Meadow fescue: plant description, what characteristics and application look like, planting

Meadow fescue is a perennial herbaceous crop that belongs to the Cereal family. This plant is used as animal feed and for lawn decoration. The grass grows quickly, is easy to care for and is characterized by resistance to external factors. Therefore, when using a plant as a lawn, it will retain its attractiveness for decades.

Description of the plant

Visually, this herbaceous plant differs from other members of the Cereal family. Therefore, it can be easily distinguished from the background of other cultures.

Appearance

The plant is characterized by strong, slightly leafy, straight shoots and thick turf. Fescue has well-developed fibrous roots. Their individual processes penetrate to a depth of 50 centimeters. In this case, the bulk of the roots is in the upper layer of soil 20 centimeters from the surface. The culture has flat, narrow-linear leaves 20-25 centimeters in size. At the same time, their width does not exceed 3-5 millimeters.

Fescue has a loose bush type of tillering. This means that the development of new shoots occurs under the soil surface. In the upper soil layer there are short internodes. After reaching the surface, they form foliage and shoots. At the same time, lateral stems appear near the base of the tillering zone. Thanks to this, the bush itself also grows.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionMeadow fescue is characterized by compressed inflorescences in the form of panicles. Only by the end of June they become sprawling. Spikelets are linear-oblong in shape and contain 3-10 flowers. They reach a length of 15 millimeters and have a green or light purple color. The lower color scales are bare, while the upper ones are sharp.

Seeds are large and green-gray in color. In length, they reach 4-8 millimeters, and in width - 0.9-1.8. Their thickness varies from 0.6 to 1.2 mm. During long growth, dead fragments of shoots, foliage and stems accumulate in the central part of the bush. In order for the turf to retain its decorative properties, it needs to be combed out from time to time.

Growth area

Under natural conditions meadow fescue grows in Asia Minor and Europe. The culture is found in the forest-steppe and the central part of the floodplain. The plant is grown in Central Asia and the Caucasus. It is also found in Siberia and European Russia.

Culture develops well in fertile soil, which contains a lot of organic fertilizers. It grows in open areas and in slightly shaded areas.

Blossom time

Grass flowering begins in the second year after planting. When grown in open areas, this occurs in mid-June, and in slightly shaded areas - at the end of the month. The grass blooms massively in the morning - at 5-8 o'clock. This period lasts 6-8 days.

Application

Meadow fescue is mainly used as a lawn grass and fodder crop. There are also universal varieties that are suitable for both cases. The perennial has a high fodder value. It represents the best crop that is suitable for pasture and hay mixes.

As a lawn

This plant has tough and bushy shoots. Therefore, it is not used for suburban or park lawns. Culture is usually used for these types of plantations:

• universal;
• construction;
• sporty;
• road.

In most cases, the culture is not used alone, but in combination with other lawn plants. Most often, meadow fescue is combined with ryegrass, white clover and bluegrass.

If the lawn is planned to be used for outdoor activities, it is worth planting a mixture of herbs on it. At the same time, the amount of fescue should be small.

In landscape design

In most cases, lawns are decorated with fescue. Sometimes this grass is combined with other crops and used for borders and zoning of personal plots. Perennial grass is not very resistant to trampling, so it should be planted in places where no one walks.

Popular varieties

Breeders managed to develop a large number of varieties of this plant. The most popular are:

1. Barayka is a Dutch variety that is grown in the central region. It was entered into the State Register in 2015. In the first season, the culture is semi-erect bushes 70-80 centimeters high. The flowering of this plant falls on the second decade of June. It is possible to collect 27.2 centners of grass from 1 hectare.
2. Barvital - this variety of Dutch selection was included in the State Register in 2017 and is a medium-early species. This plant forms semi-creeping bushes 70-80 centimeters high. It is possible to collect 34.1 centners of grass from 1 hectare.
3. Vera - this Russian variety is recommended to be grown in Western Siberia. It entered the State Register in 2015. Bushes are semi-erect intermediate. In height, they reach 80-90 centimeters. The plant has green leaves of medium width. There is a lot of protein in the dry matter of greens.
4. Dedinovskaya 8 - this plant is actively grown in the central regions and in the northwest. The culture is characterized by high resistance to drought and frost. It was included in the State Register back in 1966.
5. Penzenskaya 1 is a winter variety of a crop that forms a loose upright bush. This variety is characterized by strong branching. At the same time, its shoots grow on average up to 60 centimeters. The culture belongs to the early varieties. In this case, the first mowing can be carried out after 30-35 days from the start of spring growth. Fescue of this variety should be grown in the central regions and in the north.

