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In the early 90s, the University of Georgia began experiments to cultivate a drought-resistant, shade-tolerant variety of Bermuda couch grass. After 20 years of experimentation, they revealed TifTuf.
TifTuf has spread worldwide and has become one of Australia's most popular grass varietals. We would easily rank TifTuf grass as the best turf for Melbourne lawns — residential, commercial and public. Here’s why.
Place your TifTuf order with us today, or browse through our full range of lawn turf varieties.
What is TifTuf?
TifTuf is a fine-leaf grass varietal designed to resist droughts and shade. It was also cultivated to grow in a dense matrix that can withstand heavy traffic and rapidly repairs itself when damaged.
It’s hardy, of course, but what does TifTuf couch lawn look like? In a word: perfect. TifTuf grows thick, soft and bright green, making it an excellent choice for those who are after comfort, aesthetics, and durability.
Top 6 Reason To Choose Tiftuf Bermuda
So why is TifTuf so popular, and why does it deserve your attention? Here are the top six reasons TifTuf could be the grass for you.
1. TifTuf uses less water.
All grass needs sunlight, fertiliser, healthy soil, and water to survive. But TifTuf doesn’t need nearly as much water as other grasses, even other couches on the Australian market. US studies have shown that Tif Tuf uses up to 38% less water than similar lawn varieties, making TifTuf an excellent drought-tolerant grass for Australia.
2. TifTuf maintains better winter colour than other couch grasses.
Bermuda grasses typically lose colour during the cooler months, often going almost straw yellow. TifTuf is proven to retain greener colour during these cooler months, reducing the need to sow or colour your lawn.
3. TifTuf handles traffic and wear.
With impressively high wear tolerance, TifTuf is the perfect grass for high-traffic conditions. From sports fields and tennis courts to busy family backyards, TifTuf will self-repair quickly, no matter what you throw at it.
If you’re after an effective TifTuf fertiliser, let us recommend Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser.
4. TifTuf doesn’t require much fertilising.
Most lawn varieties require regular fertilising, but not TifTuf! We recommend fertilising TifTuf only three times a year. This is enough to provide all the nutrients the grass needs and maintain a healthy level of growth.
5. TifTuf loves sunshine and warmth.
TifTuf loves full sunshine and thrives in the Melbourne heat. With its dense leaves to soak up the light, TifTuf can thrive on a mere three hours of sunlight per day, making it an excellent shade-tolerant grass.
6. TifTuf is soft underfoot.
TifTuf has a naturally soft leaf and short length, making it feel very soft underfoot. Ideal for walking barefoot!
In conclusion, if you are looking for tough, drought-resistant, sunshine-loving grass that looks great and feels even better, TifTuf is a great choice.
TifTuf vs other lawn varieties
TifTuf vs Kikuyu grass
When it comes to temperature tolerance, TifTuf Bermuda couch has been cultivated specifically to maintain its thickness and colour during hot summers and frosty winters. Kikuyu grass, on the other hand, prefers the cooler climate and doesn’t cope with heat quite as well as TifTuf.
Kikuyu is drought tolerant, but not to the same degree as the couch cultivar. TifTuf is also the first grass in the world to be awarded the Smart Approved WaterMark for water efficiency.
If it’s TifTuf couch vs Kikuyu grass, we’d say TifTuf wins.
If you’d like to see what a stunning sea of TifTuf looks like on a sports field, check out our spread at Olinda Reserve.
TifTuf vs Sir Walter grass
TifTuf couch grass vs Sir Walter is probably the closest match to call. The Sir Walter variety was also cultivated to maximise drought tolerance. If that’s your primary criteria, then these are certainly the two lawn grasses you should consider.
However, we’d argue TifTuf is still the more drought-resistant strain. Not only is it a smidge hardier than the alternative, but Sir Walter also requires extremely heavy watering during its first few weeks for it to take deep root.
On the other hand, Sir Walter is a low-allergy grass, which could give it the edge if you want a backyard where allergy-sensitive children and pets will be playing.
Don’t just take our word for it: TifTuf grass reviews
“The best drought-tolerant grass we’ve ever seen in Australia.”
Jason Hodges, 4x Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) Gold medallist.