General Description

Tufted hairgrass is a short-lived, tufted, cool season, native perennial bunchgrass. Roots are shallow, fibrous, and dense. A mass of deep green leaves covers the crown. Densely tufted and with numerous stems, this native grass is found throughout British Columbia. Seed production is important for stand maintenance. It is valuable as a range grass and fairly resistant to close grazing. 

Type

Native grass.

Origin

North America.

Longevity

Generally considered a short-lived species.

Use

Reclamation, grazing. This highly variable species can adapt to stressful environments, and is often recommended for reclamation and rehabilitation projects.

Optimal Time of Use

Highly palatable, resistant to grazing, remains green throughout the summer, and good for pasture forage. Grazing should be deferred until the stands are established

Recovery After Use

High recovery if rotational grazing system is used. Despite this species’ resistance to grazing damage, it will decline with continuous season-long grazing.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Very palatable early in the season with up to 20% protein content in early May.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

400mm / 600mm

Drought Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Adapted to seasonally flooded areas.

Winter Hardiness

High winter hardiness.

Soil Texture Preference

Can be found in a wide variety of soil types from fine to coarse.

Erosion Control

Sometimes used to stabilize stream banks, canals, and shorelines. Tolerates heavy metal contamination. 

Salinity Tolerance

Tufted hairgrass is generally considered to have low salinity tolerance; however, it grows in salt marshes and coastal estuaries so some tolerance to salinity is inferred.

Acidity Tolerance

High tolerance; tolerant of pH down to 3.5.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance, up to pH 7.5.

Seeds per kg

3,600,000 seeds/kg (1,633,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Native species with similar tolerances for reclamation. Where species diversity is a goal, mixtures with less than 0.3 to 0.6 kg/ha (approx.1/4 to 1/2 lb/acre) may be required as heavier rates will have high tufted hairgrass stand content.

Ease of Establishment

Tufted hairgrass may be slow to establish the first year but will establish with adequate moisture. Seed selected from high elevations may have higher dormancy and is likely to germinate better in fall seeding applications. Seeds selected from low elevations have lower dormancy and thus can be planted in the fall or spring. Specific selections are often required for extreme soil conditions.

Competitiveness

Tufted hair grass is considered moderately competitive as it can dominate if it is seeded too heavily in a mixture, and it can be a serious competitor with trees.

Management Considerations

Tufted hairgrass will decrease with continuous season long use. Spring grazing should be deferred in wet areas until soils are dry enough to prevent pugging and damage to plants.

General Description

Italian ryegrass is a short-lived, highly tillered, cool season biennial bunchgrass. It is usually grown as an annual forage or a quickly establishing, green ground cover. There are two types of ryegrasses: Italian and Westerwold, both with diploid and tetraploid varieties. Ryegrasses cross-pollinate freely and it is difficult to maintain genetic purity. Often, they form a mixture of perennial and annual species. 

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Italian ryegrass originates from northern Italy. Westerwold ryegrass was developed in the Netherlands from Italian ryegrass, and can set seed in the year of sowing.

Longevity

Will only live 1 to 2 years.

Use

Optimal Time of Use

Throughout the season and a good option for extending grazing into late fall and early winter where adapted.

Recovery After Use

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Highly palatable and highly digestible. Fall regrowth showed crude protein 17 to 23% (dependent on sampling time and variety, at Melfort, 1992).

Drought Tolerance

Low drought tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Good tolerance to excess moisture and short periods of flooding.

Winter Hardiness

Low, winter severity determines whether plants survive for a second year.

Soil Texture Preference

Grows best on fertile, well-drained soils but is adapted to a wide range of soil types and textures.

Erosion Control

Can provide quick cover for short-term erosion control, and while perennials are establishing.

Salinity Tolerance

Moderate tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

High tolerance, will tolerate pH as low as 5.0.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance will tolerate pH up to 7.9.

Seeds per kg

501,000 seeds/kg (227,250 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Italian ryegrasses can be seeded in mixtures, although it should be seeded at a lower rate to allow establishment of slower to establish perennials.

Ease of Establishment

Italian ryegrasses are easy to establish. Seed in mid- to late May or if concerned about weed pressure, delay seeding until mid- June. Responds well to fertilizer applications (especially N and P). If broadcasting N, apply before seeding or after plant is at the 2- to 3-leaf stage. Functions very well as a nurse crop while establishing other slower growing forage crops.

