Couch Turf (Cynodon dactylon):

The trend in modern turf surfaces is for a type of improved Couch variety to be used. There are many of these couches on the market and in our opinion there are three leading varieties that stand out for their unique features and benefits; Tiff Sport, Wintergreen and Plateau.

Tiff Sport Couch

Tiff Sport is a relatively new sports turf couch variety and is now one of the most highly specified for sports turf applications.

Wintergreen Couch

Wintergreen Couch is a hybrid couch developed in Australia. It is blue-green in colour, with a fine, dense, soft leaf texture with high colour retention in winter and partial shade. It has low seed head formation if mown regularly and a deep-rooted, dense network of fine stolons and rhizomes make it a tough turf with a very smooth, soft, but hard-wearing surface

Plateau Couch

Plateau is a new strain of couch again developed in Australia. It has much of the same hard wearing and good looking characteristics of other couch varieties, yet differs greatly in its growth pattern. "Plateau" is so named for its unique trait of strong lateral growth and the lower frequency of mowing required to maintain optimum appearance. Plateau is very shade tolerant, has low invasion characteristics, excellent wear and winter colour retention with good disease and pest resistance. Plateau has a diverse range of applications and is currently being used in many high profile sporting facilities across Australia.

Couches will perform well in most locations; will take on a lush appearance throughout the summer months, but will require high maintenance when compared to other varieties.

• Pros: These Couch varieties all have great colour over warmer months, are self repairing, hard wearing, with relatively low watering requirements, and will last indefinitely with careful maintenance.

• Cons: Poor colour over winter months due to frost and winter severity, can be shade intolerant, very high maintenance (almost necessitating a full time greenkeeper for large sized site), runner system invasive of gardens, can also be susceptible to high thatching and weed invasion.