Fescue

Many folks become fixated on the lack of deep green color in their fescue turf this time of year. If you are just waiting for the switch to turn on and the fescue to become instantly green you are missing the point. Without consistent and adequate rainfall the fertilizer will not move into the soil. Once the fertilizer does move into the soil the plant can begin uptake. During cold weather and short winter days, though there is nutrient uptake, the nitrogen in the fertilizer is not utilized as efficiently by photosynthesis.  Remember, fescue is a cool season turf not a cold loving turf.  Thus, you usually will not see the deep green color until day length increases and we get consistently warmer weather and consistently warmer soil temperatures to go along with your consistent rainfall or irrigation to continue to move the fertilizer into the root zone. The simple fact that fertilizer was applied to the soil is only one small part of the system. In all cases patience is the watch word for turf green up, whether it be fescue or warm season turf.  In some years, conditions support early green up while most years we simply have to wait until conditions warrant growth and development.