Reclaimer Rhodes Grass

We recommend Reclaimer Rhodes Grass. It was selected for salt tolerance, and trials show established plants stay productive at 4 to 10 dS/m and can survive up to 20 dS/m. It is a summer-active perennial that forms a dense mat. On saline sites we suggest sowing it on its own and adding salt-tolerant legumes later.

Surface salt makes establishment hard for almost any plant, including our Reclaimer Rhodes Grass, which may struggle where surface salt is present even though established plants are highly salt tolerant. We suggest sowing on the edges of the scald and letting its strong stolons spread across. Sow 6 kg/ha of coated seed in spring when soils are above 18°C and rising.

Reclaimer Rhodes Grass is a strong choice for erosion control. It is highly stoloniferous, with more stolons and growing points than other varieties, so it forms a dense mat and binds the soil faster. It suits loamy sands through to loams with pH 5 or higher, and it is summer active where soil moisture is available.

On saline sites we recommend 6 kg/ha of coated Reclaimer Rhodes Grass sown as a monoculture, with salt-tolerant legumes added later. Our general rate is 4 to 8 kg/ha. Sow onto or just below the surface, no deeper than 2cm, into a fine, firm seedbed. Some seed has dormancy and may keep germinating for up to 6 months.

Yes, Reclaimer Rhodes Grass is an excellent hay option. It kept the finer stems and palatability of Finecut, and it has early, uniform flowering, which helps with cutting. In trials it produced up to 20% more dry matter than Katambora. On saline country it remains productive where many other pasture grasses would fail.

Sow in early spring, once soil temperatures are above 18°C and rising. For our Reclaimer Rhodes Grass, sow onto or just below the soil surface, no deeper than 2cm. The seed will wait in the soil until there is enough rain, and seeds with some dormancy may germinate over the next 6 months, which helps fill gaps.

We recommend waiting 8 to 10 months, or until plants are mature and going reproductive, before grazing new Reclaimer Rhodes Grass. This lets stolons spread and plants anchor. After that, graze rotationally from 25 to 30cm down to 12 to 15cm, and do not overgraze over summer, especially on saline ground where bare patches can quickly return.

Yes. Away from saline areas, Reclaimer Rhodes Grass complements more upright varieties in a mixture, such as Finecut Rhodes Grass and Gatton Panic. On saline sites we recommend sowing it on its own and adding salt-tolerant legumes later. Its creeping habit helps fill gaps between bunch grasses and gives quicker ground cover.

We suggest Reclaimer Rhodes Grass where fast ground cover matters. Its high stolon density and many growing points help it spread and cover ground faster than other Rhodes varieties, binding the soil. It suits pH 5 or higher and 300mm or more of rain. For a broader blend, our Northern and Southern Perennial Pasture Mixes are also suited to stabilisation work.

For a real salt problem, choose Reclaimer Rhodes Grass. Katambora has only limited salt tolerance, while established Reclaimer stays productive at 4 to 10 dS/m and can survive up to 20 dS/m. Reclaimer also produced up to 20% more dry matter than Katambora in trials. Katambora is better suited to colder sites south of Perth.