Competitiveness

Highly competitive in the year of seeding.

Management Considerations

Lack of winter hardiness suggests on planning for use as an annual crop except in areas where winters are typically mild.

General Description

Fuzzy-spiked wildrye is sometimes called hairy wildrye, but is a different species than Elymus hirsutus, which is also commonly called hairy wildrye. Fuzzy-spiked wildrye is a tall, cool season, perennial tufted grass that is adapted to a wide range of soil conditions. It is sod-forming with a deep spreading root system and creeping scaly rhizomes. It is often used for native species site rehabilitation, as its rapidly spreading rhizomes are good for erosion control. 

Type

Native grass.

Origin

Fuzzy-spiked wildrye is native to North America.

Longevity

Fuzzy-spiked wildrye is considered short lived (i.e., 3-8 years).

Use

Reclamation, grazing. An important native component to open forests, disturbed sites, and rangelands. It provides important winter forage for mountain sheep in the northern region.

Optimal Time of Use

Summer and fall for livestock, and winter for wildlife.

Recovery After Use

Most suited to one grazing per season.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Only fair palatability due to its coarse rough foliage. However, recent studies suggest cattle show good gains in pastures where fuzzy-spiked wildrye is prominent.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

400mm / 900mm

Drought Tolerance

High drought tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Some flooding tolerance (i.e., 1-2 weeks in spring).

Winter Hardiness

As native a species, it is winter hardy where it is adapted.

Soil Texture Preference

Commonly found on sandy and gravelly textured soils.

Erosion Control

Rapidly spreading rhizomes make this species useful for controlling erosion when established.

Salinity Tolerance

Moderate tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

Moderate tolerance.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Seeds per kg

577,000 seeds/kg (261,723 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Fuzzy-spiked wildrye can be used in mixtures with other native species where this is the objective or adapted agronomic grasses.

Ease of Establishment

Fuzzy-spiked wildrye can be hard to grow from seed as germination can be low. Apply your specific seedlots germination to any seeding rate calculations.

Competitiveness

Variable with site conditions.

Management Considerations

Can be an increaser or decreaser species, depending on the site.

General Description

Chewing’s red fescue is a long-lived, loosely tufted perennial that usually grows from rhizomes and appears in many forms and variants. Both introduced and native types have been recognized as separate species. Over 100 varieties of this complex are sold in Europe. Some have been introduced to North America and have hybridized with native forms. 

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Most cultivars are likely to be of European origin, but some may have been bred from germplasm from Europe and North America.

Longevity

Long-lived.

Use

Reclamation, pasture.

Optimal Time of Use

Awned wheatgrass is optimally grazed prior to seed head development.

Recovery After Use

Graze awned wheatgrass once per year. At least four inches (100mm) of stubble should be left after grazing to maintain vigor.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Awned wheatgrass is palatable until heading. Awn development and coarse stems at maturity reduce palatability. Digestibility ranges from 55% in June to 35% in October and crude protein ranges from 14% in June to 4% in October.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

350mm / 600mm or higher.

Drought Tolerance

Moderate drought tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Withstands approximately one to two weeks of spring flooding.

Winter Hardiness

Good winter hardiness.

Soil Texture Preference

Awned wheatgrass is best suited to moist, well drained loamy textured soils in sheltered areas. Awned wheatgrass is found native in moist shady areas such as coulees, on the edges of brush or tree bluffs, or in wet areas around treed sloughs.

Erosion Control

Not noted for erosion control, but is a useful component of reclamation mixes.

Salinity Tolerance

Slight salinity tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

Slight acidity tolerance.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Seeds per kg

271,000 seeds/kg (123,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Native seed mixtures for higher moisture areas or sheltered areas. Found in reclamation mixes.

Ease of Establishment

Awned wheatgrass is relatively easy to establish.

Competitiveness

Little is known about its competitiveness in pure stands or simple mixes.

Management Considerations

Allowing seed set and drop every few years will foster stand longevity as little is known about the plant’s lifespan. Although awned wheatgrass is a subspecies of slender wheatgrass, little is known about managing it agronomically.

General Description

Bluejoint reedgrass is a robust, hardy, tall, tufted, perennial grass native to boreal forests. It gets its name from the purplish-blue nodes on its stems, and is also referred to as Canada bluejoint grass, reedgrass, marsh reedgrass, and Scribner’s reedgrass. It provides good spring forage for livestock and native ungulates. When harvested as livestock feed from wet meadows that contain significant amounts of bluejoint reedgrass, it is referred to as “beaver grass.” 

