Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Tuff Turf Grazing Lawn Mix

Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Tuff Turf Grazing Lawn Mix is a carefully engineered dual-purpose seed blend designed to function as both an attractive residential lawn and a productive grazing surface for small livestock. Built around Duo Festulolium, this mix delivers exceptional palatability, fast recovery from grazing, and long-term turf durability.

Festulolium combines the sweetness and rapid growth of ryegrass with the persistence and stress tolerance of fescue—creating forage animals actively prefer while maintaining strong regrowth. Feast II Annual Tetraploid Ryegrass adds high-sugar, highly digestible early growth, while Kentucky Bluegrass and Highland Bentgrass contribute natural self-repair through rhizomes and stolons. Creeping Red Fescue improves drought tolerance and fills gaps under lighter shade.

The result is a resilient, animal-friendly lawn system ideal for homesteads, hobby farms, and permaculture properties practicing rotational grazing. Designed for USDA Zones 4–7, Wicked Tuff Turf delivers dependable performance where people, animals, and lawns coexist.

Composition

• 40% Duo Festulolium

• 25% Creeping Red Fescue

• 20% Kentucky Bluegrass

• 10% Feast II Annual Tetraploid Ryegrass

• 5% Highland Bentgrass

Key Features / Benefits

• Dual-purpose lawn + grazing performance

• Highly palatable, high-sugar forage animals prefer

• Rapid regrowth after mowing or grazing

• Natural self-repair from bluegrass rhizomes & bentgrass stolons

• Performs well under rotational grazing systems

• Moderate to high traffic tolerance

Understanding the Grass Types

Duo Festulolium (Italian Ryegrass × Meadow Fescue)

• Faster establishment than fescue

• Better persistence than ryegrass

• Excellent palatability and sugar content

• Strong regrowth after grazing

Feast II Tetraploid Ryegrass

• Larger leaves and softer texture

• Higher digestibility and sugar levels

• Faster early growth than standard ryegrass

Germination Timeline

• Days 5–7: Festulolium & Feast II Ryegrass

• Days 10–14: Highland Bentgrass

• Days 14–21: Creeping Red Fescue

• Days 21–28: Kentucky Bluegrass

Seeding Rates

• New Lawns: 6–8 lbs per 1,000 sq ft

• Overseeding: 3–4 lbs per 1,000 sq ft

• Pasture-Style Broadcast: 25–35 lbs per acre

Soil Requirements

• pH: 5.8–7.0

• Soil Type: Adaptable to most soils

• Drainage: Moderate; tolerates brief wet periods

Sun & Shade Tolerance

• Optimal: 4–6+ hours direct sunlight

• Minimum: 3–4 hours

• More sunlight = higher forage production

Mowing & Grazing Management

Lawn Use:

• Mow at 3.0–3.5 inches

Grazing Use:

• Introduce animals at 4–6 inches

• Remove animals at 2–3 inches

• Rest area 14–21 days before re-grazing

Suitable Animals

• Chickens & poultry – Excellent

• Rabbits – Excellent

• Ducks & geese – Good

• Small goats & sheep – Moderate (rotational only)

Maintenance & Fertility

• Maintenance Level: Moderate

• Nitrogen Needs: 2–4 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft annually

• Grazing animals return nutrients, reducing fertilizer demand

Climate Suitability

• USDA Zones: 4–7

• Cold Tolerance: Good to excellent

• Heat Tolerance: Moderate

• Drought Tolerance: Moderate

Best For

• Homesteads with poultry or rabbits

• Hobby farms with small livestock

• Permaculture & rotational grazing systems

• Yards shared by children and animals

Not Ideal For

• Purely ornamental lawns

• Properties without grazing animals

• Continuous heavy grazing without rotation

• Deep shade locations

Establishment Timeline

• Initial Coverage: 2–3 weeks

• First Grazing: 8–10 weeks after seeding

• Fully Mature Stand: 12–18 months