Sheep Fescue 'Covar' for Turf

Festuca ovina

Bridger Plant Material Center (Bridger MT) finds Covar better than other fine leaf fescues for drought tolerant turf. Sow 400 seeds per square foot. Mow only one or two times per year, whereas a crested wheatgrass lawn requires mowing every few weeks. Sheep fescue is slow growing, taking all summer to fill in, but is low maintenance once established, demanding very little in water, mowing or fertilizer. Prepare soil well, as for any turf, broadcast 0.6 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet. Make two passes as you sow the seed, the second pass perpendicular to the first, then press seed firmly into the seed bed with a lawn roller partially filled with water. Since Covar is a bunch grass, any holes will not fill in, but need to be reseeded.