Type

Native grass.

Origin

Native to boreal forests in northern Canada.

Longevity

Long-lived.

Use

Forage, revegetation, erosion control, and wildlife habitat.

Optimal Time of Use

Spring. 

Recovery After Use

Decreases after heavy grazing and trampling in some areas. Otherwise, bluejoint is an increaser species and it readily reproduces through rhizomes and seed.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Fair nutritional quality that is generally higher in early spring. Livestock generally avoid the coarse stems but will eat the large leaves.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

360mm / 1650mm

Drought Tolerance

Can be very drought tolerant once established.

Flooding Tolerance

Grows well on wet soils and has high tolerance to flooding.

Winter Hardiness

High winter hardiness.

Soil Texture Preference

Often found on fine-textured soils with good water holding capacity but can be found on sandy soils with high water table. Prefers very moist to wet soils with a moderate nutrient regime.

Erosion Control

Rhizomes spread quickly in disturbed areas, and bluejoint can speed up recovery of soil properties like bulk density, organic matter content, and porosity. It has been used to lower water tables, but its competitive effect may outweigh the benefits. Bluejoint has been used to stabilize streambanks, filter runoff, increase evapotranspiration to reduce flooding, rehabilitate wetlands, and revegetate oil spills (Sourdough variety). However, if the ultimate objective is to return to natural spruce regeneration, special management of bluejoint’s highly competitive nature will be required.

Salinity Tolerance

Can tolerate mildly brackish water.

Acidity Tolerance

High tolerance. prefers pH levels of 5.0 to 5.9 and will tolerate pH down to 4.5.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance; up to pH 8.0.

Seeds per kg

5,000,000 seeds/kg (2,270,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Sometimes mixed with other grasses and legumes to reduce the competitiveness of bluejoint.

Ease of Establishment

Establishes easily from wind-blown seed or from extensive underground rhizomes. Adequate site preparation, i.e., mineral soil disturbance, is required for seeding.

Competitiveness

Can be highly competitive; mechanical or chemical control is required to control heavy swards to successfully establish tree seedlings.

Management Considerations

Proactive management is required to limit bluejoint spread in some situations. Careful scalping or large inverted mounds are mechanical controls that have been tried. Herbicides and replacement vegetation might be considered depending on the situation and management objectives. Sheep grazing with 2 grazing passes has also been used for successful control of bluejoint in the first season of tree establishment.

General Description

Hairy vetch is an annual or biennial, hardy, cool season agronomic legume, also commonly referred to as fodder vetch, winter vetch, or sand vetch. It has a weak tap root that grows up to 60 to 90 cm (24 to 35 in) with many side branches in the top 20 cm (8 in) and is known as an excellent nitrogen fixer. 

Type

Tame legume.

Origin

Native to Europe and Asia. Now the most used vetch in North America.

Longevity

Annual or biennial.

Use

Hay, grazing, erosion control. Consumption of seed can be poisonous to livestock. Hairy vetch is especially known for erosion control, bank stabilization, winter cover crop, and soil conditioning. It can be a suitable plant in organic and no-till pasture and cropping systems.

Optimal Time of Use

Spring and winter. 

Recovery After Use

The growth habit of hairy vetch means it is typically used once per grazing season.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

High palatability, high crude protein values and very digestible.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

450mm / 600mm.

Drought Tolerance

High drought tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Some flooding tolerance but not adapted to poorly drained soils.

Winter Hardiness

Winter hardy but dependent on good snow cover. Vetch seeded alone may be vulnerable to frost heave damage.

Soil Texture Preference

Prefers sandy soils but is adapted to all soil textures.

Erosion Control

High ability to control erosion. Hairy vetch can provide a heavy surface mulch.

Salinity Tolerance

Low to moderate tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

Low tolerance, prefers pH 6.0 to 7.5.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Seeds per kg

44,000 seeds/kg (97,003 seeds/lb).

Suggested Mixtures

Hairy vetch is commonly fall-seeded with rye for pasture use.

Ease of Establishment

Easily establishes where adapted.

Competitiveness

Once established, hairy vetch can be aggressive and competitive. It sets seed and can proliferate from self-seeding.

