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RTF Tall Fescue Seed
Fescue grass has long been the first choice for the home owners of Australia’s cooler regions. A cool season all-rounder that is as good looking as it is tough, it has proven itself over the years as one of the very best choices for Australia’s unique conditions.
Unlike other Tall Fescues, RTF® Tall Fescue is a self repairing Tall Fescue seed. It is extremely durable, dense and dark green in color and can withstand stressful weather conditions including frost and drought.
RTF® Tall Fescue is recognized as being more drought tolerant than most other species due to it’s deep rooting ability. Once the grass is mature it’s roots can dig as deep as 2 meters/6 feet, tapping into water underneath the ground not normally available to other varieties and species.
RTF® lawn is best suited to shady conditions, and can struggle in full sun in the summer months, especially if the lawn is planted in late spring/summer. Hence it is important to keep the lawn watered over the summer months in very hot conditions.
We recommend that you plant RTF in Autumn, which allows the roots to develop over winter, resulting in a stronger lawn for the summer.
If water restrictions and local drought conditions cause you to panic about maintaining green grass during the summer months, then RTF® is for you!
Seeding rates:
- New Lawns: 30 grams per square meter (3kg/100m2).
- Overseeding: 20 grams per square meter (2kg/100m2).
Please note: There are currently quarantine restrictions for seeds being sent to TAS and WA.Tasmanian customers: RTF is unable to be sent to TAS due to Quarantine restrictions. An alternative is Turf Type Tall Fescue. When placing an online order, please document ‘ATT: TAS Biosecurity’ in the ‘Company’ section above the address line to enable faster processing of your seed through quarantine.
WA customers: RTF is unable to be sent to WA. Please contact McKays Seeds through the Contact Us link or via phone to discuss your options. Quarantine fees apply for seed inspection.
For more information see below tabs ‘Description’ and ‘Features’ to see if this grass suits you!
FROM $ 42.35
Delivery InfoBlade
Medium
Colour
Dark
Growth
Slow spreading
Growth Rate
Medium
Description
RTF Tall Fescue is set apart from other fescues due to its ability to repair itself. It is less prone to diseases and pests than other varieties. In the cooler climates it can survive without irrigation due to its deep rooting ability. It is not as drought tolerant as warm season grasses such as Buffalo and Couch, however it is one of the most drought tolerant cool season grasses making it ideal for the cool yet dry areas of Southern SA and WA. On top of the drought tolerance, the general hardiness of RTF Tall Fescue is almost impossible to beat. The ability to cope with stiff frosts make it an ideal candidate for Victoria and Tasmania.Â
Optimal pH: Tall Fescue grows best in soils with a pH of 5.5-7.5.
Sowing Tips: Broadcast the seed at, or very near, the soil surface and incorporate lightly with raking. To ensure best coverage and avoid seed wastage we recommend using an appropriate seed spreader for the size of your area. Soil must remain damp throughout the germination period of both seeds and must be maintained for at least 1-2 weeks after sowing, through irrigation or natural rainfall. Adequate water supplies need to be maintained until the grass is fully established. RTF Tall Fescue benefits from periodic overseeding to keep the density and to avoid a clumpy appearance.
Optimal Planting Time: We recommend that you plant RTF in Autumn, which allows the roots to develop over winter, which will result in a stronger lawn for the summer.
Germination: 14-21 days, climate and condition dependent. It has a bunch forming growth habit.
Water: Keep moist until the roots are well established. Once the grass is mature it’s roots can dig as deep as 2m/6 feet, tapping into water underneath the ground not normally available to other varieties and species. In cooler climates it does not usually require irrigation.
Please Note: This grass will need significant watering during Summer and on unseasonally hot days. It has a tendency to burn and die off during very hot temperatures when not watered adequately.
Fertilizing: Another aspect of fescue’s hardiness is the fact that it isn’t really bothered by poor soil. Like any grass, if you give it ideal conditions and a fertilised, nitrogen rich soil with a neutral pH it will obviously look its best, but it isn’t a required aspect of your lawn maintenance routine.
First Mowing: When grass is approximately 7cm tall. This should indicate that the roots are established enough to withstand the mowing process. Shaded areas may require the grass to be kept slightly longer to aid photosynthesis in diminished light areas.
Mowing Frequency: Fescue grass isn’t a particularly quick grower, so you wont need to get the mower out as often as other varieties. Cut it relatively high (between 7cm and 10cm), as mowing any lower can expose the sod, drying it out. This may result in bare patches forming in your lawn.
