DOG TUFF™ grass
Cynodon 'PWIN04S'
DOG TUFF™ grass (Cynodon 'PWIN04S') is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 4 to 6 in tall and 24 to 48 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Plant Select lawn alternative bred for dog-traffic tolerance; goes dormant brown when cold.
Plant Select®low water4 to 6 in tall and 24 to 48 in wideXeric / water-wise
Photos
- Photo 1: Robert Flogaus-Faust, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY)
- Photo 2: Stefan.lefnaer, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 3: Joydeep, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Hellstrips / parking strips, Slopes & erosion control
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 4 to 6 in tall and 24 to 48 in wide
- Growth habit
- Spreading
- Planting spacing
- ~34 to 48 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- mid summer
- Bloom color
- green
- Bloom length
- Long (several weeks)
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen
What it will do to your yard
- Foot traffic
- Moderate foot traffic
- Lawn alternative
- Mowable lawn alternative
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- low
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Not rated
Using DOG TUFF™ grass as a groundcover
DOG TUFF™ grass spreads steadily. It fills in densely, crowding out most weeds. It takes moderate foot traffic, so you can walk on it regularly. On a slope it helps knit the soil together and control erosion.
Planting & establishment
Drought-tolerant warm-season turf alternative; dormant brown in winter.
Frequently asked questions
- Is DOG TUFF™ grass good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, DOG TUFF™ grass is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does DOG TUFF™ grass get?
- It matures to about 4 to 6 in tall and 24 to 48 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant DOG TUFF™ grass?
- Space DOG TUFF™ grass about 34 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 48 in apart for a looser planting.
- How much water does DOG TUFF™ grass need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is DOG TUFF™ grass native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Can you walk on DOG TUFF™ grass?
- DOG TUFF™ grass takes moderate foot traffic, so you can walk on it regularly.
- Can DOG TUFF™ grass replace a lawn?
- Yes, DOG TUFF™ grass works as a mowable lawn alternative on the Front Range. Expect a season or two of weeding and watering while it fills in before it reads as a lawn replacement.
- Will DOG TUFF™ grass spread or stay put?
- DOG TUFF™ grass is spreading. Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- Is DOG TUFF™ grass good for a slope?
- Yes. DOG TUFF™ grass helps hold soil on Front Range slopes and control erosion once its roots knit in.
- How long does DOG TUFF™ grass bloom?
- DOG TUFF™ grass blooms for several weeks, a long-season performer on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
