I would first ask whether you are looking for a groundcover or a variety of ornamental grasses covering the area?

If you really just want a low growing turfgrass, the professional may have thought of Festuca rubra 'Pennlawn'. This would normally be seeded, sometimes mixed with other turf grasses to create a low growing matting grass (spreads via rhizomes), gets about 12" in height.

I can't be sure what you bought, but if you purchased gallons, you may not have festuca rubra, but festuca glauca (a clumping grass).

Before I could advise on any type of ornamental grasses, you'd need to define what look and maintenance your after.

Here's a link to festuca rubra source (can't vouch for them one way or the other). In zone 9, I'm not be so sure about the selection.

Here is a link that might be useful: festuca rubra

Hi "grass guy" - Thanks for responding. I went and found a description stake. It's Festuca Rubra "Jughandle". It looks like the picture in the grass link below.

I like what I have (in the picture) and I'd like something like that covering the whole area. It doesn't get tall. It gets a lot of sun there, so it seems a bit difficult to maintain, but maybe when it takes hold better it will be more robust (my hope).

Do you think there is something similar better suited for us and that might spread, or do you think we should stick with this (we would have to find more)?

thanks again!

Here is a link that might be useful:

If you have a type of festuca rubra, it should spread once established. Adding some more would help speed up the process. If you want to let it go a bit more on its own and low maintenance, you could mix in some other varieties. Depends on your location. Maybe some carex.

Do you know if any of the carex varieties will spread?

thx