The performance of fine-leaved Festuca spp. in close-mown turf

Forty-nine Festuca cultivars were assessed, representing F. rubra subsp. commutata [F. nigrescens] (Chewings fescue), F. rubra subsp. litoralis (slender creeping red fescue), F. rubra subsp. rubra (strong creeping red fescue), F. longifolia (hard fescue) and F. tenuifolia [F. filiformis] (fine-leaved sheep's fescue). Data are presented on shoot number/m2, leaf width, green leaf number/shoot, shoot fresh and dry mass, depth of thatch, general merit scores and mean order of preference. As a group, there was little difference between Chewings fescue and slender creeping red fescue, but both types were finer leaved and maintained larger shoot densities than the other types studied. Some of the recently bred strong creeping red fescues were comparable with the older, but well established, cultivars of Chewings fescue.