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RTF Tall Fescue Turf

$15.95 per m2

Tall Fescue Turf
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RTF Tall Fescue Turf

$15.95 per m2

Contact Sales Office for orders under 30m2 on 1800 622 455
Need help with how much grass you need?
Try our Turf Calculator
$15.95

RTF Fescue Grass

Get a year-round lush lawn that self-repairs via underground rhizomes.

Rhizomatous Tall Fescue turf (RTF) is ideal for the unpredictable weather of Melbourne and its surrounds. It provides a deep emerald green lawn that is beautiful to look at and soft underfoot for all seasons. It’s engineered for producing rhizomes with modified stems that grow underground, helping it repair itself over time and cover bare spots. RTF tall fescue establishes very quickly, therefore reducing watering needs when compared to other fescue types.

  • All Season Lawn
  • Full Sun/Part Shade
  • Green All Year
  • Low Drought Tolerance
  • Low maintenance
  • Medium soft leaf
  • Self Repairing

Tall Fescue Turf: A High Achiever Among Instant Turf Lawn Varieties

Since it was engineered by leading turf scientists over 20 years ago, RTF Tall Fescue grass has remained one of the most popular choices for lawn lovers in the southern parts of the country, thanks to its year-round hardiness and evergreen appearance. Tall fescue turf has an upright appearance with soft, small-to-medium leaf blades and a finer texture than other tall fescue varieties, so it feels good on bare feet.

It has a number of benefits compared to other lawn varieties that are suited to cooler, shadier climates:

Year-round performer +

Actively grows in all seasons, giving you a lush green lawn without winter yellowing.

Non-invasive +

Won’t creep into garden beds like more aggressive grass species can.

Shade and frost-tolerant +

Unlike warm-season grasses, RTF turf performs well with just 3 hours of direct sun per day. An optimal lawn type for cooler climates, it can withstand frost and even light snow cover during winter.

Drought tolerance +

Superior resilience to dry spells compared to other cool season grasses thanks to its deep root system. Also displays better tolerance to heat.

High self-repairing properties +

If your backyard is a stomping ground for kids or pets, RTF offers impressive regeneration for a cool-season grass in medium to high traffic areas.

Site Preparation, Laying and Care Instructions

Preparation & Installation

kikuyu grass

Before your RTF Tall Fescue turf goes down, ensure you prepare the area by getting rid of any weeds, old turf, or debris on your chosen site. RTF Tall Fescue stays green all year-round and grows well in full sun or dappled shade. A finished soil level of 25-30mm below the pathway is recommended. This turf is the ideal cool climate grass made for Victorian home lawns and public spaces. Better yet, it can be installed across all seasons with great results!

*Remember: due to its perishable nature, turf should be installed immediately upon delivery (at least the same day).

Mowing

Being a fescue turf, you can mow RTF anywhere between 35-50mm and might be doing so fairly often in the warmer months. Winter slows its growth down and means less time on the mower. If you do need to give your turf a trim in the cooler months be sure to cut it at the taller end of the recommended mowing length.

Watering

Tall Fescue Lawn requires some extra care during the warmer months, when regular watering is a must for cool-season grasses. Aim for deep soakings 1-2 times per week during summer. This allows the moisture to penetrate deeply into the soil profile where it can be absorbed by RTF’s deep roots, keeping turf green, thick and healthy.

Seasonal Maintenance & Fertilising

RTF Tall Fescue is able to handle the cool Victorian temperatures during the winter months and tolerates heavy frosts. RTF maintains active growth during the colder months, but you can apply less water in winter while maintaining the lawn’s deep green colour and lush feel.

Instant Lawn For Full Sun, Staying Green All Year Round

If you don’t get 8 hours of full sun or live in a colder climate, but still want a lush lawn with a rich green colour, RTF fescue could be the perfect choice. With year-round growth, the ability to survive on just 3 hours sun per day and frost tolerance, it’s hardly surprising it’s a common option in cold climate regions like Melbourne and regional Victoria.

The Ideal Cool Climate Grass with Added Drought Tolerance

RTF Tall Fescue turf performs superbly across different climates and conditions. Its unique self-repairing rhizome root system means it can regrow itself to cover any bare spots if thinning lawn issues arise. It also gives the added advantage of performing better than any other cool-season grass under hot, dry conditions. Fescue lawns feature deep rooting plants, allowing them to access water up to two metres below the topsoil for resilience during drought conditions.

