SPECIES CHARACTER
Description
This tall, coarse grass has short creeping rootstocks and grows in heavy clumps
with erect stems 2-5 feet (0.6-1.5 meters) tall. It often forms dense solid
stands. Leaves are 4-5 inches (10.1-12.7 cm) long, smooth on the undersurface
and usually rough above. The erect panicles are usually 2-10 inches (5-25 cm)
long and often nodding at top. The panicles are somewhat narrow and contracted
to slightly spreading. Flowers occur in flat, oval spikelets that are 0.3-0.5
inches (8-12 mm) long. Usually, 6-12 individual flowers occur in each spikelet.
Grasses, in general, are fairly difficult to identify, and fescue should be
accurately identified before attempting any control measures. If identification
of the species is in doubt, the plant's identity should be confirmed by a
knowledgeable individual and/or by consulting appropriate books.
Distribution
Fescue has been spread widely by cultivation throughout most of the U.S. and
southern Canada. It now occurs throughout Illinois, but is particularly common
in southern counties where there is much pasture land.
Habitat
This grass occurs in a variety of disturbed habitats including pastures,
abandoned fields, roadsides, grazed woods, and along railroad tracks. It can
tolerate a wide range of moisture conditions and is common along some levees
where it is often planted, and stream banks. Where it occurs in natural
communities, it has often been spread by horses and cattle through manure.
Life History
This hardy perennial was introduced from Europe and is commonly sown for pasture
and hay. It does well on poor acid soils and often is found where there is
little competition from other species. Fescue grows best in open sunlight and
spreads primarily by seed to form dense solid stands. The heavy clumps have
thick mats of roots that make it almost impossible to pull the plant out of the
ground. Fescue emerges early in spring and often forms new growth in fall after
the seed matures in July and August. In southern Illinois, the leaves usually
stay green all winter. This grass is slow to become established, but once the
heavy clumps are formed, it is difficult to eradicate. As the density of fescue
increases at a site, species diversity
decreases, partly due to allelopathic substances. It can withstand trampling and
heavy grazing by livestock.
Effects Upon Natural Areas
Fescue occasionally invades open natural communities, such as prairies and
glades. In a few places, it is changing the species composition and possibly is
crowding out native species. This alien species has the potential to become a
significant problem because of its adaptability to poor sites, allelopathic
character, and difficulty of eradication.
CONTROL RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES IN NATURAL COMMUNITIES OF HIGH QUALITY
Initial effort in areas of heavy infestation
Dense stands should be burned in late spring. It may be necessary to burn 2 or 3
years in succession to get old fescue stands under control. If repeated late
spring burning does not control fescue adequately, it should be sprayed with a
1-2% Roundup (a formulation of glyphosphate) solution in early spring or late
autumn when fescue is green but native species are still dormant. Application
should be done with a hand-held sprayer or wick/wiper applicator. Extreme care
should be used while spraying to avoid contacting nontarget plants with the
spray, because Roundup is a nonselective herbicide. Do not spray so heavily
that herbicide drips off the target species. Roundup should be applied
while backing away from the treated area to avoid walking through the wet
herbicide. By law, herbicides may only be applied as per label directions and
by licensed herbicide applicators or operators when working on public properties.
Effort in areas of light infestation
Late spring prescribed burning should help eliminate young plants. Repeated
burning for 2-4 years may be needed to achieve good control. Spot applications
of 1-2% Roundup applied with a hand-held sprayer or wick applicator in early
spring or late fall may help if prescribed burning is insufficient. Spot
applications of Fusilade 2000 (according to label instructions) may be effective
following a burn. Fusilade 2000 selectively kills grasses and does not kill
broadleaf plants. Do not spray so heavily that herbicide drips off the target
species. A few isolated clumps may be dug up by hand.
Maintenance control
Surrounding seed sources must be eliminated where possible to prevent seed from
continually moving into the natural area. Livestock should be kept out of the
area, because seeds are spread in manure. Seedlings and young plants that
invade should be eliminated by hand digging or spot applications of either 1-2%
Roundup or Fusilade 2000, according to label instructions the first year.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES ON BUFFER AND SEVERELY DISTURBED SITES
Initial effort in areas of heavy infestation
The site should be burned in late spring and can then be sprayed with 1-2%
Roundup the following autumn. It may be necessary to burn and spray 2 or 3
years in succession.
Effort in areas of light infestation
Late spring prescribed burning helps eliminate young plants and is a preferred
treatment. A few isolated clumps may be dug up by hand. Spot applications of
1-2% Roundup in early spring or late fall are effective. Spot applications of
Fusilade 2000 may work best following a burn.
Maintenance control
Same control practices recommended as for high quality natural communities.
FAILED OR INEFFECTIVE PRACTICES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Dr. Robert M. Mohlenbrock and the Southern Illinois University Press generously permitted use of illustrations from their Illustrated Flora of Illinois.
REFERENCES
Fernald, M. L. 1950. Gray's manual of botany, eighth edition. American Book Co., New York. 1632 pp. Gleason, H. A. 1952. The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. Vol. 1. The New York Botanical Garden, New York. 590 pp.
Mohlenbrock, R. H., and J. W. Voigt. 1959. A flora of southern Illinois. Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale. 390 pp.
Schwegman, J. E. 1988. Exotic invaders. Outdoor Highlights, vol. 16, no. 6, pp 6-11.
PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS
Abrell, Brian. 1988. Division of Nature Preserves, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Bender, J. 1988. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, Kentucky.
Crews, W. 1988. Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Marion, Illinois.
Kurz, Don. 1988. Natural History Section, Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
McFall, Don. 1988. Division of Natural Heritage, Illinois Department of Conservation, Springfield, Illinois.
Nyboer, Randy. 1988. Division of Natural Heritage, Illinois Department of Conservation, Springfield, Illinois.
Olson, Steve. 1988. Division of Nature Preserves, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Tell City, Indiana.
Packard, Steve. 1989. The Nature Conservancy, Chicago, Illinois.
Schwegman, John. 1988. Division of Natural Heritage, Illinois Department of Conservation, Springfield, Illinois.
Stritch, Larry. 1988. Shawnee National Forest, United States Forest Service, Harrisburg, Illinois.
Written for the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission by:
Max Hutchison
Natural Land Institute
R.R. 1
Belknap, Illinois 62908