Advantages and disadvantages

Meadow fescue contains many valuable components, which makes it possible to make high-quality feed from it. It contains a lot of fiber and protein. An important advantage of the culture is considered to be a quick recovery after mowing.

Other plant benefits include the following:

1. Active growth in the first year after planting. Therefore, the culture evenly covers the area, forming a dense lawn.
2. Resistant to frost. At the same time, it is important to take into account that the plant hardly tolerates temperature fluctuations.
3. High drought tolerance. Perennial grows well in lighted areas. At the same time, he easily tolerates a long absence of watering.
4. Quick germination. The first shoots appear after a few days. It takes 3-4 weeks to form a full coverage.
5. High decorative properties. The meadow fescue lawn does not lose its visual characteristics during the entire growth period - more than 15 years.
6. Resistant to short-term flooding by meltwater. It is important to bear in mind that fescue can die under the ice crust.
7. Unpretentiousness to the composition of the soil. The culture develops well even in poor soil.

At the same time, culture has a number of disadvantages. The main disadvantages include the following:

• poor tolerance for trampling;
• needing multiple haircuts throughout the season;
• the need for timely mowing - otherwise bumps and bald spots appear on the surface.

Landing

Culture grows well in loamy soil, which is characterized by neutral acidity parameters. Before planting, the site is recommended to be cleared of the remains of plants and stones. In case of severe weed contamination, a month before planting, it is worth treating the beds with herbicides.

After the waiting period is over, the site should be dug to a depth of 30 centimeters. Then, with a special roller, it is worth leveling the surface of the soil. This will help eliminate voids and bumps.

If necessary, it is recommended to normalize the pH parameters. In this case, lime should be added to acidic soil, and peat chips to alkaline soil. Also, the soil should be fed. For this, it is worth using compost, biohumus, rotted manure.

If the soil is poor or depleted, it is worth replacing its top layer with a fertile substrate. It is also permissible to use special earth for lawns. It must contain sand, peat and mineral ingredients.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionBefore planting, the soil should be loosened with a fan rake by 1-2 centimeters. After that, the seeds must be distributed over the site. At the end of the landing, you need to go through the skating rink again. In this case, the seeds must be pressed into the ground.

After planting for 2-3 weeks, it is important to keep the beds moist. When planting in early spring, the site can not be additionally watered, since the soil is already sufficiently filled with moisture. When moistening plantings, it is important to avoid overflows and the formation of a crust on the surface.

When is the best time to sow

Planting work is recommended in early spring. This should be done in early or mid-April. However, it is important that the soil warms up to a depth of 5 centimeters and acquires sufficient looseness.

When the fescue rises

It takes 10 days to germinate. At the same time, friendly sprouts break through after 2 weeks. It is important to bear in mind that with sharp temperature fluctuations that are possible in the spring, this period may increase by several days.

Care

Meadow fescue is considered an undemanding crop. Therefore, it is quite easy to care for the grass. In early spring, be sure to inspect the lawn. If there are irregularities filled with melt water, it is recommended to remove them.

Watering fescue is recommended as needed. It is important to avoid waterlogging and stagnant moisture. This causes the plants to rot.

The first fertilizer is recommended to be applied in April. In this case, you can use a combined mineral preparation for the lawn. It should include potassium and phosphorus, but the main component is nitrogen. This substance ensures the active growth of greenery.

Subsequently, top dressing can be applied 1-2 more times during the season. At the end, the nitrogen dosage needs to be reduced. In this case, emphasis should be placed on potassium and phosphorus.

It is recommended to verticulate the lawn in May. For the first time, this procedure must be performed 3 years after planting. At the same time, you need to get rid of dry and rotten leaves. Subsequently, the lawn must be mowed.

Verticulation is also recommended at the end of summer and autumn. The last time the procedure should be carried out at the stage of preparation for winter. This affects the decorative properties and he alth of the crop next spring.

Mow the lawn several times during the season. After May treatment, pruning should be repeated in June. In this case, it is necessary to align the boundaries of the coverage.

Meadow fescue is a sought-after ornamental plant that is often used to decorate lawns. It is also used as animal feed. In order for the plant to develop normally, it is important to carry out planting work correctly and provide it with quality care.

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