GROWING AFRICAN DOGTOOTH GRASS
Cynodon hybrida Dog Tuff™
Kelly Grummons
Chief Horticulturist
Timberline Gardens, Inc.
What is Dog Tuff™ African Dogtooth Grass?
Cynodon hybrida is derived from African grasses similar to American Buffalo Grass, but it is much
tougher to wear and tear. It is a sterile hybrid so it can’t reseed into the wild environment and become
an invasive weed (although it could get into your neighbor’s yard via runners)!
Dog Tuff™ is:
 VERY drought tolerant
 VERY resistant to dog urine
 LOVES full, hot sun
 GROWS happily on dry slopes
 DOESN’T wear thin in the winter like Buffalo Grass
 RECOVERS from excessive foot traffic quickly
 HONEYBEES love the pollen
Dog Tuff™ is:
 Not tolerant of shade (at all)
 Not tolerant of weed killers like 2,4-D or Glyphosate
 Not green until early June
 Not green after October 1st
 Not useful in USDA zones colder than zone 5
How do I prepare my lawn area for planting Dog Tuff™ grass plugs in EXISTING TURF?
 Kill the existing lawn with Glyphosate or horticultural vinegar at least 2 weeks before planting.
Dog Tuff™ does not blend well with other grasses.
 Irrigate the ground thoroughly several days ahead of plug planting day (about June 1st). The
tender, young plants will not tolerate drying out or frost.
 Apply a pre-emergent herbicide such as Corn Gluten over the whole area to suppress weed seed
germination during the establishment period. We have not tested chemical pre-emergent
herbicides such as Preen™, Amaze™ or Dimension™.
How do I prepare my lawn area for planting Dog Tuff™ in bare or NEWLY PREPARED soil?
 Remove any existing weeds or grass.
 Incorporate 1-2 inches of compost into the soil with a tiller (optional).
 Irrigate the ground thoroughly several days ahead of plug planting day (about June 1st). The
tender, young plants will not tolerate drying out or frost.
 Apply a pre-emergent herbicide such as Corn Gluten over the whole area to suppress weed seed
germination during the establishment period.
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OR wait until after planting the plugs and sow ANNUAL RYE over the area to act as a nurse crop
for the Dog Tuff™ plugs.
What should I expect when I get my Dog Tuff™ grass plugs?
 The grass comes in plug trays that contain 72 plants. Planted one foot apart, this will cover 72
square feet.
 Unpack and water the plugs immediately and keep them in an area protected from hot sun until
installation. It’s best to “harden them off” for a few days before installation.
 In our USDA zone 5, you must wait to install the plugs until the soil is at least 50°F. This is
usually (at the earliest) the last week of May. June 1st is a better bet. This grass can be planted
any time from late May until July 15th. Late plantings may not fill in until the second summer.
Over-seed with Annual Rye if planted late. This will reduce mud in the first winter.
Installation of Dog Tuff™ Grass Plugs
 Irrigate the ground thoroughly several days ahead of planting the plugs. Soil must be moist
when the plugs are installed.
 Apply a light amount of organic fertilizer such as Alpha One (alfalfa meal).
 Apply the pre-emergent herbicide Corn Gluten to prevent weeds.
 Punch holes in the ground using a metal crow bar, Hori Hori or 1.5 inch auger drill, 1 inch deep.
The auger works better if you are installing several trays of plugs. We recommend planting the
plugs one foot apart.
 Gently remove the plugs from the tray by pushing them up from the bottom. Do not PULL them
from the top as this may damage the roots.
 Plant in the cooler hours of the day.
 Water in the plugs occasionally as you go so that they don’t dry out. Try marking a nylon string
every twelve inches with a marker to use as a guide.
 Water the area lightly 2-3 times a day for a week, about once a day the second week and every
other day or so by the third week. The more you water it, the faster it will grow.
Maintenance of Dog Tuff™ Grass
 Water your new grass less than once a week the second year and beyond. It may only require
water every 10-14 days once fully established.
 Apply ½ to 1 inch of water per irrigation so that the water penetrates deeply. This will give the
grass its drought resilience.
 Fertilize Dog Tuff™ grass only in May and mid-September. Use organics such as alfalfa based
fertilizers, kelp based fertilizers or poultry waste based fertilizers. If using Corn Gluten as a
fertilizer/pre-emergent herbicide, apply it in late October, late February and early May.
Conventional, chemical fertilizers may cause excessive, “hard to manage” growth.
Mowing Dog Tuff™ Grass
 Dog Tuff™ does not require mowing unless you prefer a low, trim look. It only grows 2 ½-4
inches high.
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If you do wish to mow it, start in early July and mow every 5 to 7 days to maintain a lush,
manicured look. If you wait more than 7 days to mow it, remove NO MORE than ½ inch of
growth at a time as it will “scalp” and sun burn and look very bad.
Without mowing, Dog Tuff™ grows in gentle mounds, which look more like woodland moss.
Do NOT cut the grass short before winter.
Trim the dead growth from the lawn in the spring before the new growth appears in June. Cut it
as short as your mower will allow, maximizing the spring growth and aesthetic. If you’ve used
organic fertilizers, this trim makes excellent mulch in the vegetable garden.
On putting greens and bowling greens, Dog Tuff™ should be mown daily during active growth.
Weed Control on Dog Tuff™ Grass
 Avoid using weed killers on Dog Tuff™ Grass.
 Dogtooth Grass is very sensitive to the weed killing herbicides such as 2,4-D, Dicamba, etc. as
well as the all-purpose weed killers that contain glyphosate (such as Roundup™ and Killzall™).
Do not use weed and feed fertilizers as they contain these chemicals also.
 Spot spraying with these chemicals can be done if you only spray the weed. Horticultural
Vinegar is much safer for the Dog Tuff™ grass and works great on the weeds.
 Conventional weed killers like 2,4-D and Roundup™ can be used when the Dogtooth grass is
completely dormant in March and November, but is risky.
Weed Prevention
 Apply the pre-emergent herbicide Corn Gluten several times a year to prevent weed seed
germination.
 In the Denver area apply Corn Gluten in late October, late February and early May to cover most
weed seed germination times.
 Corn Gluten can be applied through a fertilizer broadcast spreader or is available in a liquid form
that is applied through a hose-end sprayer.
Copyright Kelly D. Grummons March, 2014