1989 Tall Fescue Variety Trial

Abstract

Tall fescue is a very heat and drought tolerant, cool season turf, which can remain green throughout the year in the arid Southwest. Data are lacking on the performance of tall fescue varieties in this location. Sixty-five tall fescue entries were established in November 1987 and their performance as a home-lawn turf rated for quality, color, density, percent ground cover, pest incidence and water use. All varieties performed very well during the first seven months of 1989, but a decline in August quality was observed during summer monsoons mainly due to the incidence of large brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani L.) and record-setting high temperatures. Turf still showed signs of stress by mid-September. Turfgrass irrigation water use from 1 January to 23 September totalled 43.3 inches (1100.5 mm) and averaged 63 % of predicted evapotranspiration.