Chewing Fescue vs Creeping Red Fescue: Best lawn grass

To create a vibrant and beautiful appealing lawn it is essential to choose the right grass types to get the required results. There are many grass types available that can create a beautiful lawn. Chewing Fescue and Creeping Red Fescue are two popular grasses that most homeowners choose.

So, here in this article, we will do an in-depth comparison between Chewing Fescue vs Creeping Red Fescue including its features, benefits, climate condition and maintenance, etc. So you can choose the right grass for your lawn from these two best grasses.

Chewing Fescue vs Creeping Red Fescue: Quick Comparision

Features	Chewing Fescue	Creeping Red Fescue
Growth Habit	Clumping Growth	Creeping Growth
Appearance	Fine Blades	Fine, Narrow Leaves
Shade Tolerance	Moderate	Excellent
Climate Suitability	Cool and Temperate Climates	Cooler Regions, Maritime Climates
Traffic Tolerance	Moderate	Low
Drought Resistance	Excellent	Good
Soil Adaptability	Adapts to Various Soils	Prefers Well-Drained Soils
Maintenance	Low Maintenance	Moderate Maintenance
Erosion Control	Not as Effective as Creeping Red Fescue	Effective Erosion Control
Aesthetic Appeal	Sophisticated Charm	Natural, Rustic Appeal

Also Read: Red Fescue vs Tall Fescue Choosing the right one

Chewing Fescue

Chewing fescue (Festuca rubra commutata) is a cool seasoned grass that is popular among homeowners for its fine texture and dense growth. Chewing fescue is a Europe native grass and it got its name from the old practices of chewing the grass to extract its sweet juices, giving a mildly sweet taste, though this is no longer common.

The Chewing Fescue is widely used in golf courses, fairways, parks, and lawns due to its benefits and features.

Features of Chewing Fescue

Appearance

Chewing fescue grasses gives a lush, green appearance, and its fine blades give a smooth and soft texture that adds elegance to any lawn. Also, chewing fescue has a clumping growth habit which helps it to maintain its form and prevent it from excessive spreading.

Adaptability

One of the best features of chewing fescue is its adaptability to various soil types. It can grow in loamy or sandy soils rather than this it can even tolerate moderately saline conditions, making it suitable for coastal regions.

Benefits of Chewing Fescue

Chewing fescue offers several benefits which makes it one of the best grass types for lawns and gardens.

• Drought Tolerance: The chewing fescue is a good resistant to the drought condition and it can even be green in the dry condition with limited water availability.
• Cold Tolerance: The chewing fescue can perform well in the cooler climate also and it can withstand mild frosts (when temperature goes below 0°).
• Low Maintenance: The chewing fescue has a slow growth rate and it does not need more fertilization which makes this grass almost maintenance-free.

Maintenance Requirements for Chewing Fescue

Watering

For healthy optimal growth chewing fescue needs consistent watering. Deep and infrequent watering is recommended for chewing fescue to encourage deep root growth which will help to take water from deep soil in a drought condition.

Fertilization

The chewing fescue growth can be improved with balanced fertilization in the spring and fall, but most commonly chewing fescue does not need much fertilization compared to other grass types.

Mowing

Maintain the chewing fescue at a height of 2-3 inches. The chewing fescue has a slower growth rate so it does not need regular mowing compared to the other grasses.

Also Read: Clumping Fescue vs Tall Fescue Understanding the difference

Best Chewing Fescue Grass seeds

Creeping Red Fescue

Creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra rubra) is also another cool season grass type. As the name suggests the creeping red fescue has creeping rhizomes which allow this grass to spread and create a dense, low-growing turf.

Normally the creeping red fescue is used for lawns, golf course roughs, and erosion control.

Features of Creeping Red Fescue

Appearance

Creeping red fescue has fine, narrow leaves that provide a soft texture. And its deep green color gives a natural charm and beauty to the landscape.

Shade Tolerance

One of the best features of the creeping red fescue is its exceptional shade tolerance. It can even thrive in an area with limited sunlight which makes it suitable grass for the landscape with many trees, buildings, etc where limited sunlight can reach.

Benefits of Creeping Red Fescue

• Shade Adaptation: The creeping fescue can grow in an area with limited sunlight where other grasses may suffer to grow.
• Erosion Control: The spreading growth habit of the creeping red fescue helps in preventing soil erosion on slopes and banks.

Also Read: Kentucky Bluegrass vs Fescue vs Ryegrass: best grass for Lawn

Maintenance Requirements for Creeping Red Fescue

Watering

Creping red fescue needs regular watering and moisture to be in its best condition, especially in the hot and dry season. Unlike the chewing fescue, the creeping red fescue needs regular watering to keep it in lush green condition.

Fertilization

Applying a slow-release, nitrogen-rich fertilizer in spring and fall will promote healthy growth and color. Make sure to take expert advice before using the fertilizer.

Mowing

Maintain creeping red fescue at a height of 1.5 to 2.5 inches to encourage dense growth and discourage weed invasion. Also, these grass types have a fast growth rate so regular mowing will be essential to keep them at a suitable height.

Best Creeping Red Fescue Grass Seeds

Chewing Fescue vs Creeping Red Fescue Choosing Guide

Here are some of the important factors which has to be compared while choosing the grass for your lawn in between Chewing Fescue and Creeping Red Fescue.

• Climate Suitability: The chewing fescue performs best in cool and temperate climates. Whereas the creeping red fescue thrives in the cooler regions and is best suited for maritime climates.
• Traffic Tolerance: The chewing escue can tolerate moderate foot traffic whereas the creeping red fescue is suitable for the area with little foot traffic.
• Drought Resistance: Now both chewing fescue and creeping red fescue can survive in the drought season but chewing fescue performs slightly better than creeping red fescue in drought conditions.
• Shade Tolerance: The creeping fescue can perform better even in a shade making it the best choice for a landscape with more shades whereas chewing fescue needs proper sunlight for optimal growth.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Chewing fescue’s fine texture and velvety appearance lend a sophisticated charm while creeping red fescue’s lush green color creates a natural, rustic appeal.

Which Grass is Best for Your Lawn?

Now both of these grass types have different features which make them suitable for specific lawn types. Now if you have a lawn with shady areas and you need grass that needs less maintenance then the creeping red fescue will be the best choice.

If you are looking for a grass with fine texture which can survive in drought conditions and with the ability to withstand moderate foot traffic then the chewing fescue will be a good choice.

Also Read: Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue vs Bluegrass a quick comparison

FAQs

Conclusion

Both chewing fescue and creeping red fescue are the best grasses for lawns but they have different features and benefits which make them suitable for specific lawn conditions. So, make sure to evaluate your lawn condition and pick the right grass types which are suitable for it. Regularly water and maintain the grasses to promote healthy growth.