Overview of Thermal Blue Bluegrass
Thermal Blue Bluegrass is a relatively new strain of blugrass that has proven to be exceptionally heat tolerant and suitable for growing in the South.
Thermal Blue Bluegrass is:
- The first high-quality bluegrass that tolerates heat better in tall fescue regions of the U.S.
- Finer texture than tall fescue
- Rapid establishment and excellent recoverability
- Better disease tolerance in humid regions than traditional Kentucky bluegrass
- Excels with normal professional turf maintenance programs in the South, or with low-input maintenance in traditional cool season Kentucky bluegrass areas
- University of Wisconsin–Madison trials in freezing and subfreezing temperatures prove that heat-tolerant Thermal Blue is also well acclimated to colder Northern climates
Soil Preferences: Thermal Blue Bluegrass thrives in fertile, well-drained, fine textured soils but will adapt to many soil types. It is tolerant to low soil pH but is most productive when the soil pH is 5.8 to 6.5. If you have clay-type soil that does not crumble when squeezed in your hand, add organic soil ammendments to existing soil at time of installation. Or, for existing lawns that are hard-packed, aerate and apply gypsum and/or organic soil ammendments to enhance soil porosity.
Light Requirements: Thermal Blue can be grown in sun or shade however thrives in partial shade: morning sun with afternoon shade.
Climate Preferences: Thermal Blue has demonstrated excellent heat and cold tolerance. Its growing range extends from USDA hardiness Zones 3 through 8.
Irrigation: Thermal Blue Bluegrass has demonstrated better drought tolerance than fescue grass however will appreciate at least a once-a-week deep watering during prolong periods of dry weather. Do not over-water (avoid standing water for any period of time).NOTE: Always water during the early to late morning hours and never at night. Watering at night leads to fungal development.
When to Plant Thermal Blue Bluegrass
The best planting season for Thermal Bluegrass falls between Sept.15 through Nov. 1 in the South. Planting early in the fall allows for more time for seedlings to establish themselves before the hot summer weather sets in the following summer. Thermal Blue can best handle summers when planted in the fall and watered infrequently but deeply when established. That being said, the University of Georgia planted and grew it successfully in test plots during the month of July!
