Fine fescues (Festuca L. spp.) comprise a group of five cool-season grasses used in turfgrass systems under many conditions: strong creeping red fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. rubra Gaudin), slender creeping red fescue [F. rubra L. ssp. littoralis (G. Mey.) Auquier], Chewings fescue [F. rubra L. ssp. commutata Gaudin; syn. F. rubra L. ssp. fallax (Thuill.) Nyman], hard fescue (F. brevipila Tracey), and sheep fescue [F. ovina L.; syn. F. ovina L. ssp. hirtula (Hack. ex Travis) M.J. Wilk.]. Their extensive geographic distribution is a result of adaptation to many different environmental and management conditions especially low-input sites. This review summarizes the history, production, establishment, management, use, and availability of fine fescues; discusses strengths and shortcomings of fine fescue; identifies knowledge gaps; and provides an outlook toward further research on this group of grasses. Improved cultivars have been developed in recent years that expand the geographic distribution and uses of species but additional efforts to increase seed yield and improve abiotic and biotic stress tolerances are still needed. Expanded use of fine fescue could be achieved through increased sod production of fine fescue, though current research-based information is limited. Research on fine fescue allelopathy and the contributions of fungal endophytes, both of which could lead to reduced pesticide requirements is important for improved pest management. Future research on fine fescues should focus on implementation and management of new cultivars that possess enhanced abiotic and biotic stress tolerance that will result in fewer inputs and improve the appeal and adoption of these low-input grasses.

Increasing seeding or N rates provides negligible benefits in producing fine fescue sod.2. There are differences in sod strength and handling among fine fescue taxa.3. Strong creeping red fescue is a promising solution for low-input sod production.4. Higher N rates are required for Kentucky bluegrass compared to strong creeping red fescue.5. Tall fescue sod with no netting consistently provided poor sod strength and handling.

Research is required on sod to explore the differences in management and postharvest practices to help inform sod producers and reduce information inefficiencies that affect the supply and demand of cool-season turfgrass sod. Replicated field experiments were conducted in Indiana and Minnesota to quantify the effect of turfgrass species (strong creeping red fescue [Festuca rubra L. ssp. rubra Gaudin], Chewings fescue [F. rubra ssp. commutata Gaudin], tall fescue [F. arundinacea Schreb.], and Kentucky bluegrass [Poa pratensis L.]), seeding rate (1, 2, and 3 pure live seed (PLS) cm −2 ), and N fertilization (98, 196, and 294 kg N ha −1 yr −1 ) on growth rate and shelf-life storage. Turf height measurements occurred at multiple timings to calculate growth rates of treatments. Sod was harvested in the spring and autumn and stored on pallets for either 24 or 72 h and then reinstalled in its previous location and treatment effects were assessed. Seeding rate had no effect on growth rate or transplant success of sod. Differences in growth rates demonstrate potential savings for sod growers through less mowing requirement when producing fine fescue sod. Treatments did not influence internal heating of sod rolls, which were higher than, but similar to, diurnal fluctuations of air temperatures. There were minimal differences among turfgrass species and N rates, which indicates strong creeping red fescue, Chewings fescue, tall fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass sod stored for 24-72 h after a spring or autumn harvest in Indiana or Minnesota will not hinder transplant success.Abbreviations: DAI, days after installation; MAP, months after planting; PLS, pure live seedThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.

Further research is required to evaluate and develop management practices that may sequester C in turfgrass soils.• Hidden C costs, which are energy-based inputs from turf maintenance, should be factored into soil C sequestration calculations.• A higher-input management regime in turf will not increase net C sequestration compared with a low management input regime.

Nitrous oxide is an important greenhouse gas associated with global climate change. Turfgrasses emit N2O when fertilized with N and irrigated. The development of management practices such as use of controlled‐release N fertilizers and/or deficit irrigation may reduce N2O emissions in turf soils. The objectives of this study were (i) to quantify the magnitude and patterns of N2O emissions in turfgrass, and (ii) to determine how irrigation and N fertilization may be managed to reduce N2O fluxes. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured for 2 yr in ‘Meyer’ zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) under an automated rainout shelter in Manhattan, KS, using static chambers. Two irrigation levels (66 [medium] and 33% [low] reference evapotranspiration replacement), and three N fertilization treatments (urea and polymer‐coated urea [PCU], both applied at a rate of 98 kg N ha−1 yr−1, and an unfertilized plot) were included. During two summers, N2O emissions were reduced by 6% with low (2.71 kg ha−1) vs. medium irrigation (2.88 kg ha−1) (P ≤ 0.001). Over the 2 yr, cumulative N2O emissions averaged 4.06 kg ha−1 in unfertilized turf and 4.5 kg ha−1 in PCU‐treated turf, which represent reductions of 28 and 20%, respectively, from urea‐treated turf (5.62 kg ha−1) (P ≤ 0.01). Results from this study indicate that the use of a controlled‐release fertilizer, such as PCU, and/or lower irrigation reduces N2O emissions in turfgrass.