Ruskin, FL - A new, drought tolerant bermudagrass was a focal point at the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative annual field day event in late April at Celebration Turf in Ruskin, Florida. Celebration Bermudagrass drew the attention of event attendees, just as it is being noticed throughout the south, particularly in areas where water resources are a hot topic.

Some 250 people, including turfgrass producers, university faculty, turfgrass industry vendors, and media representatives attended the field day. The event, which included a turfgrass farm tour and demonstrations, provided up-close views of Celebration^TM Bermudagrass growing in the fields. The grass was easy to identify, even from afar, due to its unique blue-green color.

Up close, Celebration features a very large, very dense root system. It is this sizable root system that is responsible for one of Celebration’s more remarked-upon characteristics—drought tolerance. Sod Solutions, Inc., the company that developed Celebration and introduced it to the U.S. several years ago, says that Celebration has excellent drought tolerance, and needs less water than other turf. It is described as a blue-green, low-growing, drought tolerant turfgrass with improved shade tolerance. Current research and users’ experiences seem to support these claims. Celebration has been in use for two years on U.S. golf courses, sports fields, large commercial and residential developments, and individual home lawns. It is specified more and more frequently by landscape architects and others who have received client feedback about Celebration’s performance.

Chip Powell of Powell Golf Design Co. has recommended Celebration on several of his golf course designs. “The two things that impress me the most about Celebration are its drought tolerance and low fertility requirements. Side by side plots with 419 in the field strongly suggest that you can produce superior turf with Celebration using significantly less water and fertilizer inputs.”

At least two research studies that include Celebration, and compare its characteristics to those of other popular bermudagrasses, have been completed. The studies are available at sodsolutions.com/research. Celebration has also been included in the 2002 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trials, where early observations are promising. In addition, university level shade tolerance research that has been completed conclusively shows that Celebration has significantly more shade tolerance than Tifway 419 and TifSport.

Celebration’s reputation as an efficient water using turfgrass is creating the most discussion in the current climate where water use and conservation are hot topics in U.S. communities. But users also say they appreciate this bermudagrass’ improved shade tolerance, fast lateral growth, durability, and reduced mowing and fertilization requirements.

Celebration is available from sod producers and retail nurseries throughout the south, from Virginia to Florida to California. Visit sodsolutions.com for purchasing and other information.