TifTuf Bermuda & Eureka Kikuyu are the best and most popular choices of turf variety for sports fields and school ovals. Image: TifTurf Bermuda.

Choosing the right type of turf to suit the purpose and the area is a crucial component to your turfing - or returfing! - project. While some turf varieties are great for one application, they may not be the right turf variety for another.

Primary Considerations When Choosing Your Turf Variety

The primary things you need to consider about your area are:

1. Traffic. Consider the amount of traffic your area will get. Some turf varieties are just more durable than others.
   
   
2. Shade v Direct Sunlight. Some turf varieties require a lot of sun, while others will continue to grow beautifully in either sunny or shady areas.
   
   
3. Water Supply. What access do you have to a sustainable water supply? Some turf varieties handle drought-like conditions better than others.
   
   
4. Budget. How much you have to invest in your new turf. Consider your long-term costs including how often you'll need to repair your chosen turf.

Natural Turf vs Synthetic Grass for Ovals & Fields

Many years ago, greenskeepers were finding their natural turf failing and so opted for synthetic turf because - well, synthetic grass won't die. But why was their natural turf failing? A comparative quality study over several years identified three main causes:

A - Unsuitable soil types being used.

B - The wrong turf variety being installed.

C - Unsuitable maintenance programs.

What we know now is very different. A successful field with natural turf is as simple as ABC - getting three elements right: soil, turf type, maintenance program.

Together with the many benefits of natural turf over synthetic grass - to owners, greenskeepers, players, and our precious environment (read more in our Guide) - natural turf is, well... the natural choice!

Natural Turf Varieties for Sports Fields & School Ovals

Of all the natural turf types, over many many years, and over more recent yet lengthy research and development, there are two clear stand-out turf varieties recommended and chosen for sports fields and school ovals:

1. TifTuf Bermuda
   
   
2. Eureka Kikuyu

Let's compare the TifTuf and Eureka Kikuyu with those primary application considerations:

TifTuf Bermuda	Eureka Kikuyu
All wear conditions: high, medium or low volume of traffic.	Area endures under 25 hours of traffic per week.
Areas with shade or sunlight restrictions: can handle lots of shade or full sun.	Areas with full sun: requires a significant amount of sun each day.
Areas with lower water supply: requires 38% less water than other turf types.	Areas with a sustainable source of water: needs lots of water to stay healthy.
Where immediate budget allows for a longer-term solution.	Where all other factors are consider and budget is tighter.
Areas where you want a great colour even throughout winter colour.	Areas where winter colour aesthetics is less important.

More Information

Want more information about Best Practices for Returfing Sports Fields & School Ovals? Request our free Guide here: