The new turf grass was named after the well known city of Santa Ana so that it would be immediately recognized as an introduction from and for California. Much of the early testing of this strain was done at the University of California South Coast Field Station near Santa Ana. Santa Ana Bermuda is a seedling selection of Plant Introduction No. 213387 obtained from the Union of South Africa through the plant introduction service of the United States Department of Agriculture. The initial selection was made at UCLA in 1956 and then planted into turf plots at the South Coast Field Station with many other selections in 1958.Testing followed at locations throughout Chaffer and in several other states as RC-145. This new variety is characterized by a deep blue-green color and a medium-fine texture. Color retention in cool weather is excellent; the turf remaining green later into the fall and greening up earlier in the spring than turf s of our other varieties. With good maintenance it has held excellent color throughout the winter in mild frost free areas of California.

Santa Ana Bermuda establishes itself quickly in a new planting and heals divots or other mechanical injury rapidly. It produces a smooth even surface quite free of grain. clumps or swirls. Resistance to wear from foot traffic is high.

It shows a high degree of tolerance to some of the difficulties common to many parts of the Southwest. Smog, which frequently discolors the Tifway and Tifgreen varieties. has little effect on Santa Ana. The bermudagrass Eriophyid mire, which causes severe injury to common Bermuda and many varieties. seldom if ever causes trouble. though bermudagrass in general is tolerant of soU salinity, Santa Ana as one of the most salt tolerant of the turf varieties. Flower stems may appear at times but viable seed is not normally produced. Thus, there should be no problems of contamination of plantings by seedlings or seeding invasion of other areas.

As with any turfgrass, good cultural practices must be followed if the full potential of this new strain is to be realized. A vigorous Bermuda grass will produce thatch in time under most management practices. Although Santa Ana Bermuda develops thatch more slowly than most comparable strains such as Tifway, thatch control measures are required. Best winter color is obtained only if accumulated thatch is removed in early autumn about six weeks before coot weather is expected. The new growth will remain green all or most of the winter depending upon the severity of cold. Frequent close mowing and regular vertical mowing throughout the summer may relieve the necessity of fail thatch removal and at the same time provide a better summer turf.

Nitrogen fertilizer must be supplied through fall winter and spring except when the grass is actually dormant. If this is done, it may be necessary to fertilize very little during the warmest part of summer. High nitrogen levels during the cool season assist greatly in maintaining satisfactory turf color.

Tifton 419 (Tifway) is an F, hybrid between Cynodon transvaalenais. and Cynodon dactylon, It has 27 chromosomes and is completely sterile. Its heads, when produced, and produce fight reddish colored anthers that shed no pollen. This is a desirable trait for people allergic to Bermuda grass pollen. Tifton 419 never produces seed and must be propagated by planting sprigs or laying sod.

When compared with common bermudagrass, Tifton 419:

• Makes a finer, much better quality turf
• Has a beautiful darker green color and maintains its color with less nitrogen
• Greens up earlier in the spring, stays green longer in the fall and is more frost tolerant
• Makes a much denser, more weed free turf
• Is tougher and tolerates more wear
• Is more persistent - lasts longer
• Produces fewer seed heads and none much of the time. Requires less fall mowing
• Is more drought tolerant
• Is more disease resistant
• Is more resistant to sod webworm and mote crickets
• Has stffer leaves that give a better lie to the ball on a golf course fairway

1. Establish the desired grade and prepare the soil well as for a garden. Apply lime if soils tests indicate its need. A soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5 is best. Broadcast 15 to 20 pounds of complete fertilizer, such as a I 0- I 0- I 0, per I 000 square feet and thoroughly work it and the lime into the soil.

2. Plant sprigs only when the soil is moist. Spring and summer plantings are usually best, but Tifton 419 may be planted and month in the southern part of the Bermuda grass belt. Fall and winter plantings should be overseeded with 3 to 5 pounds of domestic ryegrass per 1000 square feet to help control erosion. Be sure to keep the ryegrass mowed at a height of about I inch to reduce competition with the Bermuda grass sprigs.

3. Secure fresh pure (certified are best) springs of Tifton 419 and plant them in moist freshly prepared soil as soon as possible. Do not let them wilt or dry out. One of the best planting methods consists of dropping the spring and pushing the basal end into the soft soU with a thin (1/8") stick until only the tip leaves are left protruding. Then remove the stick and firm the soil around the sprig by stepping on it. A 12" piece of 1/2 x 1-1/2" strap iron (with a "V" cut in the end) bolted to the end of a 5-foot stick will enable one to plant sprigs in this manner from a standing position. Plant on 12-inch centers for rapid coverage. One bushel or square yard of springs, containing about 1000 sprigs, should plant 1000 square feet on 12-inch centers. If planted on 24-inch centers, it should plant 4000 square feet.

