Fescue in Charlotte North Carolina

heatwavex · by **heatwavex** » September 2nd, 2010, 11:02 am

Anyone have any favorite fescue seed suggestions for a high sun yard in Charlotte North Carolina? I was thinking of trying the Firecracker LS from Mountain View or Avenger, but would really like to hear some experiences with any type. I have tried Rebel, Southern Gold, etc and all perform marginal at the very best. I even tried some Heat Tolerant Blue (KBG). The Heat Tolerant Blue did well in the shade, and horrible in the Sun. About 1/3 of my yard has high sun. I am trying to find something for this 1/3. I cannot plant warm season grasses (although it is very tempting).

likeasponge · by **likeasponge** » April 3rd, 2011, 5:22 pm

heatwavex wrote: I was thinking of trying the Firecracker LS from Mountain View or Avenger, but would really like to hear some experiences with any type.

I cannot plant warm season grasses (although it is very tempting).

Did you try the Firecracker LS? How did it work out for you? Did you try something else from the NTEP.org site?

Why can't you plant a warm season grass?

GaryCinChicago · by **GaryCinChicago** » April 3rd, 2011, 9:37 pm

Heat Tolerant Blue (KBG)

“Heat Tolerant Blue” contains 90% tall fescue by weight, and 10% Thermal hybrid bluegrass. Hybrid bluegrasses are a cross between Texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis).

GaryCinChicago · by **GaryCinChicago** » April 3rd, 2011, 9:39 pm

likeasponge wrote: Did you try the Firecracker LS? How did it work out for you?

heatwavex wrote: I was thinking of trying the Firecracker LS

simpson · by **simpson** » April 3rd, 2011, 9:42 pm

GaryCinChicago wrote:
Heat Tolerant Blue (KBG)

“Heat Tolerant Blue” contains 90% tall fescue by weight, and 10% Thermal hybrid bluegrass

Also called junk (I have planted it first hand at my moms house. Its gone now.)

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HanLawn · by **HanLawn** » April 3rd, 2011, 10:11 pm

GaryCinChicago wrote:
Heat Tolerant Blue (KBG)

“Heat Tolerant Blue” contains 90% tall fescue by weight, and 10% Thermal hybrid bluegrass. Hybrid bluegrasses are a cross between Texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis).

True, but remember a pound of fescue has about 250,000 individual seeds and a pound of bluegrass has about 1,200,000 seeds...so if you do the math it is about 35% bluegrass,despite the "low sounding" 10%.

skins fan · by **skins fan** » April 3rd, 2011, 11:18 pm

I used the Spyder LS and Avenger last fall in a reno, and am completely happy with it so far....

Click here for more information

GaryCinChicago · by **GaryCinChicago** » April 3rd, 2011, 11:53 pm

HanLawn wrote: a pound of bluegrass has about 1,200,000 seeds

Which one are you referring to? The Poa pratensis or the Poa arachnifera? Is seed count identical?

appalachianturf · by **appalachianturf** » April 4th, 2011, 5:04 am

Southern Gold didn't work? ....sounds like a soil issue more so than grass type. Soil test results?...let's see em

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likeasponge · by **likeasponge** » April 4th, 2011, 8:40 am

heatwavex wrote: I was thinking of trying the Firecracker LS

[/quote]

I saw the posting from last Sept, but there was no reply. I was hoping to get a testimonial from the CLT area. I am on the fence about what to plant this fall for the renew!!

The NTEP.org site is great info, I look at the TTTF cultivators and think I should pick anything in the "7" range? Firecracker gets pretty good reviews and if anyone has some incite I would love to hear it!

tiemco · by **tiemco** » April 5th, 2011, 7:44 pm

I have a small area of Firecracker LS that I planted back in fall 2009. It has a very nice dark green color. I can't speak for its drought tolerance as I provide irrigation when necessary. It tillers aggressively, but I have seen very little in the way of actual spreading. From what I have read, tall fescue only spreads when it has been growing for 3-4 years. Here's a thread from the Cool season grass forum that describes Firecracker LS, and has some pics for you. Click here for more information
Check with the ntep ratings to see how Firecracker LS does in your area. Titanium or Spyder LS might do better in N.C.

John_in_SC · by **John_in_SC** » April 12th, 2011, 9:27 am

heatwavex wrote:Anyone have any favorite fescue seed suggestions for a high sun yard in Charlotte North Carolina? I was thinking of trying the Firecracker LS from Mountain View or Avenger, but would really like to hear some experiences with any type. I have tried Rebel, Southern Gold, etc and all perform marginal at the very best. I even tried some Heat Tolerant Blue (KBG). The Heat Tolerant Blue did well in the shade, and horrible in the Sun. About 1/3 of my yard has high sun. I am trying to find something for this 1/3. I cannot plant warm season grasses (although it is very tempting).

Like Appalachinturf mentioned - if you already tried Rebels and Southern Gold and they didn't grow - it's not a "Cheap Fescue" problem - it's a soil and culture problem.....

Get a soil test done and start working on getting those minerals back into your soil. No amount of Top Quality Seed can make up for deficient soils.....

Thanks

ddonia · by **ddonia** » August 5th, 2011, 7:50 pm

I realize that this is an older post but wanted to share my experience. Maybe it will be of some help.

We live in Concord, NC, just a few minutes from Charlotte. Last fall I completely renovated a 9,000 sq ft section of our back yard. Replanted using the following custom blend:

50% SC-1 (LS1200)
25% Cochise IV
25% Falcon V

Have had great success with it so far. It has held up very well to the sun/heat but I do have a water well and irrigate on a regular basis. I bought the seed from the very nice people (Stephen Callis) at The Hogan Company out of TN. They have a great selection of high quality seed you can choose from and they will mix up whatever blend you would like.

Good Luck!

grassboro · by **grassboro** » August 5th, 2011, 8:59 pm

I am in Chapel Hill and planted 1/3 Firecracker, Rhambler and Faith in a reno last year and it has done well with some irrigation (deepest green color in the neighborhood. Milorganite helps!). I threw in a little SC-1 (LS 1200) in this stand also. The rest of my LS 1200 went into an overseed of a part grass weedy area.

I just purchased more seed from Hogans. I indicated I was interested in Firecracker and Cochise IV to overseed and fix some patches. I asked for his recommendation for heat tolerance, drought and brown patch in my area. He pointedly steered me away from Firecracker (liked it but felt some others were better choice for my criteria) and suggested Turbo, Falcon V and Cochise IV and was also high on Faith in this area. They are out of LS 1200. You probably can’t go wrong with most of the higher rated varieties.

Fescue in Charlotte North Carolina

Fescue in Charlotte North Carolina

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