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, and even our Reclaimer Rhodes Grass may struggle where it is sown into areas affected by surface salt, although established plants stay productive at 4 to 10 dS/m. On saline sites we recommend sowing it as a monoculture using coated seed at 6 kg/ha, in spring when soils are above 18°C and rising, adding salt-tolerant legumes later.

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 light sands through to loams with pH 5 or higher, and is a long-lived warm-season perennial once established.

We recommend 4 to 8 kg/ha of Reclaimer Rhodes Grass, with 6 kg/ha as our rate for coated seed. In saline areas, sow it as a monoculture using coated seed and add salt-tolerant legumes later. 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 Rhodes Grass, and it has early, uniform flowering, which helps with cutting. In trials it produced up to 20% more dry matter than Katambora Rhodes Grass, and established plants stay productive in saline conditions of 4 to 10 dS/m.

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 Grass. 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 WA Northern Perennial Pasture Mix and WA Southern Perennial Pasture Mix also suit stabilisation work.

For a real salt problem, choose Reclaimer Rhodes Grass. Katambora Rhodes Grass 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.