Greenfields Turf, Inc.

Specialized sod and lawn growers in the Salinas Valley

Ridgeside Fine Fescue is a unique blend of 3 fine fescue mixes of Creeping Red, Chewings, and Hard Fescue giving that fine texture look that has a deep green year around color that can be mowed or left unmowed giving that tall slender grassy looking meadow effect. It is ideal for areas that are difficult to mow, or used on hillsides for erosion control, or areas that you want to leave it unmowed letting it grow tall (12” to 18”) giving it that grassy meadow look.

SEED SPECIFICATIONS:

  • Fine leafed turf grass with an almost needle like blades
  • Naturally left un-mowed grows to 12 to 14 inches tall
  • Has good shade resistance
  • Excellent for: Erosion control on hillsides giving a meadow-like look and Biofiltration systems

SEED RATES:

  • New Lawn:
    4 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.
  • Overseed-Maintenance:
    1 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.
  • Overseed / Large Bare Spots:
    2 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.

PERFORMANCE CHART:

Drought Tolerance:

80%

Winter Color:

90%

Heat Tolerance:

70%

Moderate Wear Recovery:

40%

Disease Resistance:

60%

Shade Tolerance:

90%

How to Seed your New Lawn

Preparing your soil properly is a very important step in establishing a drought-tolerant and healthy Lawn.

  • Clear all weeds and debris from lawn area (Use a weed killer to properly kill all existing weeds in new lawn area).
  • Rototill soil as deep as possible 6” to 8” deep.
  • Add a 2-inch layer of soil amendments over the top of your soil such as ground fir bark, mulch and Gypsum. Then rototill it back into the soil as deep as you can (4 to 6 inches). It is a good idea to contact your local Nursery or Landscape Supplier for amendment recommendations in your area.
  • Install irrigation system and be sure to soak all sprinkler pipe trenches to settle the soil in trench for proper leveling. Then check sprinklers for even water coverage on lawn areas. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Proper sprinkler coverage will keep you lawn healthy and alive.
  • Re-level and grade entire area for low spots for your final grade.
  • Apply a good Pre-Plant Fertilizer or Starter fertilizer that is low in Nitrogen and high in Phosphorous and Potassium 4-10-10 or 6-20-20. Be sure to read the label for application rates. (Do not use more than recommended)
  • Spread the seed evenly by using a hand-held spreader or a lawn rotary fertilizer spreader (Only apply recommended rate for new lawn).
  • Cover the seed with a thin layer of compost or peat moss (1/8 inch thick).
  • Roll the entire area with a water-weighted lawn roller about a third full to ensure seed is in contact with the soil. The seed will not germinate if it is not in contact with the soil.
  • After seeding your lawn, the seed will need moisture to germinate. Keep the soil moist (but not overly wet) by lightly sprinkling three to four times a day until grass begins to show (7 to 10) days. Once the seed germinates and the young grass is visible you can begin to cut back the amount of water.
  • You can begin to mow your new lawn when the grass blades are 3” to 4” tall after about 4 weeks.
  • After your lawn is about 6 weeks old or after its first mowing you can fertilize it with a good balanced fertilizer.
  • Once established begin to water less frequently during the week, but increase the length of each watering. This will force the roots to go down deeper into the soil for a stronger and healthier root system.

How to Over-seed Your Lawn

To keep your lawn looking healthy and beautiful over-seed every year. Fall is the best time to over seed your lawn or about 6 weeks before winter hits, when the air temperatures are still between 60 to 85 degrees for good seed germination (Sept./early Oct.). Avoid planting seed during the heat of the summer or in late Fall, when freezes can occur.

Overseeding your lawn in the fall reduces or eliminates competition from summer weedy grasses, such as crabgrass, foxtails, and other weeds.

Methods Used for Overseeding:

  • Mow grass as short as possible, at least to 1 inch removing all clippings.
  • Remove debris and dead grass.
  • Good time to “AERATE” aerate lawn for best results (Optional).
  • Apply seed with a hand-held spreader or a lawn rotary fertilizer spreader at the recommended rate over the entire lawn.
  • Fertilize your lawn with a starter or pre-plant fertilizer.
  • Water often – keep grass seed bed moist to enhance germination.
  • Water lightly and frequently (At least three times daily).
  • Water until new grass is 2 inches high.

Over-seeding and Repairing Large Bare Spots
Methods Used:

  • Mow grass as short as possible, at least to 1 inch removing all clippings.
  • Remove debris and dead grass.
  • Loosen top ¼ inch of soil in bare spots.
  • Level larger bare areas with garden rake.
  • Use a lawn roller to smooth soil and level area.
  • Good time to “AERATE” your lawn for best results (optional).
  • Apply seed with a hand-held spreader or a lawn rotary fertilizer spreader at the recommended rate over the entire lawn.
  • Fertilize your lawn with a starter or pre-plant fertilizer.
  • Lightly cover any bare areas with a compost or mulch. This well help keep the seed moist longer between waterings.
  • Water often – keep grass seed bed moist to enhance germination.
  • Water lightly and frequently (At least three daily).
  • Water until new grass is 2 inches high.

Why “AERATING” helps your Lawn

When you Aerate your lawn you are poking small holes into the soil (5/8” in dia. by 3” long) to allow air, water, and nutrients penetrate to the roots. This helps the roots grow deeply and produce a stronger, more vigorous lawn.

Aerating your lawn should be done in the Fall or Spring at least once a year.
Benefits include:

  • Improves turf health by providing oxygen and nutrients to the soil.
  • Reduces thatch build-up.
  • Breaks up compacted soil.
  • Allows for fertilizer and water to work deeper into the soil.
  • Encourages deeper root growth for increase intake of water and fertilizer.
  • Helps your overseeding operation for better seed to soil contact.

Simple, regular maintenance tasks go a long way in creating a thicker, healthier lawn. Almost any lawn can benefit from aeration when it’s timed well and done properly.