RTF® + HGT® Sod

Two Proven Technologies. One High-Performance Sod.

Turf takes a beating from traffic, play, drought, and everyday use. RTF^® + HGT^® Sod is designed not only to withstand those stresses, but to actively recover from them.

RTF^® + HGT^® Sod combines self-repairing RTF^® powered tall fescue with HGT^® powered Kentucky bluegrass to create a dense, durable sod built for demanding conditions. RTF^® produces rhizomes that spread underground into surrounding areas, helping turf repair damaged and thinning areas. HGT^® adds aggressive growth, excellent traffic tolerance, strong spring green-up, and outstanding disease resistance. Together, they deliver a sod with exceptional recovery and long-term turf performance. 

Why Choose RTF^® + HGT^® Sod?

• Self-Repairing Growth: RTF^® produces rhizomes that spread underground and generate new growth, helping turf fill in thin, worn, and damaged areas.
• Exceptional Traffic Tolerance: The combination of self-repairing RTF^® and aggressive HGT^® helps turf withstand traffic and recover from wear, making it an excellent choice for sports, golf, parks, and other heavily used areas.
• Deep, Extensive Rooting: RTF^® powered tall fescue develops an extensive root system that helps create durable turf capable of handling periods of heat and drought.
• Improved Turf Density: The complementary growth habits of RTF^® tall fescue and HGT^® Kentucky bluegrass help create a thick, durable turf canopy.
• Water Savings: RTF^® + HGT^® Sod is designed to develop an extensive root system and can save 30% water compared with comparable cool-season turfgrasses.
• Multi-Disease Resistance: Both RTF^® and HGT^® powered grasses bring proven disease resistance to the blend, helping create healthier, more resilient turf.
• Lower Thatch Accumulation: Despite its aggressive growth, RTF^® + HGT^® Sod produces less thatch than traditionally expected from Kentucky bluegrass, helping reduce maintenance over time. 

Self-Repairing with RTF^® Technology

Unlike conventional tall fescue that primarily grows in individual bunches, RTF^® (Rhizomatous Tall Fescue) is bred to produce rhizomes that spread underground and generate new growth. This gives the turf the ability to spread into thin or damaged areas and repair itself over time.

While many tall fescues are capable of producing some rhizomes, RTF^® powered varieties are specifically bred for both rhizome count and rhizome length, resulting in significant tillering and spreading capabilities. Trial data included with the product demonstrates the substantial differences in rhizome production among tall fescue varieties. 

That self-repairing growth provides several practical advantages:

• Repairs damaged turf: Rhizomes help fill thin and worn areas with new growth.
• Recovers from traffic: Spreading growth helps turf recover following wear.
• Creates denser turf: New shoots help maintain a thick, durable turf canopy.
• Reduces overseeding: Its ability to spread and recover can mean less overseeding and fewer opportunities for weeds.
• Anchors sod faster: Rhizomatous growth helps installed sod anchor more quickly. 

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Stronger Performance with HGT^® Technology

HGT^® (Healthy Grass Technology) complements RTF^®'s self-repairing growth with aggressive Kentucky bluegrass selected for exceptional turf performance.

The HGT^® component features Barvette, an NTEP standard variety that brings excellent traffic recovery, disease resistance, and seasonal performance to the blend. The tech sheet's NTEP data shows particularly strong performance for Summer Patch resistance, spring cover, and spring green-up.  

Together, HGT^® and RTF^® help turf recover from damage while maintaining the density, appearance, and performance expected from professionally managed turf.

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Multi-Disease Resistance

Healthy turf needs to withstand more than traffic and drought. RTF^® powered and HGT^® powered grasses have independently demonstrated resistance to important turf diseases and insects.

RTF^® powered varieties are endophyte enhanced, while HGT^® powered varieties have consistently ranked among the top groups in NTEP trials for diseases including Summer Patch and Stem Rust. 

Combining the two technologies provides another layer of resilience for turf managers dealing with challenging growing conditions.

Exceptionally Strong Spring Green-Up

Kentucky bluegrass can be slow to break winter dormancy, delaying spring color and playability. Barvette has demonstrated strong spring green-up, helping RTF^® + HGT^® Sod regain color and coverage earlier in the season. 

For golf courses, sports fields, parks, and other professionally managed turf, that can help provide better early-season appearance and earlier spring use.

Less Overseeding, Weeding, Disease, and Watering

The benefits of RTF^® + HGT^® Sod go beyond turf appearance.

Rhizomatous growth helps sod anchor faster after installation requiring 30% less water, while its spreading ability can reduce the need for overseeding and help limit opportunities for weed encroachment. Its combination of deep rooting, self-repair, traffic recovery, disease resistance, and lower thatch accumulation can also help reduce maintenance demands over the life of the turf. 

Built for Professional Turf

RTF^® + HGT^® Sod is designed for demanding cool-season turf applications where durability, recovery, density, and appearance matter.

Recommended Applications:

• Golf Courses
• Sports Fields
• Lawn & Landscape
• Parks & High Traffic Areas

Sod That Doesn't Just Take the Wear. It Recovers From It.

RTF^® + HGT^® Sod combines the self-repairing growth and deep rooting of RTF^® with the aggressive growth, disease resistance, traffic tolerance, and spring performance of HGT^®. Together, these technologies create dense, durable sod that can recover from damage and continue performing under demanding conditions. Find an RTF^® + HGT^® Sod grower near you.

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