What is native fescue grass? The molate fescue native grass we’re referring to in this article refers to the native fescue grass in California, the United States. The native fescue grass is one of the densest grass that can grow almost anywhere, dry or wet.
Another characteristic of the molate fescue native grass is that the grass can sustain drought. These grasses, commonly known as the Californian red tuft grasses, can even survive at sea levels.
When the grasses fill in soils on earth (or non-sea surfaces), they can be decent forages for horses, cows, and other farm animals.
What specifications on the Red fescue native grasses should we know?
At some points, we refer to the native fescue grass or the molate fescue native grass as the Red fescue native grass. The Red fescue native grass also has the scientific name Festuca Rubra ssp. Rubra.
The scientific name is one of the specification characteristics of the Red fescue native grasses in this article.
Another characteristic would be the color: The molate fescue native grass’ colors are always green, even though they have the Red fescue native grass as their alternative names. The “red” elements refer to their stems’ bases.
The grass’ growth cycle is perennial. In particular, spring is the best time to witness these native grass’ growth since the season nourishes its growth the most.
In terms of the combination, these grasses are usually compatible with turfgrass seed mixes to improve the tolerated amounts of shadows.
How do the molate fescue native grasses different from the Western Mokelumne fescue grasses?
Both types of grass have perennial instead of annual characteristics, which make both the Western Mokelumne fescue grasses and the Red Californian fescue grasses regrow every spring.
Since both of the plants belong to the grasses families, both may have identical looks.
However, the molate fescue native grass and the Western Mokelumne fescue grass species differ.
First, the Western Mokelumne fescue grasses’ capacity in achieving proper stands is 350,000 seeds per pound, which is lower than their Red fescue counterparts with 546,000 seeds per pound capacity.
Then, the Western fescues’ 36-inch average heights are also taller than their molate fescue counterparts with 24-inch average heights.
The Western Mokelumne fescue grasses also have a slightly higher seeding rate of 15 when compared with the molate counterparts’ 10-seeding rates.
What are the organic fescue seed mixes that are ideal for growing grasses?
When we see online shops and supermarkets selling organic fescue seed mixes, we should look at whether the organic fescue seed mixes can support the molate fescue native grass growth.
These things usually include the same name as the grass variants.
The organic fescue seed mixes compatible with the molate fescue native grass usually can control erosion and are great for turfgrasses.
These mixes usually need 10-20 pounds per acre to cover the crops or around four times more to apply for landscaping purposes.
Furthermore, we can say the organic fescue seed mixes are effective if we can combine these seed mixes with other fescues.
The heat and drought-tolerant sheep fescues usually become the choices in strengthening the drought-resistant Red fescue native grasses’ characteristics.
How do we use a cover crop to replace grass?
Some grasses have persistent (and sometimes abnormal) growth and are sometimes aggressive. However, things would be different if we used a cover crop to replace grass.
After all, cover crops tend to have less aggressive characteristics than everyday grasses.
We need to completely remove the grasses when we wish to use a cover crop to replace grass. Only by doing so can we begin to spread the seed mixes according to the best grass growth seasons.
For the molate fescue native grass, we can spread the seed mixes around the Spring seasons.
The ways we mow the grasses also can be a part of the guide to cover crops to replace grass. We need to mow around 8-10 inches yearly until the seeds’ heads appear millimeters from the soil.
Where do we see the applications of the California native lawn?
When we correctly use the molate fescue native grass, we can dedicate some spaces to the California native lawn. Green spaces for many purposes are some of the most evident examples of the California native lawn.
Many green areas in the California native lawn belong to the “no-mow” grasses.
When we use the Red fescue grasses or other native Californian grasses in these green areas, we should combine them with Californian’s unique flowers, so the spaces won’t look so dull.
Many times, the molate fescue grasses are also great for synthetic turfs. We often find these turfs in athletic fields and golf courses.
In particular, the molate fescue’s appearances that are unique to other grasses add to the challenges for the golf players on the golf courses.