Tifway

Tifway has been the most popular sports turf for the last fifty years by combining toughness with beauty. Its dense, rapidly spreading growth habit means quick recovery from injury, making it one of the most durable hybrid Bermudas. Tifway is for use on fairways, roughs, and sports fields. As well, Tifway is used for commercial application as well as for residential lawn application.

Tifway is a hybrid bermudagrass cross of Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis germplasma. It is characterized as having a dark green color with medium fine textured leaves. Tifway hybrid bermudagrass is dense with a medium to low growth habit. This variety is a vigorous grower and thus establishes quickly at planting.

The 2001 NTEP trial conducted in Griffin, Georgia showed that Tifway had a better quality ratings than Tifsport.

Characteristics

The temperature range of adaptation of Tifway is defined by the fact that Tifway grows best in warm climates within 45 degrees latitude to the equator while also tolerating temperatures in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees celsius). Under this same heading, please change the last sentence to: Tifway will become dormant after repeated winter frosts, but it will recover quickly when temperatures warm.

The grass may become dormant after repeated winter frosts but recovers quickly when temperatures warm.

Water Quality Tolerance

On a suitably drained profile, Tifway can tolerate soil concentration of 2500 ppm total salts. It is well adapted to “brown” water sources and is commonly used in municipal and food industry effluent land application systems.

Drought Tolerance

Tifway will survive droughts with minimal water availability. One to two inches (25 to 50 mm) of actual available water weekly to the plant will provide an acceptable turf surface. Tifway will survive at 1/2 inch (12 mm) irrigation per week, dependant on soil physics.

Traffic and Wear Tolerance

Tifway provides very good recuperative rates of all warm season turfgrasses and is a vigorous regenerator.

Weed Tolerance

Tifway’s dense growth, when properly maintained, efficiently competes with the presence of many turf weeds. Tifway easily tolerates broadcast application of selective herbicides labeled for use on bermudagrass.

Insect/Pest Tolerance

Tifway demonstrates tolerance and /or quick recovery from damage after pest infestations. Tifway tolerates broadcast application of insecticides labeled for use on bermudagrass.

Soil Fertility

Tifway grows best when soil pH is between 5.5 to 7.0. Soil levels of 100 pounds per acre (112 kg per hectare) of phosphorous and 150 to 200 pounds per acre (168 to 224 kg per hectare) potassium will provide sufficient plant growth. Nitrogen applied at 1 pound per 1,000 square feet per month will provide a healthy plant when combined with the recommended phosphorous and potassium.

Establishment

Tifway is a sterile (no viable seeds) triploid plant species and is successfully propagated as sprigs (rhizomes and stolons) and sod.