Management Considerations

Hairy vetch is normally planted in the fall. It can be broadcast or drill seeded.

General Description

American vetch is a long-lived, cool season, native perennial legume. It has climbing or trailing tendrils; the name vicia is from the Latin vincio meaning to bind or climb. It is commonly found throughout British Columbia. Its common names include American vetch, wild vetch, stiff-leaf vetch, and wild pea. Currently recognized subspecies are Vicia americana ssp. americana and Vicia americana ssp. minor Hook. 

Type

Native legume.

Origin

Native to North America.

Longevity

Long-lived.

Use

Reclamation, pasture. American vetch is used as a nitrogen-fixing cover crop, as a legume in native seed mixtures for revegetating disturbed areas, and for wildlife and livestock grazing. First Nations used the leaves for poultices, and the pods and seeds for food.

Optimal Time of Use

Summer.

Recovery After Use

Not tolerant to heavy or continuous grazing; decreases with overgrazing.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Low yielding but valuable forage for grazing both wildlife (mule deer, grizzly bear, black bear, small mammals, game birds) and livestock (cattle, sheep, horses).

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

230mm / 1270mm

Drought Tolerance

High tolerance.

Flooding Tolerance

Is not tolerant of saturated soils or flooding.

Winter Hardiness

Considered winter hardy where it is adapted in the lowland, steppe, and montane zones.

Soil Texture Preference

Prefers fine or clay soils to medium-textured or loamy soils. It prefers moist to dry soils and full sun.

Erosion Control

Some erosion control value if established.

Salinity Tolerance

No tolerance to moderate tolerance. Ecotype variance should be expected.

Acidity Tolerance

Low tolerance, tolerates pH levels down to 5.9.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low tolerance, up to pH 7.2.

Seeds per kg

72,230 seeds/kg (32,763 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

In pasture situations, can be mixed with a taller-growing grass or fall rye so that it can climb. Should be mixed with other suitable native species for native plant community restoration, or where native species are desired.

Ease of Establishment

Scarification (scratching or etching) of the seed will decrease the germination time from 14 to 7 days but will not improve overall germination. Spring or fall seeding. Low seedling vigour.

Competitiveness

Can be very competitive in some environments.

Management Considerations

Managed grazing is required to maintain American vetch in the plant community.

General Description

Western wheatgrass is a native cool-season perennial grass that grows from strong rhizomes. It is regularly found in patches mixed with other species in native plant communities. Smooth stems grow to 20 to 100 cm (8 to 39 in) tall and are very erect. The leaves are rigid, flat, 6 mm wide, blue-green with prominent veins. Leaves grow at about a 45 degree angle to the stem. Western wheatgrass plants are often seen growing without seedheads/stems.

Type

Native grass.

Origin

Mixed Grass Prairie of North America.

Longevity

Long lived.

Use

Pasture, hay, reclamation.

Optimal Time of Use

Spring, summer, fall. Cures well of the stem so is suitable for fall stockpiled grazing. Harvest for hay by heading for best quality.

Recovery After Use

Western wheatgrass should be allowed to reach 15 cm (6 in) of growth before grazing in spring. It usually responds favorably to rest rotation or deferred rotation grazing systems. Recovery can occur within 60-80 days in cultivars.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Western wheatgrass is considered good forage and is palatable to livestock and wildlife. In June digestibility is 60% with crude protein around 14%. Digestibility on unharvested western wheatgrass remains the same through fall with crude protein levels dropping to between 7.5- 9.5%. Stockpiled regrowth does maintain high quality (11-16 % CP). Western wheatgrass provides nutritious winter pasture and hay.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

300mm / 510mm

Drought Tolerance

Excellent tolerance. Plants will shut down, but will regrow when moisture returns.

Flooding Tolerance

Can stand up to 5 weeks of spring flooding.

Winter Hardiness

Excellent hardiness. Western wheatgrass’ cold hardiness is comparable to crested wheatgrass and Russian wildrye.

Soil Texture Preference

Suited to all soil textures but grows best on clay to loamy soils. Naturally found on moist to dry slopes and can often be found where water pools in the spring. Often found on solonetzic soils.

Erosion Control

Effective erosion control. However, full cover will take time as seedlings must first establish and then rhizomes spread.

Salinity Tolerance

Slight to moderate tolerance.

Acidity Tolerance

Not recommended for acidic soils.

