Blue Fescue Is the Low-Maintenance Grass Your Garden Needs—Here's How to Grow It

Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) is a beautiful ornamental grass known for its striking silvery-blue foliage. Because of its compact growth and drought-tolerant and low-maintenance nature, blue fescue is a practical addition to desert or rock gardens and landscapes. It is typically grown as decorative edging or borders in larger gardens, adding texture and height. To learn how to grow and care for blue fescue, we spoke with gardening experts who shared their advice for maintaining this beautiful and functional ground cover.

How to Plant Blue Fescue

Planting blue fescue is easy, even for beginner gardeners. Follow these simple steps to help establish blue fescue in your garden or yard.

1. Choose a sunny spot: Select a well-draining area of your garden with full sun exposure, says Melvin Cubian, a plant expert from PlantIn. 
2. Dig a hole: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball. Cubian recommends sprinkling compost in the bottom of the hole to encourage good root formation.
3. Loosen the roots: Gently loosen the roots from the root ball and place the plant in the hole so the crown sits level with the soil surface. Space each plant about 10 to 12 inches apart. 
4. Backfill the hole and water: Backfill the hole with garden soil, press down gently, and water deeply.

How to Care for Blue Fescue 

Blue fescue is a low-maintenance plant that can withstand various growing conditions. To ensure this grass thrives in your garden, its sun, soil, water, fertilizer, and temperature needs must be met.

Soil

Blue fescue thrives in well-draining soil. "If your garden is compact, you may add sand or organic matter and mix it well with the topsoil before planting your blue fescue," says Cubian. This will help the soil’s ability to drain water.

Sunlight

Like most desert plants, blue fescue is a perennial that thrives best under full sun. Plant it in an area that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily for best results.

Water

Blue fescue prefers low to moderate moisture and can survive periods of drought. "Overwatering is one of its few dislikes—this grass prefers dry feet and is even tolerant of sandy or rocky soil," says Cubian.

Fertilizer

Supplemental fertilizers are unnecessary but can be added to optimize plant health. Experts recommend adding a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring.

Temperature and Humidity

Blue fescue is a cool-season grass, meaning it prefers mild climates. As a perennial, blue fescue should be grown in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 7. “It may struggle in high humidity, where it may decline and catch fungal diseases without excellent air circulation,” Cubian warns.

Starting Blue Fescue From Seed

Blue fescue can be started from seeds either indoors in late winter or outside after the last frost, says Troy Hake, lawn expert and owner of Outsidepride. To start seeds indoors, fill a seed tray with a seed-starting mix. Sow three seeds per cell and cover lightly with more mix. Water well. You can transplant the seedlings outside when temperatures warm. Make sure to harden the seedlings off first to give them time to adjust to outside conditions. Alternatively, the seeds can be planted directly outside in spring. Plant the seeds in a row, spacing them about 10 to 12 inches apart, and water well. 

How to Prune Blue Fescue

Unlike other grass species, blue fescue doesn’t need pruning throughout its growing season. "However, since dead leaves pose a great risk of disease, removing or pruning them in late winter or early spring before new growth begins can be a good idea," says Cubian. Cut back old foliage to about 2 to 3 inches above the crown to give way to fresh growth. Plus, pruning blue fescue will maintain a cleaner appearance, adds Hake. 

How to Propagate Blue Fescue

Propagation is done by dividing dense clumps of the grass. “If you wish to propagate, divide the clumps every two to three years in early spring or fall,” says Cubian. But it is important not to use your hands, as this can damage the roots. Instead, Hake recommends using a spade or pruner. To prune, dig up a thick, established part of the grass. Gently separate the root ball into two to three sections, and replant immediately to prevent transplant stress. "Division is an essential step in overgrown clumps to help the plant have vigorous growth and keep the center from dying out," Hake says.

How to Overwinter Blue Fescue

Blue fescue is a hardy perennial grass that overwinters well in USDA zones 4 to 8. "In winter, the foliage may fade or become straw-colored, especially in colder regions," says Cubian. But the plant typically survives just fine without protection. "As an added layer of cold protection, a layer of mulch like shredded bark applied around—but not over—the crown can help conserve heat and keep the roots warm, especially in borderline zones," he adds.

Common Pests

Blue fescue is relatively pest-free, but some garden pests may find the plant appealing.

Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers sometimes feed on the leaves of blue fescue. Luckily, the plant can overgrow in these areas to compensate for the destruction, says Cubian, adding that these pests rarely cause a significant health decline.

Aphids

Aphids, which suck the sap from the foliage of blue fescue, can cause stunted growth and other issues. Cubian recommends dislodging aphids from this grass with a strong spray of water, then following up with insecticidal soap and neem oil.

Nematodes

Though beneficial nematodes improve soil health by removing grubs, harmful nematodes can kill ornamental grasses. Hence, Cubian recommends solarizing lawns that become overwhelmed by nematodes to save decorative grasses that may be threatened.

Common Issues

Blue fescue is easy to care for and encounters few issues, but there are some potential pitfalls to be mindful of.

Too Much Water

Improper watering or extreme weather events like heavy rains can drown the plant. Blue fescue does not require much water, so too much can be bad for it. "Yellowing leaves may point to overly wet soil or poor drainage," says Cubian. So, if your blue fescue starts to turn yellow, consider dialing back on the watering. You can also ensure your planting site isn’t soggy by amending your garden soil with sand and coarse materials, he says.

Lack of Airflow

High humidity can cause leaf browning or dieback, especially in the center of older clumps. "This screams that the plant needs to be divided to improve airflow," says Cubian. That said, discolored leaves could still be an issue even after the plant is divided. To fix this, Hake recommends trimming back the ornamental grasses to make room for new growth.