Disadvantages of RTF:
- Good soil drainage is required to avoid disease
- Can feel bristly and not as soft as other grass varieties
- Cutting too low can dry out the sod
- Requires more watering in Summer than warm season grass varieties
Seed & package details: 100% RTF Tall Fescue.
Independently Tested: 80% Min Germination, 98%Â purity. A seed testing certificate is available upon request.
Where can I sow this grass in Australia? Areas 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Shade Tolerance: Excellent
Drought Tolerance: Good
Traffic Tolerance: Excellent
Frost Tolerance: Excellent
Locations
Season
Warm season grasses thrive during the warmer months in Spring and Summer and may go dormant in cooler climates through winter.
Cool season grasses thrive during the cooler months in Winter
Seed information
Shade tolerance (Weather)
- Full Sun
- Part Shade
- Heavy Shade
- Full Shade
Drought tolerance (Weather)
- Moderate
- Good
- Excellent
Traffic tolerance (Weather)
- Moderate
- Good
- Excellent
Frost tolerance
- Poor
- Moderate
- Good
- Excellent
Average days to germination
- 2-3 Weeks
- 2-4 Weeks
- 3-4 Weeks
Free Shipping On All Orders Over $50
We provide free shipping to Australia for all orders where the total cart value exceeds $50.00 AUD
Standard Delivery
Australia Wide
$9 - Orders are dispatched within 24 hours via regular Australia post(3-5 Business days)
Express Post Transport Within Australia
Have your order sent via AusPost EXPRESS POST for a flat rate of $15
WA Customers
Due to quarantine restrictions, a $75 fee may apply on any seed products shipped to WA that would need to be cleared by customs. For any WA orders, contact us directly to enquire and place an oder
Pick-up Not Available
Unfortunately, we do not offer local pick-up
READ WHAT OUR USERS ARE SAYING
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EXCELLENT FOR PATCHING MY EXISTING RTF LAWN Used to patch my existing lawn after poisoning clumps of Kikuya. Germinated in about 2 weeks. Blended into existing lawn quite well. Will improve with cutting and fertilising .
POSTED BY admin
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EXCELLENT QUALITY Your RTF fescue has excellent germination and is a fine turf, I used it very effectively on the areas of my lawn subject to die- back due to shading,. Love the medium-deep green colour as well
POSTED BY admin
-
GREAT RESULTS Sowed the seed in early September 2016. Weather was still a little cool and the seed took quite a while to germinate. Some over sowing was required But the results were fabulous. Would strongly recommend
POSTED BY admin
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GROWS IN PLACES I DIDN'T EXPECT I have a decent amount of trees in my property which produce a lot of shade (out in berwick VIC). Nothing was really working until this type of grass was advised from Mckay's seems to be growing in the shaded patchy areas where nothing would grow before. - I did a moss kill treatment waited for the required time - then used this grass seed with top soil & aerator - then fertilized with McKay Fertilizer seems to be growing well - neighbors are asking me what i did :) and where to buy. Will def keep on using the McKay products now.
POSTED BY admin
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IT WORKS LIKE IT SAYS IT DOES I was skeptical and nervous because I have never used grass seeds. Prepped the soil properly and put seeds down early autumn, germinated in a 2 to 3 weeks. We have a lush lawn for summer. Highly recommend if roll-on turf is too expensive.
POSTED BY admin
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SURPRISED BY RESULTS Mixed RTF with Kentucky for great results sowing in the last week of May. Grass has reached around 8cm in height since planting/sowing (1 month) and germinated in approximately 6 days. Very impressed. Postage and customer service was also top notch.
POSTED BY admin
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GOOD RESULTS Did a mix with a fescue from a hardware store and the result was really good. The hardware store was not as strong but the mix worked well. Planted early winter and still took off.
POSTED BY admin
-
GOOD RESULTS It took a while for the shoots to show and now that it has come through it is fast growing.
POSTED BY admin
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GROWS WHERE NO GRASS HAS GROWN BEFORE We have a large leopard tree that shades out most of our back yard and turns it to a dust bowl for the best part of the year. We planted RTF at the start of autumn 2015 in that area, and I’m extremely pleased with the results it germinated in 7 days I mowed it in 28. We have now done the entire yard replacing the couch that struggled to perform
POSTED BY admin
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EXCELLENT PRODUCT! Just recently seeded my entire backyard & it came up looking fantastic. Had to oversow about 30%, but that due to extreme wind. Germinates at about day 7 & takes off from there. I cut it long & it feels like walking on carpet. Very happy!!