Alkalinity Tolerance

High tolerance.

Seeds per kg

253,000 seeds/kg (115,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Native species mixes; legumes and/or tame bunchgrasses for grazing; Western wheatgrass works well in mixtures but creeps aggressively so should be kept to a low percentage in a seed mix.

Ease of Establishment

Western wheatgrass is relatively easy to establish, but seedlings tend not to be very vigorous and stands can take several years to become fully established through rhizome development.

Competitiveness

Can be competitive as it becomes established, spreading mostly by rhizomes. The percentage in seed mixtures should be kept low to prevent western wheatgrass from dominating stands.

Management Considerations

A mixed stand helps reduce the chances of seeded western wheatgrass becoming sod-bound. Manage grazing for adequate recovery. Western wheatgrass works well in a stockpiled grazing system.

General Description

Tall wheatgrass is a long-lived, tall, perennial bunchgrass. It is most often used for rehabilitation of moist or flooded saline areas as it is a top saline tolerant species. It can also be found on dry roadsides and slopes. It has an extensive fibrous root system that can grow 300 cm (118 in) into the soil. Plants form a “bunch” that increases in size with age. 

Tall wheatgrass stems are coarse and grow 100 to 300 cm tall (39 to 118 in). Short leaves are found up the stem. Long leaves grow from a basal bunch. Leaves are 2 to 6.5 mm wide with short hairs that make them scratchy to the touch. Leaves remain green late into the growing season. The seed heads can be over 30 cm (12 in) in length and form a stiff narrow spike, with long gaps between spikelets. Seeds are large and do not shatter easily.

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Saline meadows of Southern Russia. Varieties have been developed in Canada.

Longevity

At least 20 years. Tall wheatgrass is long lived under ideal growing conditions, but dry conditions, such as found in the Brown soil zone, shorten its lifespan (at least 10 years longevity).

Use

Pasture, hay, reclamation. Tall wheatgrass is primarily used for saline area reclamation, but may then be used off those saline areas for pasture or hay.

Optimal Time of Use

Summer. Tall wheatgrass begins growing in early spring but is slow to grow. It is often grown in moist areas that would be sensitive to early use. Hay before heading for best palatability as it becomes coarse once mature. Tall wheatgrass is best grazed before the stems elongate when most growth is basal, leaving 15 cm (6 in) of growth post-grazing.  Once stems grow, tall wheatgrass becomes coarse and avoided by livestock.

Recovery After Use

Recovery after use is slow for tall wheatgrass. In most situations, tall wheatgrass is best used once per year, but may only need 60-80 days of recovery in the higher rainfall soil zones.

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Palatable before stems elongate (heading). Livestock may select against tall wheatgrass in mixes at any stage. Leaves are notably tough. Tall wheatgrass has an average early season digestibility of 47% and crude protein of 10.6%.

Annual Precipitation min/max (mm)

250mm / 700mm

Drought Tolerance

Fair tolerance. While tall wheatgrass can live through drought periods, it cannot survive through very dry conditions.

Flooding Tolerance

Tall wheatgrass can withstand up to 5 weeks of flooding in spring. It has good tolerance for excess soil moisture and grows best in moist soils.

Winter Hardiness

Good hardiness. Hardiness is not noted as a concern with tall wheatgrass even though it is less hardy than some grasses such as crested wheatgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and creeping red fescue.

Soil Texture Preference

Tall wheatgrass prefers loam to clay moist soils. It can tolerate high water tables.

Erosion Control

Very little erosion control.  Tall wheatgrass is sometimes used for roadside ditches, but is a large bunchgrass and does not spread outwards.

Salinity Tolerance

High tolerance. Tall wheatgrass has the highest salt tolerance of all introduced agronomic grass species (green wheatgrass is considered equal).

Acidity Tolerance

Low tolerance.

Alkalinity Tolerance

Low to moderate tolerance.

Seeds per kg

166,000 seeds/kg (75,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Seed tall wheatgrass for saline site reclamation. Seed the most saline areas to a pure stand or best mix with other moderately saline tolerant species such as slender wheatgrass, dahurian wildrye, tall fescue, smooth bromegrass and intermediate wheatgrass or pubescent wheatgrass. Saline tolerant varieties of alfalfa can be included in the mix as they will establish where it is less saline. When used in a mixture, livestock may select against tall wheatgrass as it matures.

