TifTuf™ Bermudagrass is typically selected for its drought tolerance and ability to maintain turf quality under drought stress. Once TifTuf™ is established, it will rarely need irrigation, even during moderate drought.
University drought tests have TifTuf™ consistently ranked as the highest quality and appearance over time compared to all other Bermudagrasses.
Drought Tolerant
Traffic Tolerant
Requires Less Watering
Great In The Shade
Dense and Hearty
TifTuf™ Bermuda is only available as blue tag certified sod. This assurance of quality is provided by each state’s certifying agency where it was produced.
TifTuf™ Bermudagrass is the most drought tolerant turf available and requires 38% less water than the industry standard Bermudagrass. It was developed at the renowned University of Georgia breeding program and extensively researched at universities across the nation.
Benefits of TifTuf™ Bermuda Lawn
- Decreased water bill every month.
- Sets roots quickly, requiring less water to become established in the landscape.
- Requires less watering once established.
- Less fertilizer needed than other Bermudagrasses.
- Greens up earlier in spring.
- Holds its color longer into the fall.
- Great traffic tolerance for pets, kids, etc.
- Easy lawn maintenance.
TifTuf™ Bermudagrass Lawn Maintenace Calendar
Newly Installed TifTuf™ Lawn
- First 14 Days After an Installation in March – November
TifTuf™ installed during this window will take 7-21 days to root depending on weather. - Irrigation:
Irrigate daily to keep soil consistently moist underneath the sod pad. If the soil underneath the sod isn’t wet continue to apply water until it is. - Fertilizer:
Apply starter fertilizer within 7 days of installation to ensure plant has the nutrients it needs to grow. - Maintenance:
- After TifTuf™ Bermudagrass is rooted (you can’t pull it up), you can stop irrigation other than during prolonged, extreme drought periods. General recommendations call for 1″ of water from rain or irrigation per week, depending on soil conditions and climate, although TifTuf™ may thrive without irrigation once established.
- While other Bermudagrasses survive drought conditions by going dormant and greening up at the first exposure to moisture, TifTuf™ stays green without going dormant under normal drought stress.
Spring TifTuf™ Maintenance
- Mowing:
- Mow the lawn at .5″ to 2″ tall when it first turns green.
- After the first mowing, leave the grass clippings on your lawn — they decompose quickly and help provide some of the lawn’s fertilizer needs.
- Mow no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade off at one mowing.
- The optimal cut range for TifTuf™ is 1″ to 1.5″ tall.
- Use sharp mower blades.
- Can be mowed with rotary mowers or reel mowers for a cleaner cut.
- Fertilization:
- TifTuf™ requires less fertilization than other Bermudagrasses. Needs will vary given the climate and conditions. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for fertilizer recommendations.
- TifTuf™ requires less fertilization than other Bermudagrasses. Needs will vary given the climate and conditions. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for fertilizer recommendations.
- Weed Control:
- Using weed control is an important part of any lawn maintenance plan. Use products that are specifically for Bermudagrass.
- At least three weeks after the grass turns green, apply post-emergent herbicides as needed (only if weeds are present).
- Always read the herbicide label and follow the directions carefully.
Summer TifTuf™ Maintenance
- Irrigation:
- Optimal water management, as with any grass, is dependent on soil, physical characteristics, and climate. While the watering rule-of-thumb for most grass types is to provide 1″ of water per week, in our southeastern climate, TifTuf™ rarely needs to be irrigated when grown in good soil once roots are established.
- Mowing:
- Keep the cut height in a range of .5″ to 2″.
- Optimal cut height range is 1″ to 1.5″ tall.
- Fertilization:
- Remember, TifTuf™ requires less fertilization than other Bermudagrasses. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for fertilization recommendations.
- Remember, TifTuf™ requires less fertilization than other Bermudagrasses. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for fertilization recommendations.
- Weed Control:
- Apply post-emergent herbicides as needed to control summer annual and perennial broadleaf weeds.
- Apply post-emergent herbicides only if weeds are present, the grass is actively growing, and the lawn is not experiencing drought stress.
- Irrigation:
Fall and Winter TifTuf™ Maintenance
- Mowing:
- Continue mowing at .5″ to 2″ until several weeks before the first expected frost.
- As winter approaches, raise the mowing hight to 2″.
- Dormancy:
- TifTuf™ goes dormant for the winter but offers excellent spring green up and green color retention into fall.
- Weed Control:
- Apply pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides as needed to control winter annual and perennial broadleaf weeds.
- Apply post-emergent only when weeds are present.
- If the lawn is to be overseeded with ryegrass, do no apply herbicides designed to control annual bluegrass.
NG Turf Sod Farms
If you would like to learn more about or purchase TifTuf™ Bermuda, contact our Certified Turfgrass Professionals at 770-832-8608 or info@NGTurf.com.
