Digitaria didactyla
Blue couch
Formerly D. swazilandensis (scientific name).
Tropika is a fine-medium textured grass with a soft leaf, suited for domestic and commercial lawns, low usage recreational areas. Leaves are blue-green in colour and are slightly wider than ‘Aussiblue’. The variety maintains a dense sward when mown between 25-35 mm. Regular mowing is required to keep the variety maintained.
Turf clippings can also become a nuisance when mowing, clumping blocking the catcher entry or mower blades, because of the moisture within the turf sward. Tropika is more resistant to weed invasion (possible allopathic effects). Seed head production is minimal (if any under routine mowing). Wear tolerance is poor, however good recovery is encountered following fast spreading stolons/runners. Tropika has better shade tolerance than Queensland blue couch. Tropika prefers a free-draining soil, coastal sands and loams, but adaptable to light clays and well-structured heavy clay soils. As per Queensland blue couches Tropika is not tolerant of MSMA or DSMA herbicide.
Pests, disease and weeds
Check to see which Pests, Diseases and or Weeds this turf variety may be susceptible to and how to successfully control them in your home lawn or sports turf.