Ease of Establishment

Tall wheatgrass is slow to germinate and seedlings do not compete well with weeds. Two years are recommended for establishment before use, especially in harsh areas such as saline soils.

Competitiveness

Tall wheatgrass is competitive in saline soils once it is established. It does not usually reseed itself and is not considered invasive.

Management Considerations

Effective weed control may be necessary for establishment as tall wheatgrass seedlings may take two years to fully establish. Irrigation and fertilization can enhance production. While tall wheatgrass has high salinity tolerance it does not grow well on dry sites.

General Description

Tall fescue is a deep-rooted, perennial bunchgrass. Although it is considered a cool season grass and is adapted to cool and humid climates, tall fescue can tolerate more heat than other cool season grasses. It has an extensive coarse, dense root system and short rhizomes. Longevity is extremely variable and dependent on variety. It is similar to meadow fescue but is distinguished by having wider, less glossy leaves. 

Tall fescue has stems that grow to a height of over 100 cm (39 in). They are smooth, semi-erect, and fairly thick. Leaves (12 mm wide) are mostly basal, with blades that are flat, dark green and hairless. The leaves are shiny & waxy and resist drought somewhat; also making tall fescue a bit more challenging to cure for hay. Seed heads develop with 3 to 10 flowers per spikelet. Tall fescue is cross-pollinated and the seed shatters easily.

Endophytes are a fungus that can live within tall fescue plants improving the plant. However, endophytes can produce a toxin (ergovaline) harmful to livestock and wildlife. The toxin restricts blood flow, which often shows as lameness and then sloughing of feet (‘fescue foot’) or the loss of extremities such as the tip of the tail and/or eat. Further, endophytes can lead to reproductive issues, including abortions. The turf-type varieties most often carry the fungus in the seed/plants, which then pass it on to the seed it produces. Forage-type varieties with low-endophyte levels are best utilized for livestock production. Feed should be tested when in doubt.

Type

Tame grass.

Origin

Central Europe, North Africa. Hardier varieties developed in North America.

Longevity

At least 5 years. Persistence is dependent on variety.

Use

Pasture, hay, sailage, stockpiled. Forage varieties with noted winter hardiness should be used. Turf-type varieties are grown for seed production but are not suitable for high forage yield and quality.

Optimal Time of Use

Spring, summer, fall, winter. Hay tall fescue by early heading. Regrowth may be grazed or stockpiled. Tall fescue can be continually or rotationally grazed. Leave at least 10 cm (4 in) for substantial regrowth to occur. Basal leaf growth develops from new tillers throughout the season. Begins growing a little later than other grass- manage accordingly. Good for summer grazing or stockpiling for fall and early winter grazing as it maintains quality well after fall frosts and stands erect through light snowfall.

Recovery After Use

Palatability/Nutritional Value

Good palatability in vegetative stages. Tall fescue has an average total digestible nutrient (TDN) level of 59% and crude protein of 9-12% mid-summer. Endophytes in turf varieties can be a problem for livestock. Purchase endophyte-free seed and test forages from non-endophyte free stands.

Drought Tolerance

Moderate tolerance. Recovers quickly.

Flooding Tolerance

Withstands 2-5 weeks of spring flooding and tolerates wet or waterlogged soil often spring through fall.

Winter Hardiness

Fair to good tolerance depending on the variety. Select varieties noted for hardiness. Winter is highly dependent on variety, snow cover conditions, drought, and breaks in dormancy.

Soil Texture Preference

Prefers deep, moist, silty to clayey soils. Sub-irrigated sites may also be suitable. 

Erosion Control

Moderate erosion control.

Salinity Tolerance

Moderate tolerance. Good tolerance to salinity makes it a good choice for irrigated saline pasture land.

Acidity Tolerance

High tolerance. Tolerates soil pHs as low as 4.7 but yields better on slightly acidic to neutral soils.

Alkalinity Tolerance

High tolerance.

Seeds per kg

454,000 seeds/kg (206,000 seeds/lb)

Suggested Mixtures

Ease of Establishment

Strong seedling vigour helps tall fescue establish relatively easily, especially if competition and soil fertility are managed.

Competitiveness

Once established, tall fescue is competitive. Potentially invasive depending on location and variety. In some habitats in the northern US tall fescue, especially those varieties with endophytes, are considered invasive and persistent.

Management Considerations