Blue Fescue Growing Guide

Festuca glauca (synonym Festuca ovina glauca)

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Established plants of blue fescue are winter hardy to -30°F (-34°C).

Feeding

None needed.

Spacing

Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 7" (20cm) with 7" (20cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Variations in foliage color occur when blue fescue is grown from seed, but not when plants are vegetatively propagated. Set out container-grown plants from spring to early summer, setting them slightly high in their planting holes. Young plants need water their first year, but after that blue fescue becomes very drought tolerant. Dig, divide and replant every two to three years to maintain plant vigor.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Native to Europe, blue fescue is a well-behaved clump-forming grass with remarkably fine, blue-green texture. Blue fescue makes a great accent plant, whether in a managed bed or tall container. It is also a good ground cover for windswept hillsides. In early spring, mow or clip off old growth to make way for new leaves. In humid climates, clumps often die out in the middle or on one side after their third year.

Harvesting

Blue fescue produces seed heads in midsummer, which some gardeners love while others do not. Lop them off if you wish, especially after they become ragged.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Blue Fescue

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail