Christopher Sorrell said: My course is considering changing our bent greens to ultradwarf bermudagrass. I am trying to learn as much as possible about what the maintenance of this sort of grass entails. If anyone would be willing to share their maintenance/cultural plans for maintaining these sorts of greens I would appreciate it. The more detail the better. Thanks.
Christopher, I have had TifEagle since 1999 and love it. But I am also located right outside New Orleans where it stays hot most of the time. I think I have heard that the Mini Verde has done better in colder climates and would imagine that others can give you more information then myself.
From a growers point of view the ultra dwarfs require more work due to their thatch development.
They are not like regular grass due to the extra growth.
To me it only requires extra attention to your programs and your maintenance routines. I had to forget everything I had learned in growing regular Tifdwarf and retrain my brain to a new routine. While it seems like a lot more work I can honestly say that I sleep a whole lot better knowing that my ultradwarf will not die overnight.
One thing you should be asking is how much more per year does it cost to have ultra dwarf? I am a really low budget course (wasn't that way when we planted it) and would have to say that for me it was almost a wash because I spent a lot of money in fungicides and other chemicals trying to keep 328 greens with no drainage living and putting fast. if cost is no factor then by all means go for it because I love the ultradwarf turf.