ABSTRACT
Tall fescue is a wind-pollinated, highly self-infertile polyploid perennial cool-season forage and turfgrass. Although relatively easy to establish, tall fescue is slow to establish from seed, due to low seedling vigor, compared to that of orchardgrass and ryegrass. Thus, seeding with companion crops such as small grains, legumes, or other grasses may suppress tall fescue seedling and stand development. Excellent turf characteristics make tall fescue particularly valuable for industrial parks, lawns, athletic fields, revegetation of roadsides and disturbed areas, and other recreational or conservation purposes. Tall fescue is well adapted to the U. S. transition zone and is the predominant cool-season pasture species of this vast region. The geographic location of the transition zone, concomitant with its climatic and edaphic factors, is ideal for both tall fescue and animal production. The adaptation and distribution of tall fescue are influenced by climatic, edaphic and geographic factors.
