T.L.C. Blend
Turf-Type Tall Fescue Blend
Beautiful. Hardy. Durable.
T.L.C. Tall Fescue Blend is a special formulation of great-performing and compatible tall fescues that fit together to create a beautiful, yet durable and hardy lawn.
Find a dealerT.L.C. Tall Fescue Blend
T.L.C. Tall Fescue Blend is a special formulation of great-performing and compatible tall fescues that fit together to create a beautiful, yet durable and hardy lawn.
This blend is made with at least one of our Titan varieties and combined only with approved varieties specifically selected to both enhance and complement the performance of the Titan varieties. With its natural dark-green color and fine-leaved texture, deep roots, natural pest and disease resistance, and self-repairing rhizomes, T. L.C. Tall Fescue Blend should provide you with many years of beauty and durability.
Why A Blend?
There are good scientific arguments validating using blends, as well as using single cultivars. Mostly it is a matter of preference, but the main reason blends are recommended is for genetic diversification. While in many cases the best answer is a single cultivar, every cultivar has its limitations. By adding additional varieties to a plant population, some of the limitations can be overcome. For example, with disease resistance, each cultivar will respond differently to an occurrence of disease. Sometimes a blend may better resist a disease collectively than the individual varieties. This is especially true in considering the overall band of potential diseases.
Why T.L.C.?
We are very picky about what goes into our T.L.C. tall fescue blends. We look at the regional performances of specific varieties and how well they will work with our Titan grasses, ensuring that you get a great-looking lawn in every bag.
Features
Genetic Diversification
T.L.C Tall Fescue Blends are specially formulated to combine the strengths and benefits of differing tall fescue genetics. The diversity of the varieties isn’t necessarily visible but acts more as an insurance policy against disease and other pressures.
Grows In Sun & Shade
Shade tolerance is an important feature, especially for areas with mature landscapes or near buildings where turf is desired on the shady side.
Heat Tolerant
T.L.C. handles the heat. All of our Titan genetics are designed to handle heat associated with the southernmost region of the transition zone recommended for cool season tall fescues.
Rhizomes & Recovery
T.L.C. Tall Fescue blend now has multiple rhizome-producing varieties and aggressive tillers, enabling it better recovery, density, and the ability to fill in bare spots.
Disease Resistant
Each of the varieties in T.L.C. has improved disease resistance against many diseases including brown patch, red thread, and rust. And since T.L.C. includes the Titan genetic, T.L.C. has great come-back ability.
Great Color
T.L.C. Tall Fescue looks great! Its rich, medium-dark green color makes it perfect for new lawns, and for overseeding existing lawns. Not too light and not too dark – just right!
Dense and Upright
T.L.C. Tall Fescue Blend provides high density, helping reduce weed infestation and promote upright attractive turf, due in part to its aggressive tillers and self-repairing rhizomes.
Deep Roots
T.L.C. Tall Fescue Blend plants go deep! Its extensive and deep root system is key to survival in the shade as well as in the sun. They also help reduce soil erosion.
Sun and Shade
Sun
Our Titan varieties were selected to thrive in full sun areas with intense solar pressure, rapid moisture evaporation, and warm ground temperatures. Its deep roots and dense canopy work in harmony to both prevent unnecessary water evaporation as well as capture moisture and nutrients deep down into the soil. Studies have shown that tall fescue can put roots down as deep as six feet.
Shade
Shade tolerance is an important feature, especially for areas with mature landscapes or near buildings where turf is desired on the shady side. Titan Rx, one of the common components in T.L.C., has exceptional shade tolerance. In national turf trials conducted from 2006-2011, Titan Rx demonstrated that it could take shade better than most all other tall fescues. Out of 113 entries, including many popular varieties, Titan Rx had the second-highest score!
Heat Tolerance
How's it work?
It’s one thing to have a very hot day. It’s another thing to have a stretch of days where both daytime and nighttime temperatures are oppressive. Cool-season grasses, like tall fescue, do not perform well in these situations. To survive, they must protect themselves. All energy is put into survival. Shallow-rooted species and weaker varieties simply don’t make it.
T.L.C handles the heat, by using varieties which have demonstrated strong heat tolerance. For example, Titan Rx, a typical component of T.L.C., has shown excellent heat tolerance. While still a cool-season variety, Titan Rx finds a way to survive, so that when the hot spell is over, there are more plants left in the stand to regrow. And thanks to its self-repairing rhizomes and aggressive tillers, there is even more chance that bare spots will naturally fill in.
Here’s the Proof
In 2010, at a research site in Griffin, Georgia, 113 tall fescue varieties were being evaluated. That summer was one for the record books, with over 40 days of temperatures above 90°F! While all plots were set back and went into survival mode, many could not take the heat. An extended hot, dry fall didn’t make it any easier for plots to recover. By December of 2010, the differences were clearly visible.
However, Titan Rx had high plant counts and good density. In fact, it was one of only a small minority of plots, out of the 113 NTEP entries, that maintained their density and quality. By the next May, the real results showed themselves: many varieties were still showing damage, but Titan Rx looked great! Heat tolerance makes a difference!
June 09, 2010: Before the Summer of 2010, all 113 entries looked pretty good.
December 15, 2010: After the summer and extended warm fall, Titan Rx still looks good, but others have literally been burned out.
May 31, 2011: By the end of the following May, Titan Rx shows the benefit of heat tolerance. Note other plots now look very clumpy and have large bare spots.
Rhizomes
The Titans have a reputation similar to what Timex® had with its classic watches. They can “take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’!” Some genetic qualities simply make these grasses get back up and live when other varieties either die or take longer to recover from damage. Whether that damage comes from hard play, intense disease pressure, pets, drought, cold, or other sources, there’s a good chance that your Titan lawn will come out looking good.
So why is that? What’s so special about the Titan grasses?
First of all, as mentioned before, the Titans just come from hardy stock. It’s like trying to answer the question, “Why are the McCrackens always so strong”, or “How come all the Morses can throw a ball so hard?” It just is!
Secondly, the Titans have something that only a few other tall fescues have, an extensive rhizome system. These horizontal underground stems or "rhizomes" spread out to bare spots and send out new shoots and roots which aid in quicker repair and the ongoing thickening of the turf stand. Sometimes tough play, a neighborhood dog, or some bad disease may come through and wipe out a few plants, potentially leaving your lawn with bare spots. So even when your Titan lawn gets knocked around some, the rhizomes constantly act as self-repairing tools, ready and willing to create new plants when needed.
T.L.C. Blend Photos
