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Research at Work: Turfgrass

From football stadiums and golf courses to your own backyard, athletes of all ages play on turfgrass developed by researchers at the University of Georgia. Our latest bermudagrass variety, TifTuf, uses up to 38 percent less water and recovers from drought and wear faster than our previous varieties. Turfgrass plays an important role in our landscape and everyday lives, which is why our researchers work hard to develop and test varieties that thrive, even in less-than-ideal conditions. 


Latest bermudagrass TifTuf 

While other Bermuda grasses survive drought conditions by going dormant and then greening up at the first exposure to moisture, TifTuf stays green because it doesn't go dormant under drought stress. Optimum water management, as with any grass, is dependent on the soil’s physical characteristics and climate. While the rule of thumb for watering most grass types is to provide 1 inch of water per week, TifTuf — in many areas —simply doesn’t need to be irrigated once its roots are established in good soil, except in cases of extreme drought.

Other than drought, the most common problem seen with Bermuda grass lawns is stress brought on by too much shade. TifTuf thrives in light ranging from full sun to partial shade. While it certainly won’t grow in full shade, it is more shade tolerant than any of the other Bermuda grass varieties.

Turfgrass testing 

Before varieties hit the marketplace, they have to go through extensive trials and testing. The video below shows how our researchers test wear and tear on turf to make sure it stands up. 


Turfgrass News

As The Cliffs at Keowee Falls’ superintendent and senior agronomist, CAES alumnus Jim Evans is responsible for all the outdoor spaces at the community, including its 160-acre, 18-hole course full of rugged boulders and waterfalls. CAES News
UGA turfgrass alumnus finds his calling in golf course management and natural spaces
Jim Evans rises before the sun for his commute to work, not even passing a stoplight on his drive to The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, a golf community in rural South Carolina. He starts each day doing the thing he loves most — mowing the greens.
Brian Schwartz at UGA-Tifton CAES News
New ‘Tif3D’ turfgrass promises superior putting-green performance
After nearly a decade of research trials, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences turfgrass breeder Brian Schwartz and a dedicated team of colleagues and industry partners released a cutting-edge bermudagrass variety called ‘Tif3D’ earlier this year. ‘Tif3D’ is a specialty grass developed specifically for putting greens and boasts the unparalleled performance and playability putting greens require, said Schwartz, a professor in the CAES Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.
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