good root growth before the summer heat.
lawnspecialties
09-21-2009, 10:23 PM
Mid-October is when I try to be completely done with my seeding here in NC. You can go a little later than that with irrigation but the later you get, the less germination you'll see. Once the frosts begin, germination really starts to slow down.
zanemoseley
09-21-2009, 10:36 PM
Surely I can hit mid-October, I hope to have it in by the end of the month. That is if it will stop f'ing raining, we've had over 8" so far this month, an average Sept. rainfall total in TN is like 2.5" and we're not even close to the end of the month. The good news is the moist soil will help germination as I don't have irrigation but will be watering with a hose some.
Kiril
09-22-2009, 12:14 PM
Soil temps in the range of 55-65F is optimal for fescue seed germination.
zanemoseley
10-01-2009, 08:37 PM
Well I got the back yard done with the yard guys yesterday and it looks great, I laid almost 10,000 sqft of excelsior netting and loose straw over another 5,000+ sqft. We still have probably 50,000 sqft or more left but its the much easier front yard, There is a bit of rain in the forecast but surely I can get it all down by mid october. It sure has been a wet year here in TN, the two previous were drought years though so I guess we're making up lost ground.
Smallaxe
10-02-2009, 08:31 AM
Surely I can hit mid-October, I hope to have it in by the end of the month. That is if it will stop f'ing raining, we've had over 8" so far this month, an average Sept. rainfall total in TN is like 2.5" and we're not even close to the end of the month. The good news is the moist soil will help germination as I don't have irrigation but will be watering with a hose some.

Curse the rain when you want to plant seed?!?!! You must be a city slicker genius. :laugh:
zanemoseley
10-02-2009, 08:44 AM
I'll take some rain but geez, in September we had the 2nd greatest rainfall total in recorded history.