Advice – Alternate to Fescue in Raleigh, NC

raleighnc123 – posted 14 August 2004 08:22

The builders in my n’hood use Fescue Sod – not sure what specific type. I had centipede (front) and Bermuda (back by the pool) in Columbia, SC where we moved from. One neighbor in NC did his yard w/ Zoysia. My front thinned some during the hot summer due to me not watering enough I’m sure.

What type of seed should I use for a more tolerant (water) grass in the future. Was going to hit lowes today and buy tons of Penn. K31 seed to throw out but this site has convinced me that I need advice. I’m reading the NCSU site today but any advice from those who know would be appreciated.

?Zoysia seed, Bermuda seed? Fescue seed of a specific type. I’m not after a green yard in the winter specifically though my neighbors will have one I’m sure. More concerned with not watering in the summer months. Full sun front yard! thanks!

rheise – posted 25 August 2004 10:07

Did you ever figure out what type of grass to plant?

jimtnc2002 – posted 04 September 2004 04:45

I’d be interested in that answer too. I’m in Garner, NC and have the same troubles I’m trying to rectify.

raleighnc123 – posted 04 September 2004 08:33

No replies yet as you can see. I’m going to reseed with fescue for the fall this week I think. Whatever the feed store in Fuquay recommends at this point. I haven’t had time to research it and the hope of some help from this site has dwithered. Best of luck….

ted – posted 05 September 2004 19:53

get out of the hardware stores- they have really bad seed with outdated testing dates on their seed, etc. if you can, find a lesco service center somewhere ( like in charlotte) try to buy quality, freshly tested ( as in this fall ) fescue seed – it’s your choice for sure.

cking – posted 13 September 2004 10:19

I had some pretty decent luck with Lesco fescue in Charlotte. It works with a mix of sun and shade, but burns out in full summer sun (use Sustane as a summer fertilizer). I recently moved to Alabama and really like my Zoysia lawn. But, unless you have full sun in NC it may be hard to grow.

jimtnc2002 – posted 13 September 2004 10:45

Yeah, I’m putting out Confederate fescue seed right now to keep the soil from eroding. Then in spring, I’m gonna go with either zenith zoysia or a good bermuda…if I can get a better bermuda than the common type in seed. Don’t know.

Buck – posted 13 September 2004 14:13

I think that by defination any bermuda that could be seeded would be regarded as common. So far as I know all of the popular hybrids, 419, GN1, etc. do not propogate via seeds, they are basically sterile. Spriging is a good alternative to sod. Basically you buy sod, but only about 10% of the area you need, prep the soil, cut/tear the sod into small springs, rake them in and water, and in about 30 days you have a lawn. Do this in NC in early June or so.

jimtnc2002 – posted 14 September 2004 09:13

Thanks for the clarifiaction, Buck.

How long does it take to establish a hybrid Bermuda lawn the way you described…by sprigging it? Would there be any reason you might choose this hybrid (tif,etc) over zenith zoysia?

I’m really torn on this. I also fully realize that zoysia takes a long time to grow, but I’m hearing it’s much more cold and drought resistant, and greens up quicker and stays green longer. And, it can be seeded rather than spriged.

Theres also the fact that I have some partial shady areas in late PM, and I hear bermuda hates shade.

[This message has been edited by jimtnc2002 (edited 14 September 2004).]

Buck – posted 14 September 2004 13:11

Bermuda hybrids are generally quite agressive and can put up a pretty good stand in about 30 days by sprigging. Of course, you need to do this when the hot, long days come around, say end of May first of June. By the 4th of July it should be in great shape, and really does not look all that bad in the meantime.

Can’t help comparing bermuda with zoysia. But bermuda hybrids are quite drought resistant. If it goes dry for a very long period the bermuda will just go dormant and quickly come back when it gets hit with water. You are correct, bermuda loves the sun. But 6 – 8 hours daily is entirely adequate when the other varibles (fertz, water) are attended to.

Your lawn really can look just like a golf fairway with bermuda, not sure that can be said about zoysia.

Finally, most turf farms that sell bermuda will deliver it already chopped up if you want to sprig it. They just cut the sod and then run the pieces through something like a blender that produces what at first looks kind of pitiful on your plot. But it begins to stretch out in only a few days and kint together. Mow it at about 1 inch and get ready for the compliments.

cking – posted 14 September 2004 14:29

Don’t dismiss Zoysia. I have the Emerald variety and am in a very similar climate to yours. It is difficult to find a weed in my front yard because the grass is so thick. I’m actually thinking about buying a reel-type mower to make the job a little easier.

jimtnc2002 – posted 15 September 2004 06:52

Thanks Buck. I already have some common bermuda growing in the back where I brought in about 50 yards of fill dirt/top soil. Seeds must have been in the dirt. I heard you can’t hardly get rid of it if you have a hybrid variety of bermuda…but I guess it doesn’t matter much at that point.

cking, are you saying you are having difficulty getting you mower through the zoysia because of it’s thickness, etc? not sure I understood what you meant. Thanks.

[This message has been edited by jimtnc2002 (edited 15 September 2004).]

cking – posted 15 September 2004 08:11

Yeah – even though I have been mowing every week, the grass is so thick that my rotary mower has some trouble staying on track. Also, I think a reel-type mower let’s you go a little shorter without scalping.

jimtnc2002 – posted 15 September 2004 09:29

Wow, that’s pretty thick. Wonder how my lawn tractor would to? I’m getting to old to push, and get all the excerise I need elsewhere

therock050383 – posted 24 March 2015 00:01

Just came across this. By far, the best alternative option to tall fescue for the Raleigh area is Zeon Zoysia.

Its better than Bermuda, Centipede, and all other zoysias. Seems to run better when filling into bare areas. The grass is also much softer on the “feel test” to the bare feet. Grows so thick weeds really have a tough time, so the maintenance is low.

Like all warm season grasses, it will turn brown in the winter, but you arent outside much when the ground freezes anyways.

I have worked on thousands of yards in the Raleigh Durham Cary area ( www.arpslawn.com ) , and this has been my experience.