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Fescue seed is germinating! When do I mow?

Posted on 9/24/20 at 9:19 am
Posted by CatfishJohn
Member since Jun 2020
13337 posts
Posted on 9/24/20 at 9:19 am
In Middle TN and I scalped my front lawn, treated it with herbicide and then with some soil additives to get the numbers right, and then waited a few weeks to sow some fescue seed.

It's germinating really well right now, but I was curious when I mow it. Obviously not right away, do I wait until it gets a certain length? Wait a few weeks post-first germination?

ETA:

I've read anywhere from 3.5 to 5 inches before mowing. So I'm trying to get some first hand experiences from this board to guide me

This post was edited on 9/24/20 at 9:22 am
Posted by AFtigerFan
Ohio
Member since Feb 2008
3247 posts
Posted on 9/24/20 at 11:18 am to
What is the exact type of seed you used? Each type may different requirements. For me, I used Trophy XRE. The product page for Trophy XRE says germination in 7-10 days and first mowing in 21-30 days.
Posted by CatfishJohn
Member since Jun 2020
13337 posts
Posted on 9/24/20 at 11:43 am to
I combined two seed brands (mostly Fescue). I've got very dense shade on my front lawn so I needed something built for that. They all say different lengths to mow!

I think I'm just going to wait until it's really long, like 5+", and then mow the highest setting. Really need the root system to take hold.

Scott's Dense Shade Mix:
30% Endeavor II Tall Fescue
30% Faith Tall Fescue
30% Gazelle II Tall Fescue
10% Wendy Jean Creeping Red Fescue

Jonathan Green Black Beauty Dense Shade Mix:
30% Dakota Tall Fescue
25% Carmen Chewings Fescue
15% Eugene Creeping Red Fescue
10% Frontier Perennial Ryegrass
10% Stanton Perennial Ryegrass
10% Deepblue Kentucky Bluegrass

I mixed it up because I really wanted to throw the kitchen sink at it to make sure SOMETHING stuck

The Scott's bag was 3/4ths of the mix so that is mostly what is out there. It's looking pretty fricking gorgeous right now with the deep, dark greens. I'll probably overseed in the Spring again with just the Scott's since the ryegrass won't survive in the Jonathan Green's bag.

So if you weight the percentages by the bag size, it looks like this:

23% Endeavor II Tall Fescue
23% Faith Tall Fescue
23% Gazelle II Tall Fescue
8% Wendy Jean Creeping Red Fescue
8% Dakota Tall Fescue
6% Carmen Chewings Fescue
4% Eugene Creeping Red Fescue
3% Frontier Perennial Ryegrass
3% Stanton Perennial Ryegrass
3% Deepblue Kentucky Bluegrass

This post was edited on 9/24/20 at 11:50 am
Posted by notsince98
KC, MO
Member since Oct 2012
17954 posts
Posted on 9/24/20 at 1:40 pm to
mow at 2" for several cuts.
Posted by AFtigerFan
Ohio
Member since Feb 2008
3247 posts
Posted on 9/24/20 at 3:50 pm to
I thought the general consensus was wait at least 3 to 4 weeks before cutting TTTF, and cut at 3” for the first few cuts.
Posted by CatfishJohn
Member since Jun 2020
13337 posts
Posted on 9/24/20 at 4:18 pm to
quote:

I thought the general consensus was wait at least 3 to 4 weeks before cutting TTTF, and cut at 3” for the first few cuts.



Yeah I'm going highest setting on motor and waiting until the shortest blades I find are 4" or taller.

I did more research after posting this thread and it basically says waiting too long isn't really a big risk unless you just don't cut it at all for months and months.

Posted by tigeroarz1
Winston-Salem, NC
Member since Oct 2013
3363 posts
Posted on 9/24/20 at 7:25 pm to
Don’t cut below 4”. When it’s mature stay at 3”.
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