Homeowner Experiences with 'Thermal Blue' Bluegrass in Georgia

When turf companies market new grasses without long-term university trials in Georgia, it's hard to know whether to recommend them. In summer 2005, I collected radio listeners' experiences with 'ThermalBlue' bluegrass. This is not a scientific survey and comments may not reflect reality – just real-user feedback.

User Reports

Chris A. (Woodstock, GA): Lawn looks great so far, though a couple patches died and were resodded. Found Thermal Blue seed for future repairs. Sloped front lawn settled and shifted slightly; filled with new sod. Main concern: August heat/humidity performance. Keeping at 2–3" per Scott's recommendations. Lawn full and soft.

Jason B. (Turf management company): First Thermal Blue installation in Cherokee County (~2,000 sq ft, partial shade, sodded May 2005). Despite ample water, sod looked horrible – heat stress, rhizoctonia, or both. >50% cooked. Poor installation timing (summer) gave little root establishment chance. With phosphorus, fungicides, biostimulants earlier, might have survived.

Donna H. (Hoschton, GA): New home 3.5 years ago, no topsoil, red clay. Tall fescue seeding unsatisfactory. Tried Thermal Blue seed last fall (over existing grass, late). Some came up; re-seeded this spring. Yard not fully covered yet but believes Thermal Blue will succeed. Would recommend.

Ray F.: Planted late March–early April. Prepped 2–3 inches, used Scott's spreader, starter fertilizer, watered daily. Side yard, mostly sun. Not impressed: 6–8 weeks to germinate, poor growth. Has one more bag to try this fall.

David T. (Landscape company, Buckhead): Laid ~6,000 sq ft sod late April – first and last Thermal Blue job. New organic soil, proper prep, quarantined care. Weeks later: damping-off spots. Sprayed fungicides all summer for brown patch/pythium. Turned out no disease – grass became stringy and extremely thatchy. Never lost turf before. Problem started June before real heat. Sod company admitted problems from several GA customers. Grass is 10% Thermal / 90% fescue – only blue part dying. Tall fescue fine. "Nothing less than entire lush lawn is unsatisfactory."

Mike P. (East Cobb, heavy clay): Overseeded early Oct 2004. Slow, patchy germination; overseeded twice more for full yard (~3,500 sq ft). Brown spots by mid-April; Scott's anti-fungus granules little success. Sees no advantage to Thermal Blue.

Brad V. (South of Nashville, TN): New home March 2005, builder left "contractor grade" fescue on dirt/gravel/trash. By mid-July: crabgrass only green thing. Late August: gutted lawn, added 4,000 lbs composted manure, sodded Thermal Blue. 5% annual rye helped germination. Fertilized per local supplier. Late December: gorgeous, emerald green, lush – even after freezing temps. Best lawn in neighborhood. Confident with pre-emergent, fertilizer, and summer water.

Jean K. (Lilburn, GA): Researched best bluegrass for Atlanta, chose Thermal Blue. Best fescue substitute tried – very thick, lush for years. Loves that it spreads to fill bare spots.

Takeaway

Experiences vary widely. Success seems linked to proper soil prep, realistic expectations (treat as warm-season grass), and patience. Failures often trace to poor timing, inadequate soil, or treating it like cool-season grass.