Fescue, or Festuca, is a perennial grass from the Poaceae family, prized for its fine, evergreen foliage, often tinged with green, silver or blue like the famous blue fescue (Festuca glauca). Forming compact little clumps, this ornamental plant adapts perfectly to dry, poor garden soils.

Easy to grow, it's ideal for rockeries, borders, terraces or containers. Fescue withstands wind and heat well, adapts to various climates and shows good hardiness against intense cold.

So why not propagate it to extend a border or share with other gardeners? There are two main methods: clump division, quick and effective, and sowing, admittedly slower. Follow along as we explain the different propagation techniques for fescue!

Festuca glauca
Blue fescue (Festuca glauca)

Why propagate fescue?

Propagating fescue has several advantages:

  • Plant renewal: Over time, the centre of the clump can become bare. Division rejuvenates the plant and maintains its compact appearance.
  • Garden expansion: By dividing or sowing fescue, you'll get new plants, allowing you to cover more garden area at no extra cost.
  • Sharing: You can gift or swap this grass with other gardeners.
  • Low maintenance: Fescue requires little watering and resists diseases and weeds well. It's a very easy-going plant!

When to propagate fescue?

The best time, whether for division or sowing, is in spring, during April and May, when temperatures rise and the plant resumes growth.
In autumn, division is also possible (particularly in October) before the first frosts. Sowing can also be done in September. These periods ensure good rooting before winter or summer.

Note: Division should be done about every three years, once the grass forms a dense clump.

Signs it's time to divide:
✔️ The centre becomes dry or bare.
✔️ Growth becomes less vigorous.

several fescue plants in a garden

Which method to choose for propagating your fescue?

The most common and effective technique is clump division. This method involves dividing the plant into several clumps, called "divisions", each with roots and foliage.

Fescue can also be propagated by seed, though this method takes longer to produce well-developed plants.

How to propagate fescue by division?

Required materials

  • A spade or garden fork: to dig up the clump without damaging roots.
  • Secateurs or a sharp knife: to cleanly cut the rootball into several plants.
  • Gardening gloves: to protect your hands.
  • A watering can: to water young plants after replanting.
  • Pots (optional): if you prefer temporarily growing divisions in pots before planting out.
  • Free-draining compost (optional): for filling pots, use potting compost or a mix of soil, sand and gravel to avoid waterlogging.
  • Organic fertiliser (optional): compost can help improve growth and encourage establishment.

Practical steps for dividing fescue

  1. Prepare the ground: If planting divisions directly in the ground, loosen soil with a fork, dig a hole and add some gravel or sand mixed with soil to ensure good drainage and avoid excess moisture. If potting, prepare pots in advance with compost.
  2. Water the parent plant lightly the day before to ease extraction.
  3. Lift the plant: Using a spade, carefully dig up the clump without damaging roots.
  4. Divide: With a knife or secateurs, slice the rootball into sections, each with healthy roots and green shoots.
  5. Prune: Lightly trim foliage to encourage regrowth.
  6. Replant immediately each division in pots or well-drained soil, spacing plants 20-30cm apart.
  7. Water moderately to support rooting, but don't waterlog the soil.
how to divide an ornamental grass
Example of dividing an ornamental grass

How to propagate fescue from seed?

Required materials

Sowing steps

  1. Prepare the compost: Use light compost mixed with some sand to improve drainage.
  2. Sow the seeds: Scatter seeds on the compost surface and cover with a thin layer. Space seeds a few centimetres apart to avoid competition. In pots, sow 3-5 seeds per pot.
  3. Water lightly and keep soil moist but not waterlogged.
  4. Monitor germination: First shoots appear in 2-4 weeks depending on temperature.
  5. Prick out if needed when seedlings are sturdy enough, then transplant to a sunny spot.

How to care for fescue after propagation?

Once new divisions are planted, here are our tips for caring for young plants:

  • Watering: Fescue needs very little water. Moderate watering for the first few weeks is enough, then reduce frequency once established.
  • Fertilising: A light compost application in early spring stimulates growth, especially in the first year.
  • Annual tidy: In early spring, gently comb through foliage with gloved hands to remove dead leaves and maintain the clump's appearance.
  • Weeding: To avoid competition, regularly remove weeds while new plants establish. We also recommend applying a mulch layer around fescue plants to suppress weeds!