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Celebration Bermudagrass has been gaining popularity in the United States for use in major stadiums. Now other countries are following suit. Recently two facilities used by some of the best soccer teams in South America and Europe have changed their grass over to Celebration.

Botafogo FR, a soccer (futebol) club from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has put down Celebration on its home field of Joao Havelange Olympic Stadium, simply known as Engenhao. Botafogo FR belongs to the Major National League and recently won a State Championship.

 

 

The grass was put down last December because the Tifway 419 they were using was having issues dealing with heavy foot traffic and shade caused by the stadium overhangs. Celebration has rated best in test for both of those issues. The sod was provided by Itograss and installed by Greenleaf Gramados.

The other huge stadium recently installed hails from Spain. Spanish first division club Valencia CF put down Celebration leading into the 2009-2010 season at their home field since 1923, Estadio Mestalla. Sod was provided for the 55,000 seat stadium by Spanish company Ibergreen and put down last September. Valencia is one of the more successful clubs in Spanish football and has an extremely large worldwide fanbase.

 

 

Parks and Rec Business' February 2010 Edition article on EMPIRE Turf by Steve Yeskulsky. 

The article details the difference between drought tolerance and drought resistance and how it relates to different grass varieties.  EMPIRE's drought tolerance is highlighted in the article along with other benefits of using EMPIRE sod.  It also details some common stresses for the EMPIRE zoysia grass and some things to do to keep your lawn looking healthy.  Click the magazine cover to download the article.  The article has been reprinted with permission.

Bermudagrasses and shade usually don't get mentioned in the same breath. Bermuda cultivars just don't handle the conditions like other grass varieties. In fact, the quest to find that elusive shade tolerant bermuda has been the bane of many golf course superintendents over the years. There are a few select types of bermudagrass, however, that clearly handle limited sunlight locations better than others. The top-tested bermudagrass on the market for shade continues to be Celebration® Bermudagrass. Originally developed in Australia, Celebration has been the most consistent, best performing bermuda in diminished sunlight locations around the world. Celebration even beats out the University of Georgia's latest bermudagrass release TifGrand^TM, which was selected specifically for its shade tolerance.

In the hunt for bermuda shade tolerance, university research has put these grasses to the test. Clemson University did a two year shade study of 42 bermudagrass cultivars in 2007. This study included both Celebration and UGA's TifGrand (then known as Tift No.4). Celebration was the only grass to get a "six" rating for overall shade tolerance. TifGrand finished in a three-way tie for second in the study with a "five" rating.

Celebration is known for its high marks in wear resistance and divot recovery, but many golf course employees have seen firsthand how it deals with shade. Courses having issues with trees and shaded tee boxes have seen Celebration work when others simply would not.

Consumers in any capacity, from golf superintendents to homeowners, must remember that all grasses need some amount of sunlight to survive. In some instances, grass itself just might not be the right option. An area completely devoid of direct sunlight might call for replacements like pine straw or mulch. But it you get a few hours of sun and are in the market for a bermudagrass that has the ability to handle and grow well in a shady area, you can't beat Celebration.


2007 Clemson University Shade Study

Many St. Augustine grasses are known for their adaptability to shade. They are often planted under trees and below overhangs where other grasses simply won't survive. This is an appealing feature for selecting a St. Augustine for a less-than-ideal landscape. But with the pluses come the minuses. Shade and moisture can lead to fungus in any turfgrass. This months Landscape Contractor Magazine has some detailed photos and descriptions to help you diagnose your problem. Click the magazine cover below to read the story.

Yearly statistics show that an overwhelming majority of players in the National Football League prefer natural grass. The number remains constant year after year, despite advances in artificial turf technology. The stats are based on natural grass versus the newest generation variety of synthetic turf that uses infill.

In a 2008 survey of 1,565 active players from all 32 teams in the league, 71.7% of players said they prefer to play on natural grass compared to 15% who prefer artificial infilled turf. 11% indicated they had no preference. These athletes have played on all varieties of natural and artificial grass at facilities throughout the league and consistently advocate their preference for the real thing.

Some other key statistics from the survey:

• Which surface is more likely to contribute to injury?
o 84.8% of respondents said artificial infilled turf.

• Which surface is more likely to cause more soreness and fatigue?
o 91% of respondents said infilled artificial turf.

• Which surface is more likely to shorten career?
o 92.6% of the respondents said infilled artificial turf.

• Which surface is more likely to impact quality of life after playing days are over?
o 61.6% of the respondents said infilled artificial turf.

When is comes to grasses, no matter which type, the fact is they all need sunlight; some more than others. But as much as homeowners have affinities for lawns, they also have a love for trees. The trick is getting these two (grass and trees) to co-exist in the same space. It can certainly prove to be a tricky issue. People often search high and low for a good "shade grass." If they live in the southern part of the United States, Palmetto St. Augustine, an old stand-by, could be the answer to their lack-of-sunlight issues.

When it comes to warm-season varieties, St. Augustine grasses in general are well known for shade tolerance. Palmetto is at the top of that class. Brought to market in 1994, Palmetto is a proven variety with excellent resistance to cold and frost. But while it performs well in full sun, Palmetto St. Augustine thrives in shaded areas where other grasses fail. It requires approximately 3-4 hours of direct sunlight per day. Instead of having to mulch or pine straw around the base of trees, Palmetto makes grass a viable option. To see how other grasses' shade tolerance stacks up against Palmetto, click on the shade scale diagram below.

The main thing to remember is there is no such thing as a perfect turfgrass. Planting and then watering any grass in the shade will make conditions ripe for fungus. Regular fungicide treatments will be needed to prevent outbreaks. That will be the case for any grass grown in low-sunlight locations.

 

Celebration Bermudagrass makes its NFL debut at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium.

Music by: Kevin MacLeod

In the name of a great cause, drought-tough EMPIRE Turf made its prime-time television debut in April on the ABC television network. The grass was given to a family in need as part of a two-hour episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The project took place last February in Tallahassee, Florida. Arcadia, Florida based Bethel Farms selected EMPIRE Turf for the "extreme" donation because, like the design of the new home, EMPIRE will save the selected family time and money.  Tobey Wagner, president of Sod Solutions was happy to see EMPIRE given for a meaningful cause. "We were pleased when we heard they were going to donate EMPIRE," remarked Wagner, whose company holds the patent for the grass. "EMPIRE is a grass that is great for the Florida climate. It's great at repairing itself, which will come in handy with a family that size. It handles wear and tear. I don't think they could have picked a better grass for the project and we are proud to know its going to be used by such a deserving family." The EMPIRE zoysia grass was delivered on day five of the building project and was installed the same day. EMPIRE, which has become the proven zoysia grass for Florida, also meets the Florida Green Building Coalition's standards for "green-home" certification. This designation fits in perfectly with the energy-saving design of ABC's other home makeover projects. It should provide the Kadzis family many years of an aesthetically pleasing lawn.