A Self-Repairing and Low-Maintenance Option

The main innovation achieved with RTF turf is to significantly ramp up the rhizome production of regular tall fescue, enabling self-repair of hard-worn patches in a similar way to warm-season grasses. The unique way that RTF fescue’s rhizomes send shoots underground to establish independent root systems that sprout new plants sets it apart from other cool-season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass or Perennial Ryegrass. This self-repairing grass can also establish faster, so you can progress to less frequent watering more quickly.

Quality Assured From Paddock To Project

Lawn Solutions Australia Member

StrathAyr is proud to be a certified member of Lawn Solutions Australia, a national network of Australia’s leading turf growers. As part of this accreditation, all our turf varieties meet AusGAP quality standards and are supplied with a full product warranty certificate guaranteeing your turf for 10 years under standard warranty conditions.

From The Farm to Your Front Yard

StrathAyr grows and harvests all turf to order, ensuring it arrives fresh and ready for installation. Orders can be placed online 24/7 or by phone during business hours, with delivery within 24 hours of harvesting. Delivery is available across Melbourne, including regional areas such as Geelong, Ballarat and Shepparton, subject to scheduling. All deliveries are kerbside to your nature strip, with real-time tracking provided via SMS.

Learn more about our turf delivery process here.

Tall Fescue Turf Melbourne FAQs

What does RTF actually mean? +

RTF stands for Rhizomatous Tall Fescue. Developed in the early 1990s by US company Barenburg, the breakthrough achievement was selectively breeding a hybrid fescue grass with true rhizomes, offering all the features of standard tall fescue with added self-repair ability.

Is rhizomatous tall fescue suitable for shaded areas? +

Yes, it’s one of the most shade-tolerant cool-season grasses, making it perfect for under trees or next to fences.

Can I lay tall fescue lawn in winter? +

Yes! As a cool-season grass, RTF can be laid all year round in Melbourne, including winter months. Learn more about how to install natural turf here.

How often should I mow? +

RTF prefers regular mowing in the warmer months to maintain density, around every 10–14 days in peak growing seasons. Less frequent mowing is needed in winter.

How and when should I fertilise my RTF Tall Fescue lawn? +

For optimal health, fertilise your RTF Tall Fescue four times a year – March, April, September, and December – using a quality slow-release, high-nitrogen fertiliser. A March application is vital as it promotes deep root production for winter durability, while the April and September feeds fuel key growth periods. Apply a light feed in December, but avoid heavy fertilisation during the peak of summer to prevent stressing the lawn.

What type of soil does it grow best in? +

Like many turf types, tall fescue grass prefers well-draining soil, such as sandy loam, but it’s highly adaptable. With proper soil preparation and regular maintenance, it will thrive in most Melbourne garden conditions.

To learn more, discover even more Frequently Asked Questions about RTF Fall Fescue Australia-wide.

Product comparison table

Use our handy product comparison table to help choose the right turf for your project.

Wearing
Durable (High Wear)
Appearance
Leaf Blade Appearance
Water
Drought Tolerant
Sun
Shade Tolerance
Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Green
Green All Year
RTF Tall Fescue  upright / medium         
Sir Grange Zoysia (VIC ONLY)   upright / fine      
TifTuf Bermuda (VIC ONLY)    low / fine        
Sir Walter Buffalo   low / broad        
Eureka Kikuyu PBR (VIC ONLY)    low / broad      
Blueblend Premium (TAS ONLY)    upright / fine       

Calculate Your Turf ×

Calculate your lawn area

Calculating the size and area of your lawn is an important step in the process. While lawns often come in all shapes and sizes, determining your turf area is easy with our Turf Calculator!

  1. Sketch out your lawn
    On to the drawing board as they say!
  2. Break your shape into areas similar to the diagram above.
    This way, you’ll ensure each area is comprehensively covered.
  3. Use a measuring tape, determine the dimensions of each section of lawn.
    And don’t forget to write them down!
  4. Add the measurements into our handy calculator by clicking the button below.
    And now, it’s time to turf!

Choose Your Shape

Select and click a shape of your choosing below.

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Shape Area
Total Area
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