Old Cobblers Farm™ Leigh Creeping Red Fescue

Leigh Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca rubra) is a premium cool-season grass seed renowned for its fine texture, exceptional shade tolerance, and ability to form a dense, vibrant green lawn. Its creeping growth habit via rhizomes allows it to fill bare spots, creating a uniform, carpet-like turf. Ideal for lawns, parks, and landscapes in cooler climates, it offers drought resistance, low maintenance, and disease resistance for sustainable landscaping.

Seed Type & Composition

• Seed Type: Cool-season, fine-leafed creeping red fescue.

• Key Features:

  • Exceptional shade tolerance for areas with limited sunlight.

  • Rapid establishment with rhizomatous spread.

  • Moderate drought resistance and low maintenance.

  • Disease-resistant, reducing chemical treatments.

• Label Information (varies by supplier):

  • Purity %: Typically >90% Leigh Creeping Red Fescue seeds.

  • Germination Rate %: Often >85% under optimal conditions.

  • Weed Seed %: Low, ideally <0.5%.

  • Other Crop Seed %: Minimal, typically <1%.

  • Inert Matter %: Low, often <2% (e.g., chaff, soil).

  • Lot Number: For batch tracking.

  • Origin: Region of seed production.

  • Test Date: Recent germination/purity test date.

  • Net Weight: Package weight.

  • Manufacturer: Contact details.

Geographic & USDA Zone Suitability

• Geographic Areas: Northern U.S. (e.g., Pacific Northwest, New England, Great Lakes), Canada, and cool, temperate regions globally.

• USDA Zones: 2–7; thrives in cooler climates with moderate summers.

• Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun; excels in shaded areas with 4–6 hours of daily sunlight.

Soil Compatibility

• Soil Texture:

  • Loam: Ideal for balanced drainage, fertility, and moisture retention.

  • Clay: Tolerable with amendments for drainage and aeration.

  • Sandy: Suitable with irrigation and organic matter for moisture retention.

• pH Range: 5.5–7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral); adjust with lime or sulfur if needed.

• Drainage: Good drainage essential; tolerates occasional wet conditions but not prolonged waterlogging.

Watering & Drought Requirements

• Establishment Phase: Light, frequent watering to keep soil moist; avoid waterlogging.

• Post-Establishment: Deep, infrequent watering; ~1–1.5 inches/week (including rainfall).

• Drought Tolerance: Moderate; withstands short droughts but may go dormant in prolonged dry periods; recovers with moisture.

• Tips: Water early morning; mulch to retain moisture in dry conditions.

Germination & Growth Pattern

• Germination Time: 7–12 days at soil temperatures of 50°F–65°F (10°C–18°C); up to 14 days in cooler conditions.

• Growth Pattern:

  • Creeping via rhizomes, forming a dense, uniform turf.

  • Moderate growth rate; most active in spring/fall.

  • Maintains green color in cooler seasons; slows in hot summers.

  • Ideal for low to moderate traffic areas and shaded landscapes.

Mowing & Maintenance

• Mowing:

  • Height: 1.5–2.5 inches for lawns; 2–3 inches for parks/meadows.

  • Frequency: Every 7–10 days during growing season; avoid removing >1/3 of blade height.

  • Equipment: Use sharp blades for clean cuts to prevent disease.

• Maintenance:

  • Watering: ~1 inch/week; adjust for rainfall.

  • Fertilization: Balanced fertilizer in spring/fall; avoid excess nitrogen to prevent thatch.

  • Aeration: Annually in fall to reduce compaction.

  • Thatch Management: Dethatch every 2–3 years if layer exceeds 0.5 inches.

  • Weed Control: Dense turf suppresses weeds; use selective herbicides if needed.

  • Pest/Disease: Monitor for sod webworms, billbugs, red thread, dollar spot; treat as needed.

  • Overseeding: Fall to maintain density and repair bare spots.