Bermudagrass is valued for its exceptional heat and drought tolerance and a capacity to withstand heavy use and recuperate quickly. This combination of qualities leads many sports facility owners in the Tropics to rely on Bermudagrass for its toughness and resilience.
Bermuda grass flourishes in sites with full, direct sun and good drainage. It has superior heat, salt and humidity tolerance and, is very drought tolerant, too. Though the majority of Bermuda's roots stay within 6 inches of the surface, they can reach 6 feet or more in depth.
This extensive root system provides more resilience against environmental stresses.
Bermudagrass has the fastest growth rate of any of the warm-season grasses. It spreads by both above-ground stems known as stolons and below-ground stems called rhizomes. While its aggressive growth rate can make Bermudagrass difficult to contain, it enables the grass to endure heavy use. It recuperates from damage far more quickly than most grasses, and, as a result, is the preferred grass for athletic fields and golf course tee areas and fairways.
Unlike some warm-season choices, Bermudagrass lawns can be started from seed, giving you added options and advantages.
BERMUDA AT A GLANCE
TifGrand®Bermudagrass
TifGrand® Bermudagrass is the stuff fields of dreams are made of. Known for its dark green color and fine leaf blades, it’s a natural choice for playing surfaces.If it offers an MVP performance against world-class athletes on game day, you can count on it to look great every day your athletes take your field. TifGrand Bermudagrass thrives well in shade or full sunlight, yet one more reason why facility owners regard it like a true champion.
Key Benefits of TifGrand Certified Bermudagrass.
Turfgrass Tech Sheet
TifGrand® Bermudagrass
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy.
Description: TifGrand was selected for its shade tolerance, darker green leaf color, finer leaf texture, and improved turf density. It is a sterile hybrid Bermudagrass that spreads by above ground runners (stolons) and below ground rhizomes to form a lush green turf. TifGrand is darker green than Tifway.
Uses: TifGrand performs well in residential and commercial land- scapes as well as other high use areas like shaded golf tees, parks, and sports fields.
Adaptability: TifGrand has been tested from Illinois to Kansas and is most successful in typical Bermudagrass areas through the transition zone and southward. After the cold 2014 and 2015 winters, TifGrand greened up with little damage, showing its improved cold tolerance.
Adaptability Zones: Zones 7b to 11a on the 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map or Zones 1-2 on the Turfgrass Hardiness Map.
Dormancy: TifGrand is a warm-season grass that, after first frost, goes dormant for the winter. Typically it goes dormant later and greens up sooner that other Bermudagrasses.
Shade Tolerance: TifGrand Bermuda turfgrass is scientifically developed to withstand up to 50% shade, provided soils are well- drained, competition from tree roots is minimized, mow height is kept low, and 4-6 hours of direct sunlight is received. If those criteria are met, TifGrand performs in shade better than other hybrid Bermudagrasses like Tifway and TifSport.
Drought Tolerance & Water Management: TifGrand survives drought conditions by going dormant, then greens up at the first exposure to moisture. TifGrand does not like poorly drained soils especially where water may stand for several days. Optimum water management, as with any grass, is dependent on soil physical characteristics and climate. In general, TifGrand will require 1” of water per week.
Weed Tolerance: A well-maintained, vigorous TifGrand lawn with good turf density will inhibit weed establishment, but to be sure, use of a pre-emergent herbicide (recommended for use on Bermuda lawns on the label) is recommended in the spring and fall. TifGrand is tolerant to most herbicides, but carefully read and follow all herbicide product labels.
Insect Tolerance: TifGrand is susceptible to the typical Bermudagrass insect pests, however it uniquely demonstrates non-preference by mole crickets.
Disease Resistance: Diseases are a minor problem with TifGrand and it is more resistant to Spring Dead Spot (SDS) than common Bermudagrass selections like Celebration. We recommend annual spring compost topdressing with our Soil3 organic compost to mini- mize disease impact and help control thatch.
Traffic & Wear Tolerance: TifGrand tolerates wear and traffic from activities such as football, soccer, baseball, and golf. Because of its rapid growth rate, when managed properly, recovery is normally faster than other warm season grasses with the same amount of wear.
Fertility: Apply between 3 and 6 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually, during the growing season. TifGrand maintains its dark green color under reduced nitrogen inputs better than other Bermudagrasses. Select a fertilizer that is labeled for use on Bermudagrass lawns. Too much fertility will result in a thatchy and unhealthy lawn. Always fertilize based on a soil test. Don’t use high nitrogen “winterizers” in the fall.
Compost topdressing with Soil3 and aerating in the spring, after spring green up, can supply one of TifGrand’s fertilizer applications for the year. The practice of compost topdressing with Soil3 is true organic lawn care.
Soil pH: Bermuda thrives on a neutral to alkaline soil with a pH range of 6 to 7. Do not apply lime to Bermuda without a soil test.
Mowing Height: Maintain cutting height of 0.5-1.5 inches. When grown in the shade, mow height should be under 1”. Mowing may be required on a 4 to 7 day interval. Mow no more than 1/3 of the leaf off at one mowing. Use sharp mower blades. Can be mowed with rotary mowers or use reel mowers for a cleaner cut.
Establishment: TifGrand boasts aggressive establishment from stolon during the growing season, yet TifGrand sod can be laid all year long, even when dormant. TifGrand is not available from seed.
Quality: TifGrand is only available only from the licensed grower. The unauthorized/unlicensed commercial propagation or transfer of this product to third parties for such propagation is prohibited by the patent owner. Chubu Co.,Ltd, Tottori, Japan is a Licensed Grower and authorized supplier of certified TifGrand in Japan and South East Asian Countries including Malaysia.