Killing Fescue

Discussion in 'HortForum' started by Jpow, Mar 21, 2007.

  1. Jpow

    Jpow Member

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    Hello
    I have a dog who is allergic to just about everything, including fescue, which grows abundantly in my back yard. I need to plant something that will overtake the fescue, or figure out a way to eradicate it. I dont want to use chemicals. I am willing to consider all sorts of ground cover, not just grass. Any suggestions?
    I am in zone 6
     
  2. smivies

    smivies Active Member

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    Fescues are a common component of northern lawns and usually coexist with bluegrass & ryegrass. Since there isn't a selective herbicide that will specifically target the fescue, you're looking at a scorched earth approach with Round-Up or similar. Once complete though, you have to reseed or sod with a selection that does not include fescue and there is a good chance that the fescue has seeded over the years and some of those seeds may very well germinate in your new lawn.

    Good luck
    Simon
     
  3. Jpow

    Jpow Member

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    I knocked my whole lawn out with roundup last year, but did not follow up in any manner. Currently I have small patches of grass (i dont know what kind, but not fescue) coming back. I just figured the fescue would be showing up soon. Is it possible that I actually killed it? Should I rent a sod cutter and take a few inches off the top? Using roundup last year made me realize I dont want to use chemicals again if possible. This is a city yard, about 100' x 70' so it is not that big. Thanks.
     
  4. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Good point - you don't want to discover both your dog and you are allergic to herbicides!

    I'd guess the best thing to do is get some heavy-gauge black plastic sheeting and lay it over the lawn for a couple of weeks of hot weather. That should deal with it.
     
  5. Jpow

    Jpow Member

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    Thanks for the advice. I have been reading that zoysia grass can choke out other vegetation. The more I read about it though the more conflicting information I get. i understand there are several different strains of the grass and they display different tolerances to temperature, moisture etc... There is a company selling zoysia plugs touting them as being able to withstand temps of -30 as well as extreme heat. I wonder if they are credible. It sounds a little too good to be true.
     
  6. smivies

    smivies Active Member

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    Even with Global warming, you will, without a doubt, have the BROWNEST fall, winter, and spring lawn of anyone in Toledo. Zoysia is a warm season grass and will go dormant at the slightest cold. Not a very practical arrangement for northern lawns.

    I think even a southern turf specialist would ditch Zoysia or Bermuda grass if they could have an evergreen turf grass that thrived in summer heat.

    Simon
     
  7. Don Ho

    Don Ho Active Member

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    I am a big fan of not using pesticides. I support the use of heavy-gauge plastic suggested by Michael F, but I would leave the plastic in place for longer than two weeks. You will also need to ensure the edges of the plastic are "tucked in." The process is often called [GOOGLE]soil solarization[/GOOGLE] and is very effective for killing off any vegetation underneath it. If it gets hot enough under the plastic, it can even kill a goodly number of weed seeds near the soil surface. You will want too amend the soil with high-quality compost before planting anything.

    Your local Cooperative Extension department will have a list of good-performing groundcovers for your area. Here is a link to the OSU Gardenline website page on groundcovers. There is a link to Table 1 at the bottom of the article that provides a list of suitable groundcovers. http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1050.html Local, reputable nurseries and garden centers should also have that information.

    Now, I am wondering if the fescue species that you had in your lawn had endophytes in it. Endophytes are a type of fungus that forms a symbiotic relationship with some species of lawn grasses. That may be the cause of the allergy to the grass.
     
  8. Jpow

    Jpow Member

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    Thank you for the feedback. As for the endophytes I really couldnt say. Our vet did a full spectrum analysis on my dogs blood. She came back with a laundry list of allergies with fescue being just one of them. The only native grass they tested that she wasnt allergic to was timothy. We try to keep it under control with shots and benadryl but with the spring she starts getting really bad again.
     
  9. smivies

    smivies Active Member

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    Is she allergic to the pollen or is it a ingestion or dermatological allergy? If it's a pollen allergy, ridding only your lawn of fescue will only slightly reduce the problem as grasses are wind pollinated.

    Simon
     
  10. Jpow

    Jpow Member

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    Yeah I am pretty sure it is the pollen, so we wont be able to eliminate her problem. I am hoping we reduce the severity of it by purging our yard. At least she wont have to be walking around in it.
     
  11. Don Ho

    Don Ho Active Member

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    Most lawn grasses when mowed do not produce pollen as the flowering stems are removed or simply do not emerge. I am curious if the grass test was for grass pollen or for the actual greenery. I am not well read on allergies. We always do what we can for our pets. One of our cats has diabetes, and we just do what we have to too keep him comfortable and happy.
     

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