How do you prune blue fescue in the fall?
Cut back the foliage by one-third in the late summer to stimulate new foliage growth for fall. Choose a time in early spring when the threat of heavy frost has passed to cut blue fescue ornamental grasses. Wear gloves to protect your hands when working. Measure 3 to 4 inches along the grass stems from the ground.
Do you cut back fescue in the summer?
It is important to remember that blue fescue is a cool-season grass; in warmer climates, there is a chance that plants will die back and go dormant through the heat of the summer. If they do, you can simply cut the foliage back and wait.
How do you fertilize blue fescue grasses?
Blue fescue plants do not need fertilization as long as an organic mulch is used around the base of the grass. Keep the foliage looking its best by hand combing out the dead blades of grass and removing the flower heads. Remove the flower heads to help promote the tight mound shape of the plant.
Does blue fescue bloom all year?
Blue Fescue. A truly versatile perennial grass, blue fescue has a wonderful blue color that lasts all year. It can be used as an accent plant, in mass plantings, containers, crevices—the list is endless! With its clump-forming habit, blue fescue forms uniform balls of foliage topped with feathery straw bloom stalks in the summer.
See more
How do you trim blue fescue grass?
Pruning. Cut back the foliage in early spring to within a few inches of the ground. This will help make room for the new grass blades and will improve the look of the plant. To keep the foliage looking good, remove dead blades of grass.
How do you keep blue fescue looking good?
Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)Plant Feed. Not necessary.Watering. Allow soil to dry between thorough waterings.Soil. Ordinary, well-drained soil.Basic Care Summary. Tolerates poor soil, heat, and drought. Plant in ordinary, well-drained soil. Allow soil to dry between thorough waterings.
Why are my blue fescue turning brown?
When temperatures get warm enough, or conditions dry enough, some of the grass blades may be sacrificed to save moisture, and allowed to brown and die. These brown leaves not only save the plant energy, they insulate the grass from the heat by providing some shade to the living blades.
What happens if you don't Cut back ornamental grasses?
What happens if you don't cut back ornamental grasses? If you don't cut back your ornamental grasses, they not only might look untidy with depreciated foliage, but they also might spread their seeds in unwanted areas. Plus, fresh foliage in the spring might have a difficult time growing through the depreciated foliage.
Does blue fescue come back every year?
Blue fescue plants are evergreen, but they do lose some of the older blades and grow new fresh deep blue leaves in spring.
Why is my blue grass turning brown?
Grass begins turning brown when its roots are no longer absorbing the necessary nutrients from the soil – but this isn't necessarily a concern – in fact, it's part of grass' natural life cycle.
What does blue fescue look like in winter?
Fescues are cool season grasses so they look their best in spring and fall. The foliage is blue in spring (T) and turns more blue-green in summer (B). through the winter but may turn brown in harsher winters.
Does blue grass turn brown in the winter?
While it may be a bit annoying, this is extremely typical. During the winter months, Kentucky bluegrass sod will go dormant, and needs time, warmth, sunlight, and nutrients to GREEN-UP. In fact, your neighbors' grass may green up before yours simply as a result of the genetics of the Kentucky bluegrass sod.
How often should I water blue fescue?
Water deeply once or twice weekly when newly planted (about 3 months) to help the roots grow properly. After the first year Blue Fescue is fairly drought tolerant and generally only needs water in hot, summer months. Fertilize lightly with a slow release, balanced fertilizer in spring for optimal growth.
Which ornamental grasses should be cut back?
WHEN TO CUT BACK ORNAMENTAL GRASSESCut back warm-season grasses in fall or by mid to late spring. ... Cut back cool-season grasses in very early spring. ... Divide warm season grasses anytime spring through mid-summer. ... Divide cool-season grasses in spring or early fall.More items...
Should ornamental grasses be cut back for winter?
Most gardeners leave their native grasses in place for winter interest and to provide food for birds. The time when you should cut back ornamental grasses is in late winter or early spring. Cut them back to within a few inches of the ground.
Should ornamental grasses be cut down in the fall?
Some people prefer to cut these grasses back in the fall, as they don't care for the floppy look throughout the winter, but the foliage actually helps to insulate the crown of the plant. Thus, we recommend you wait until late winter or very early spring to cut them down.
How do you keep blue fescue blue?
To maintain your blue fescue, you may need to cut back the grass at various times throughout the year. Tidy the grass in the spring by cutting it back to a height of about 3 to 4 inches. If the grass is struggling during the hot summer months, you can trim back the browning grass again.
How do you look after blue grasses?
Garden care: Comb through the plant with your fingers in winter to remove dead foliage. Container-grown specimens should be watered well when they are establishing. Plants may need replacing every few years as they may become tatty-looking.
Can blue fescue survive winter?
It is popular for its unique-looking icy blue foliage and pale-yellow flowers. Blue Fescue is a versatile perennial grass that lasts all year-round and has minimal needs and thrives in a wide range of environments. There are very few things that Blue Fescue can't survive!
What goes well with blue fescue?
