When to plant Blue fescue?

Blue fescue thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for gravel gardens, rockeries, and the front of borders. It tolerates sandy soil and loam equally well, but drainage is critical—waterlogged conditions will quickly kill the plant. Avoid heavy clay unless you improve it substantially with grit or sharp sand. The best planting times are March to May or September, when the soil is workable and temperatures are moderate. Spring planting gives the grass a full growing season to establish, while autumn planting works well if your soil drains freely and doesn't stay cold and wet through winter. Space plants 30 cm apart, centre to centre. This allows each clump to develop its characteristic neat, rounded shape without crowding. If you're planting in groups for ground cover or edging, maintain this spacing for even coverage within a year or two. Dig a hole slightly wider than the root ball and the same depth. Blue fescue should sit at the same level it was growing in its pot—planting too deep encourages rot at the crown. Loosen the roots gently if they're pot-bound, place the plant in the hole, backfill with the excavated soil, and firm gently. Water in thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots, but don't saturate. Once established, blue fescue is very drought-tolerant and resents overwatering. A light mulch of gravel or grit around the base suits this grass far better than organic mulch, which can hold too much moisture against the crown and cause rot.