POSTED BY admin
-
GREAT SEED Very easy, germinated well at the end of autumn in a cold climate, so far very happy
POSTED BY admin
-
RTF DOES WELL IN BENDIGO Seeded area sown 10 days before Christmas, germination and establishment was excellent. At this stage (early March 2015) the seeded area is performing slightly better than an equivalent area of RTF Turf put down in mid January. RTF provides a thick rich lawn, great for grand children to play on however I have a question over it ability to get through a full on Bendigo summer and the level of watering required. The RTF lawn will have priority call on water (30,000 litre in tanks and what ever Coliban Water can supply). The best time to evaluate will be the condition it is in this time next year. I am establishing couch on areas further from the house. This should survive on available rainfall and an occasional watering.
POSTED BY admin
Related products
EXCELLENT FOR PATCHING MY EXISTING RTF LAWN Used to patch my existing lawn after poisoning clumps of Kikuya. Germinated in about 2 weeks. Blended into existing lawn quite well. Will improve with cutting and fertilising .
POSTED BY admin
EXCELLENT QUALITY Your RTF fescue has excellent germination and is a fine turf, I used it very effectively on the areas of my lawn subject to die- back due to shading,. Love the medium-deep green colour as well
POSTED BY admin
GREAT RESULTS Sowed the seed in early September 2016. Weather was still a little cool and the seed took quite a while to germinate. Some over sowing was required But the results were fabulous. Would strongly recommend
POSTED BY admin
GROWS IN PLACES I DIDN'T EXPECT I have a decent amount of trees in my property which produce a lot of shade (out in berwick VIC). Nothing was really working until this type of grass was advised from Mckay's seems to be growing in the shaded patchy areas where nothing would grow before. - I did a moss kill treatment waited for the required time - then used this grass seed with top soil & aerator - then fertilized with McKay Fertilizer seems to be growing well - neighbors are asking me what i did :) and where to buy. Will def keep on using the McKay products now.
POSTED BY admin
IT WORKS LIKE IT SAYS IT DOES I was skeptical and nervous because I have never used grass seeds. Prepped the soil properly and put seeds down early autumn, germinated in a 2 to 3 weeks. We have a lush lawn for summer. Highly recommend if roll-on turf is too expensive.
POSTED BY admin
SURPRISED BY RESULTS Mixed RTF with Kentucky for great results sowing in the last week of May. Grass has reached around 8cm in height since planting/sowing (1 month) and germinated in approximately 6 days. Very impressed. Postage and customer service was also top notch.
POSTED BY admin
GOOD RESULTS Did a mix with a fescue from a hardware store and the result was really good. The hardware store was not as strong but the mix worked well. Planted early winter and still took off.
POSTED BY admin
GOOD RESULTS It took a while for the shoots to show and now that it has come through it is fast growing.
POSTED BY admin
GROWS WHERE NO GRASS HAS GROWN BEFORE We have a large leopard tree that shades out most of our back yard and turns it to a dust bowl for the best part of the year. We planted RTF at the start of autumn 2015 in that area, and I’m extremely pleased with the results it germinated in 7 days I mowed it in 28. We have now done the entire yard replacing the couch that struggled to perform
POSTED BY admin
EXCELLENT PRODUCT! Just recently seeded my entire backyard & it came up looking fantastic. Had to oversow about 30%, but that due to extreme wind. Germinates at about day 7 & takes off from there. I cut it long & it feels like walking on carpet. Very happy!!
POSTED BY admin
GREAT SEED Very easy, germinated well at the end of autumn in a cold climate, so far very happy
POSTED BY admin
RTF DOES WELL IN BENDIGO Seeded area sown 10 days before Christmas, germination and establishment was excellent. At this stage (early March 2015) the seeded area is performing slightly better than an equivalent area of RTF Turf put down in mid January. RTF provides a thick rich lawn, great for grand children to play on however I have a question over it ability to get through a full on Bendigo summer and the level of watering required. The RTF lawn will have priority call on water (30,000 litre in tanks and what ever Coliban Water can supply). The best time to evaluate will be the condition it is in this time next year. I am establishing couch on areas further from the house. This should survive on available rainfall and an occasional watering.
POSTED BY admin