RTF Tall Fescue Sod
The only tall fescue with true rhizomes — it self-repairs bare spots like bluegrass. RTF Tall Fescue stays green year-round, handles shade, and gives you a beautiful, self-healing lawn in every season.
Best planting times: Fall (September - October) or early spring (March - April). Fall planting gives the best results for Fescue in Tennessee.
Our Premium Tall Fescue
We grow a premium Tall Fescue blend on our Tennessee farm, selected for top performance in the transition zone climate.
RTF Tall Fescue
Self-Repairing & Year-Round GreenTri-Turf grows RTF (Rhizomatous Tall Fescue) — the only tall fescue with true rhizomes that self-repairs bare spots like bluegrass. This patented variety combines self-healing density with improved heat tolerance, disease resistance, and year-round color in Tennessee's transition zone climate.
- Self-repairs bare spots via underground rhizomes
- Superior heat tolerance for a fescue
- Strong disease and brown patch resistance
- Deep root system for drought tolerance
- Excellent shade tolerance (4-6 hours sun)
- Stays green through Tennessee winters
Best for: Tennessee lawns that need year-round green color, self-repairing density, shaded properties, and cooler microclimates.
View DetailsGrowing Conditions
As a cool-season grass, Fescue thrives in Tennessee's fall, winter, and spring and stays green when warm-season grasses go dormant.
Sunlight
Sun to Partial Shade
4-8 hours of sunlight daily
Season
Cool Season
Active growth in spring and fall
Year-Round Color
Stays Green
Green through Tennessee winters
Mowing Height
3 - 4 inches
Mow high for deeper roots
Best Uses for Fescue Sod
Tall Fescue is the go-to choice for Tennessee homeowners who want a green lawn every month of the year, especially in shaded or cooler areas.
Shaded Lawns
The best option for yards under large trees with 4-6 hours of filtered sunlight.
Year-Round Green
The only grass type that stays green through Tennessee winters when Bermuda and Zoysia are dormant.
Cooler Microclimates
Ideal for north-facing slopes, higher elevations, and areas that stay cooler throughout the year.
Low-Traffic Residential
Beautiful for front yards, garden borders, and areas where aesthetics are the top priority.
Fescue Maintenance Quick Guide
Fescue care is different from warm-season grasses. The key is keeping it healthy through summer heat.
Watering
Water 1-1.5 inches per week, especially during summer. Fescue has deep roots but needs consistent moisture during hot weather to avoid summer stress and thinning.
Mowing
Mow at 3-4 inches high. Taller mowing promotes deeper roots and shade for the soil. Never cut more than one-third of the blade height at a time.
Fertilizing
Apply 3-4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft per year. Fertilize primarily in fall (September and November) with a lighter application in spring. Avoid heavy summer fertilization.
Fall Overseeding
RTF Tall Fescue self-repairs via rhizomes, so annual overseeding is usually not needed. Light overseeding every 2-3 years can help maintain peak density after heavy summer stress.
Weed Control
Apply pre-emergent in late February or early March for crabgrass prevention. Spot-treat broadleaf weeds in fall when Fescue is actively growing and can fill in bare spots.
Summer Stress
Fescue may thin during extreme summer heat. Raise mowing height to 4 inches, water deeply, and avoid heavy traffic. The lawn will recover as temperatures cool in September.
Fescue Sod FAQ
Common questions about growing Tall Fescue in Tennessee.
When is the best time to install Fescue sod in Tennessee?
Does Fescue stay green all year in Tennessee?
Can Fescue handle shade?
Does RTF Tall Fescue need to be overseeded?
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