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Unlike other Tall Fescues, RTF has the ability to repair itself. Traditional tall fescue grasses will clump together instead of filling in bare spots, resulting in an uneven lawn. With bare spots, weeds are more apt to take over the lawn. What makes RTF unique is its ability to fill in these open areas with rhizomes.

Young plants first build the root and shoot system to sustain life; then concentrate on a bare area of lawn with rhizomes, knitting the lawn together. RTF’s rapid germination ensures a quick establishment of your new lawn. While overseeding an existing lawn, the quick germination allows RTF to compete successfully with the old turf, eliminating the clumps and bare spots forever.

Please watch a video by Barenbrug showing how RTF rhizomes are longer and stronger:

Got Rhizomes Video

Self-repairing Turf

• Fills in open areas in the lawn by means of rhizomes
• Knits the lawn together
• Quickly fills in damaged or open spots with new shoots of grass

Strong, Deep Root System

• Ability to draw its moisture from a deep profile
• Excellent drought and heat tolerance; requires less irrigation
• Excellent in our transition zone climate

Produces A Thick, Even Lawn

• Ability to repair itself – repairs open areas within a lawn
• Produces rhizomes that initiate new grass growth

Excellent Color & Disease Resistant

• Withstands stressful weather conditions
• Holds its rich, green color, even in cold temperatures

Rapid Germination & Quick Spring Green-Up

• Establishes quickly
• Early Spring green-up – have a greener lawn earlier in the Spring

Higher Value for The Homeowner Than Conventional Tall Fescues

• Ordinary tall fescues require maintenance from overseeding, weed problems, and clumping. RTF results in less overseeding, fewer weed problems and no “wide-leafed ugly clumps” of tall fescue plants in open areas.

Tall fescues are a complex species that consists of 3 major groups:

1. Rhizomatous Group (RTF®;)

• Found predominantly in Northern Portugal and Spain
• Active in the Summer / dormant in the Winter
• Active in Fall/Spring. Earlier Spring green-up than Continental type
• Is distinguished by the presence of both longer and more prevalent rhizomes than either of the other two groups.

2. Continental Group (All other tall fescues grown and sold in our region are from the Continental group)

• Found in Northern Europe
• Active in the Summer / Dormant in the Winter
• Not Fall active
• Can produce very short rhizomes, but are very inconsistent

3. Mediterranean Group

• Found in Africa, parts of Italy, and the Middle East
• Dormant in the Summer and active in the Winter, but lacks the Winter hardiness of the Continental group
• Can produce very short rhizomes, but very inconsistent

Rhizome Trial:

• Scientific research was done with two different trials; a Fall Rhizome (9 Varieties) and a Spring Rhizome (12 Varieties)
• Labyrinth RTF and F18 RTF are both RTF varieties from Barenbrug, the grass seed company we purchase our seed from
• Plants were planted 2 x 2 feet apart
• 3 replications / 25 plants PER replication
• Plants were mowed on the same schedule as turf nearby – 3 inches mowing height.

The following data was collected:

1. Number of rhizomes per plant
2. Percentage of plants with rhizomes

• Results showed that the RTF sod overwhelmingly produced more rhizomes than any other plant.
• RTF varieties from Barenbrug produce 20 times more rhizomes per variety than other so-called “Rhizomatous Tall Fescue” varieties.
• The average length of rhizomes in Barenbrug RTF varieties increases as the plant matures, thus increasing the spread of the plant.

• Beautiful dark green color
• Thin blades that create a dense, thick lawn that is soft to the touch
• Superior wear tolerance once established
• Ability to rapidly repair itself and fill in gaps
• Great for golf courses, sports fields, parks, and residential yards
• Germinates – 10-12 days and usually completed  by 21 days
• High heat & drought tolerance
• Resistant to dollar spot, summer patch & stem rust , among other diseases
• Can be mowed from 1/2” to 3” high (2-3” is recommended)

• It requires full sun to minimum shade. If your yard is mostly in the shade, then bluegrass would not be the right choice for you
• It thrives well with a deep, enriched soil bed. If your soil has a lot of sand or clay, then bluegrass would not be the right choice for you
• Requires a consistent watering and fertilizer schedule so irrigation systems are extremely helpful
• Overall care and maintenance: moderately high

• Area of use – Light to Moderate Traffic
• Color – Medium Green
• Texture – Fine
• Light Required – 4 Hours of Moderate Sunlight (for heavily shaded areas)
• Germinates – 10-21 days
• Seeding rate – 7 lbs /1,000 sqft
• Mowing Recommendations – 2-3”
• Mowing (down to) – 1.5” 

• If you prefer a medium textured blade with a dark green color, with a thick canopy, then Shade Savant would not be the right choice for you
• Overall care and maintenance: Medium to Low

• Excellent turf quality and beautiful green color
• Very fast to germinate and fully established with 14-21 days after seeding
• Low growth habit
• Thrives in diverse environments
• Proven overseeding performance
• Excellent mowing quality
• Exhibits strong ability to recover from extreme wear and use
• Excellent tolerance to a high level of traffic
• Strong disease resistance and insect tolerance

• If you prefer a medium textured blade with a dense canopy and a dark green color, then Turf Star RPR would not be the right choice for you
• Overall care and maintenance: Medium to High