Research Geneticist, USDA-ARS, Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, GA 31793 with a heavy roller or the tractor to firm the soil. This tends to set the sprigs in much the same way as the stick but misses many sprigs unless the machine is moved over the soil several times.

• Provides a lawn immediately allowing the contractor to get paid quicker
• Controls erosion on slopes
• Hastens use
• Keeps dirt out of newly constructed buildings

Today Tifton 419 sod is selling in the field for .25 to .30 cents per square foot.

2. Mowing height will be determined by location and use. For lawns in full sun, mow weekly at a height of 3/4 to I inch. In light shade, raise mowing height to 2 or 3 inches. Mow weekly at height up to 3 or 4 inches where there is much traffic provided the use of the grass will tolerate the higher cut.

3. Water thoroughly as needed to prevent wilting. Tifton 419 will survive drought that will turn most of the grass brown, but allowing it to do so will weaken the turf.

4. If your Tifton 419 begins to show unexplainable signs of dying, consult your county agent or a University turf specialist. He can supply or obtain the assistance you need. Good turf, like good health, is easier to keep than to recover once lost.

FERTILIZER

Once a month application of either of the above fertilizers. Apply after first dew is off the lawn. Use 12-15 lbs per 1000 sq. ft. of lawn. Water thoroughly after application. If not watered correctly, you may burn the lawn. September 20 through October 30: fertilize every 2-3 weeks using 10 lbs per 1000 sq. ft. lawn.

Fungicide

WATER

LAWN HEIGHT

WINTER LAWN

TROUBLE SHOOTING

1) Flying moths in lawn
2) Irregular brown patches in lawn
3) Extra bird activity in lawn

Spray lawn 3 times with Sevin or Diazinon.

Crabgrass: Apply the 1st of March - Surflan 1 1/2 oz. per 1000 sq. ft.

Weed Control: Apply Surflan the 1st of March to control weeds. 1 1/2 oz. per 1000 sq. ft.
This is a premergent and should only be applied to turf that is 6 months or older.

When in doubt about any of the above information or other questions about your lawn care, consult Kings River Turf 559-439-2337 or Western Farm Svc. (Bill Galli) 559-287-3980.

"Tifway" was selected and tested cooperatively by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, and the U. S. and Southern Golf Associations. It is a chance hybrid between Cynodon transvaalensis and C.dactylon that appeared in a lot of seed (carrying the number 2) of C. transvallensis supplied by D. Meredith in the spring of 1954. Inasmuch as all other seedlings studied from this seed lot were C. transvaalensis, the female parent of Tifway must have been C. transvaalensis (2n=18). The chromosome number (2n=27) and other characteristics of Tifway indicate that its male parent must have been C. dactylon (2n=36).

Tifway Bermuda grass is a highly disease-resistant selection with a very dark green color. As a consequence, it maintains a desirable green color longer and with less nitrogen than most other selections. Tifway starts growth earlier in the spring than most Bermuda grasses. It is also more frost resistant and will therefore, remain green later into the fall. Tifway is more tolerant of golf-cart traffic than common or "Tifgreen", but is less tolerant than "Tiflawn'. It is more resistant than Tifgreen to sod webworm and mole-cricket attacks. Tifway makes a very dense sod and is more weed resistant than most Bermuda grasses. It will also tolerate heavier concentrations of 2,4-D with light reddish anthers which shed no pollen. Since Tifway never produces seed, it must be propagated by planting springs.

Tifway is well adapted throughout the southern United States and will do well where common Bermuda grass will grow. Although it has survived moderate winters as fare north as Beltsville, Md., it suffers a greater loss of stand and is less winterhardy than Tifgreen.

Tifway is superior to other Tifton Bermuda grasses for lawns, fairways, and tees. Its fine leaves, stiffer than Tifgreen, makes it inferior to Tifgreen for putting greens, but superior for tees and fairways where greater stiffness gives the ball a better lie. Tifgreen, because of its greater softness, continues to be the best grass for golf greens. Tiflawn is still the best heavy-duty grass for football fields, athletic fields, school grounds, etc.