9 Best Blue Fescue companion plantsBlanket Flower (zones 5 through 9) ... Zinnias (zones 1 through 11) ... Salvias (zones 3 through 8) ... Creeping Sedum (zones 4 through 9) ... Texas Sage (zones 8 through 11) ... Dianthus (zones 3 through 9) ... Lavender (zones 3 through 9) ... Crape Myrtles (zones 7 through 10)More items...•
What is blue fescue grass?
Blue fescue grass ( Festuca glauca) is a colorful ornamental grass with icy blue foliage and pale yellow flowers. It is drought-tolerant and grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 4-8. Gardeners like its ease of care and its fine texture, which makes it a good companion plant for heavier or more dramatic plantings.
How to propagate blue fescue?
One of the best ways to propagate blue fescue is through division. (Blue fescue rarely lives past three to five years unless it is divided, so this is a must-do.) Pry the plant up out of the ground with a shovel or a garden trowel. Cut the clump in half, prying away any brown sections of each smaller clump.
What is the color of fescue?
Blue Fescue Varieties. 'Elijah Blue' has light blue foliage and is the most popular cultivar. 'Golden Toupee' features chartreuse leaves. 'Boulder Blue' boasts a silver-blue hue. 'Blaufink' offers compact features and a fine texture. 'Tom Thumb' grows to be only about 4-inches tall.
What is the best way to feed blue fescue?
Compost applied around the plant as mulch provides all the feeding that blue fescue requires.
How long does it take for blue fescue to die?
There are few pest and disease problems with blue fescue. Also, the plant will die within a few years if it is not lifted and divided.
Why does blue fescue die?
Gardeners in warm climates may experience a different problem with blue fescue: Above-ground growth may die back during the summer, due to excessive heat and humidity. When this happens, give the plant a "haircut" since its appearance is temporarily spoiled anyway.
What color is ornamental grass?
The more sun this ornamental grass receives, the more likely it is to achieve its famous blue-gray hue.
What is blue fescue?
Image by seven75. Slender, wiry blades of blue characterize blue fescue plants. The ornamental grass is a tidy evergreen that is very tolerant of a wide range of sites and conditions. This plant is one of the “no fuss” plants perfect for the low maintenance garden.
When does blue fescue grow?
Blue fescue plants are evergreen, but they do lose some of the older blades and grow new fresh deep blue leaves in spring. The older leaves adhere to the plant and spoil the bright coloration. However, you can simply comb them out with your fingers. The grass forms low tight mounds and produces tall flower tipped stems in May to June.
Do blue fescues need fertilizer?
Blue fescue plants do not need fertilization as long as an organic mulch is used around the base of the grass. Keep the foliage looking its best by hand combing out the dead blades of grass and removing the flower heads. Remove the flower heads to help promote the tight mound shape of the plant.
Is blue fescue good for zones 4-9?
A key fact about blue fescue would be its zonal tolerance. It is suitable for USDA zones 4 to 9, but prefers areas without blistering hot summers. Extreme heat causes the plant to die back. There are several varieties of blue fescue grass for the garden.
Does blue fescue need water?
Blue fescue grass needs average moisture, and will require supplemental water in summer. The plant may die back if the soils are too heavy and full of clay, so amend the area prior to planting with plenty of compost.
How to grow blue fescue in the summer?
Planting blue fescue in full sun will help the plant achieve bright blue colors. In part sun, leaves tend to be more on the green side. It is important to remember that blue fescue is a cool-season grass; in warmer climates, there is a chance that plants will die back and go dormant through the heat of the summer. If they do, you can simply cut the foliage back and wait. Blue fescue does most of its growing in the spring and fall, so once the weather starts to cool off again, the plant will reflush with bright, new growth. You can put the plants in part sun in warmer climates to keep them cooler and prevent summer dormancy.
Why is fescue blue?
Because blue fescue is propagated by seed, the quality of the blue foliage is often inconsistent. As time has passed, researchers have created seedling selections that have a stronger, bolder blue color. These seed selections are what you see today in commercial blue fescue varieties.
What is the best grass to plant in a container?
Blue Fescue. A truly versatile perennial grass, blue fescue has an eye-catching blue hue that lasts all year. With its clump-forming habit, blue fescue forms uniform balls of foliage topped with feathery straw bloom stalks in the summer. It can be used as an accent plant, in mass plantings, containers, and crevices.
Does blue fescue grow well in rock gardens?
Thanks to its drought tolerance, blue fescue works well in rock gardens in average garden soil. Ideally, these plants like well-drained and evenly moist soils for a consistent blue color. They also appreciate supplemental watering while establishing themselves.
Can blue fescue be used as an edging plant?
Blue fescue's uniform habit adds both texture and color when used in mixed containers. It stays in bounds, not spreading very quickly, so it also works well as an edging plant. If you plan on using these plants in masses, select the same variety to ensure same-color foliage.
Is blue fescue a perennial?
Blue fescue can be a fairly short-lived perennial. You can alleviate this by regularly dividing plants. Dig them up and cut them into smaller pieces, making sure that all of them have a good amount of foliage and roots. This prevents plants from dying out in the middle and looking unsightly.
