TifTuf Bermuda Vs. Tifway 419: Differences and Comparisons

When you were a kid, did you like cleaning up your grandma’s lawn? Yeah, no one did. But guess what, grasses are actually necessary for a lot of places.

And you have to pick the right kind too. You’ll quickly realize that once you get into gardening or pitch keeping.

This is why there are debates about the right grass for a job, like the TifTuf and Tifway one. So, TifTuf Bermuda or Tifway 419?

Here is a quick comparison so you can decide for yourself.

A Quick Comparison Summary

If you’re one of the “always-on-the-go” persons, this part is for you. If you want to know the gist of it all minus the fluff, this table notes them down for you.

Feature	TifTuf Bermuda	Tifway 419
Shade Tolerance	Yes, high	No, low
Drought tolerance	Excellent	Good
Color	Lighter green	Dark green
Foot traffic tolerance	Excellent	Excellent
Weed tolerance	Better	Good
Invasiveness	Low	High

Now for the less busy people, let’s get into the details.

Key Differences Between TifTuf Bermuda And Tifway 419

Lawn or turf, you can’t decide which grass you should pick unless you know about them. Before you take your pick, you should know what both of them have to offer and what you’re getting into.

Here are some key differences between TifTuf Bermuda and Tifway 419 to make things easier for you.

• Shade Tolerance

Yes, shade tolerance is a very real metric.

Most scientists usually avoid answering questions about this but not anymore.

Both the grass variants have been tested in real-life conditions and TifTuf Bermuda grass has turned out to be more shade tolerant than Tifway 419.

Some grasses like the Tifway 419 seems to thrive in the sun and actually start declining when they’re away from it.

TifTuf Bermuda on the other hand actually seeks out shade. It can thrive both under the sun and in the shade.

TifTuf also has greater cold tolerance. In a 2013-2014 test it has shown over 90% survival rate at a low temperature of -6°.

• Drought Tolerance

TifTuf and Tifway both are highly drought tolerant. But TifTus’s Bermuda grass surpasses Tifway’s drought tolerance by a pretty big margin.

TifTuf is currently the most drought-tolerant grass variant in the USA. The manufacturers spent 30 years researching the perfect drought tolerant grass variant and TifTuf Bermuda is the result of that.

This grass variant grows super comfortably even when there’s less moisture in the soil.

Not just that, TifTuf is so good in drought conditions that you won’t even have to do regular irrigations once they’ve set down their roots.

This superior drought prevention property will also help you cut back on the water bill. Studies show that TifTuf Bermuda grass uses 38% less water than other variants.

Tifway 419 on the other hand is slacking slightly in this department. It’s not that Tifway 419 has low drought tolerance, TifTuf is just too good at that.

Tifway is no less either, they’ve held their positions for having high drought tolerance for a long time now.

Tifway 419 springs up pretty fast too and revitalizes almost as fast as TifTuf Bermuda grass.

• Color

Color is an important factor especially when it comes to turf grasses. Both variants have different colors to offer. TifTuf grows into a lighter green while Tifway turns into one of the darkest green grass shades.

If you’re looking for the ideal dark green, lush color then Tifway 419 is your best bet.

This grass variant is more on the coarse and thick side. It will give you that manicured lawn look.

This is why it has been the top choice for turfs where you need the greenest green.

Golf pitches, baseball courts- most of the sports venues prefer the darker shade so Tifway 419 has been pretty much the traditional choice.

But the problem is they need to stay short. When the grass grows too tall the green starts fading.

TifTuf Bermuda isn’t that far behind. Sure, it doesn’t have the darkest green shade but it is pretty dark.

This variant is more on the fine, thin blade side which is why the color seems lighter. And the best part is they retain color very well. So you won’t have to groom them every 3-4 days to keep the color even.

• Foot Traffic Tolerance

Tifway 419 used to be the unprecedented choice for heavily athlete arenas. This variant was the most tolerant and fast rejuvenating grass around. That was before TifTuf Bermuda came along though.

TifTuf Bermuda is pretty much the strongest grass variant now. It can grow back at a faster rate.

Studies show that among the turf grass varieties, TifTuf took the least damage from the cleats of athletes. This is why TifTuf Bermuda has now replaced Tifway 419 as the number one choice for sports turfs.

Which One Is the Best Choice for You?

Both variants have their strong suites and benefits to offer. For the most part, it comes down to your personal choice, but there are some other things you should consider too.

If you’re looking for the cinematic lush green look and don’t have any problem with frequent grooming, Tifway 419 is the best choice for you. Otherwise, it is TifTuf Bermuda all the way.

According to customer reviews, TifTuf Bermuda is good at bouncing back in shape. So if you want something that can endure a little crazy trampling, go for the TifTuf one.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

And that’s it about TifTuf Bermuda vs. Tifway 419. Both grass variants are amazing and good at their jobs. But if you had to pick only one, we’d suggest you go with the TifTuf Bermuda grass.

The rest, of course, is your personal preference.