RTF Tall Fescue

Festuca arundinacea

Scientific name

Festuca arundinacea


Common name

Tall Fescue


Other names (PBR name, trademark, breeder code)

RTF® (registered trademark in the United States); RTF RHIZOMATOUS TALL FESCUE™ (pending trade mark in Australia); Tall Fescue.


Description

Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (RTF) is a patented, unique Rhizomatous Turf Type Tall Fescue like no other fescue. It produces underground rhizomes which also allows the grass to self repair and recover divots and bare areas. RTF grows well in full sun and shade and has a better winter colour and growth compared to other tall fescue varieties. RTF also has improved drought tolerance and disease resistance. RTF is suited for home lawns, landscaped areas and turf farms. RTF is well suited for temperate growing conditions within NSW, VIC, ACT, TAS and SA.

In a study conducted by Esmailpourmoghadam and Salehi (2021) they identified that Tall Fescue can handle a high level of shade stress (80% continuous shade).


RTF Tall Fescue is sold in Australia as solid turf (sod) through Lawn Solutions Australia growers and seed through Barenbrug Australia distributors. Seed is available in 5 kg and 25 kg bags.


Other comments

Tall fescue mixes well with perennial ryegrass and green couch in some circumstances at high sowing rates. If sown at low rates the turf will form clums rather than uniform turf. Sowing rate: 3-4kg/100m2. Seed is best to be sown in Autumn and Spring.


There are only a few turf varieties known to have been developed from RTF germplasm. The Royal Barenbrug Group has released 'Labrinth' (US 6,677,507 B2 patent) and the following varieties developed under that patent includ Barspider, BAR Fa 7676, BAR Fa 9125 and BAR Fa 9017 (Wipff and Singh, 2013).


Pests, disease and weeds
Check to see which Pests, Diseases and or Weeds this turf variety may be susceptible to and how to successfully control them in your home lawn or sports turf.


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Product supplier information:

RTF Tall Fescue Techsheet



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Available in Sod/turf and seed
Turf price range (per m2) $9.00 - $12.00
Seed (per kg) $18.00 - $20.00
Use Residential and Parks
Suitable climate classification Temperate
Preferred mowing height 30mm - 50mm
Shade tolerance Good
Wear tolerance Good
Cold tolerance Good
Heat tolerance Good
Salinity tolerance Moderate
Water requirement Moderate
Fertiliser requirement High
Mowing frequency Moderate
Thatch production Low
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References Read more  
  • Esmailpourmoghadam, E., Salehi, H. 2021. Tall fescue is a superturfgrass: Tolerance to shade conditions under deficit irrigation, Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, 20(5), pp. 290–301.
  • RTF is a registered trademark in the United States by Barenbrug USA, Inc. (reg. no. 2761330) regestered 9 Sep 2003.
  • RTF RHIZOMATOUS TALL FESCUE trade mark in Australia is pending (trade mark no. 1784078) by Barenbrug Australia (formerly Heritage Seeds Pty Ltd).
  • Wipff, J. K. and Singh, D. 2013. Completely New Turfgrasses, NZ Turf Management Journal, Spring edn, pp. 8-10.

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Tall Fescue

Festuca arundinacea