In tests conducted in Alabama, Oklahoma and Georgia, TifBlair had equal or better turf quality than the other tested centipede varieties. The fact is, TifBlair produces more stolons with more leaves more quickly than common centipede. While TifBlair’s winter dormant color is similar to common centipede, its late season color retention is far superior to common centipede and a point better than both Oaklawn and Tenn Hardy.
Common centipede’s poor rooting characteristics have limited it to sites with good soil and water availability. TifBlair, on the other hand, is an ideal choice for construction sites with eroded, low pH soils such as those routinely found in the southeastern coastal plains, piedmont and mountain regions. The chart below clearly demonstrates TifBlair’s ability for aggressive growth in both low and high pH soils.
Comparison of TifBlair Certified Centipede and Common Centipede Growth in Low pH Soils |
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Soil pH Level | TifBlair | Common | Growth Advantage |
Low pH-Plant Diameter | 84" | 52" | 62% |
High pH-Plant Diameter | 88" | 80" | 10% |
One of the biggest advantages of TifBlair over common centipede and St. Augustine grass is its improved cold tolerance. Tests conducted over 3 winters at Stillwater, OK and Blairsville, GA, demonstrated that TifBlair can survive prolonged severe winter temperatures. This is good news if you’re looking for an aggressive, low-maintenance turf that will do well on highway roadsides or commercial and residential lawns in the more northerly regions.
With the volatile weather patterns, water shortages and outright water bans of the last few years, no wonder landscape professionals are looking for grasses with improved drought tolerance. TifBlair’s unique deep-rooting system gives it the ability to produce superior turf even in poor quality soils and under persistent day-in day-out dry conditions.
On-farm comparisons of TifBlair and common centipede have shown that TifBlair grown from seed establishes more rapidly and with greater consistency than common centipede. This translates into a big advantage for homeowners and landscape professionals ike. Everybody benefits from shorter grow-in times, fewer weed problems and denser turf stands. And that’s the beauty of certified TifBlair centipede.
TifBlair has been exclusively licensed to The Turfgrass Group, Inc (TTG) and its sublicensees for sod production. Along with the Georgia Seed Development Commission, TTG is responsible for overseeing the propagation and sale of TifBlair [Read More]
Charles Harris of Sandhill Turf in Candor, North Carolina observes. "It has quick, vigorous seed establishment, much better than common. It has
TifBlair testimonial