Tall Fescue Seed Rate and Calculator
Tall fescue sits at the heavy end of the cool-season seeding chart used here. Enter an area to turn the 6 to 8 pound new-lawn band, or the 3 to 4 pound overseed, into a weight for your lawn.
Result: tall fescue seed
New lawn, 5,000 square feet. The cited band is 6 to 8 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
Rates are extension figures, restated here in our words.
How Much Tall Fescue Seed Per 1,000 Square Feet?
A new stand is listed at 6 to 8 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Virginia Cooperative Extension publication SPES-299 is the citation, and Penn State Extension and K-State Research and Extension list that same new-lawn band.
Overseeding an existing stand is about half of that new-lawn band: 3 to 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet, from K-State Research and Extension.
Purdue Extension AY-20 lists a mowing height of 3.0 to 4.0 inches for tall fescue, and germination in 14 to 21 days. That germination span is the shorter of the two cool-season spans on the same sheet.
| Project | lb per 1,000 sq ft | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New lawn | 6 to 8 | Extension rate, named in the paragraph above |
| Overseeding | 3 to 4 | K-State Research and Extension |
Tall Fescue Seed Needed by Lawn Size
Built from the rate table above: lawn size divided by 1,000, times the rate. Acre rows use 43,560 square feet per acre.
| Lawn size | New lawn | Overseed |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 6 to 8 | 3 to 4 |
| 5,000 sq ft | 30 to 40 | 15 to 20 |
| 10,000 sq ft | 60 to 80 | 30 to 40 |
| 20,000 sq ft | 120 to 160 | 60 to 80 |
| 0.25 acre | 65.3 to 87.1 | 32.7 to 43.6 |
| 0.5 acre | 130.7 to 174.2 | 65.3 to 87.1 |
| 1 acre | 261.4 to 348.5 | 130.7 to 174.2 |
Tall Fescue Mowing Height and Germination Time
Mowing height is included only because Purdue Extension AY-20 lists it for this grass. Germination is included only when that sheet lists it.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Mowing height | 3 to 4 inches |
| Germination time | 14 to 21 days |
Tall Fescue Compared With Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass
Against Kentucky bluegrass, the new-lawn band sits higher and the mowing band starts higher. Against perennial ryegrass, the new-lawn band also sits higher, while ryegrass germination days are not verified on this site.
| Item | Tall FescueFescue | Kentucky BluegrassBluegrass | Perennial RyegrassRyegrass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Cool | Cool | Cool |
| New-lawn rate, lb per 1,000 sq ft | 6 to 8 | 2 to 3 | 4 to 5 |
| Mowing height | 3 to 4 in | 2.5 to 3.5 in | 2.5 to 3.5 in |
Common Tall Fescue Seeding Mistakes
- Using the Kentucky bluegrass band. Tall fescue's new-lawn rate is the higher one.
- Mowing it at the shorter bluegrass and ryegrass band. The Purdue row for tall fescue starts at 3.0 inches.
- Treating the overseed as unverified. For this grass it is cited, at 3 to 4 pounds.
Related Lawn Calculators
Tall Fescue Seed Rate and Calculator FAQ
How many pounds of tall fescue seed does 1,000 square feet of new lawn take?
6 to 8 pounds. Seeding rate: Virginia Cooperative Extension (SPES-299); also Penn State Extension and K-State Research and Extension.
What overseeding rate is listed for tall fescue?
3 to 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Overseeding: K-State Research and Extension.
What mowing height and germination time does Purdue list for tall fescue?
Mowing height 3.0 to 4.0 inches, and germination in 14 to 21 days. Mowing height and germination: Purdue Extension AY-20.