In fall of 2017 I put down 5% SPF 30 and 4% Fahreheit hybrid bluegrass (HBG) mixed with Southern Belle TTTF. I haven't added anymore since. The HBG is still there and spreading. Since I don't irrigate, it's been a good supplement to the KY-31.

 

In fall of 2017 I put down 5% SPF 30 and 4% Fahreheit hybrid bluegrass (HBG) mixed with Southern Belle TTTF. I haven't added anymore since. The HBG is still there and spreading. Since I don't irrigate, it's been a good supplement to the KY-31.

Where did you get the Fahrenheit?

 

@jakemauldin I have spf30 in my 5-way blend *** backyard. Not sure how it will do as a monostrand but my blend holds up well in my climate. We are dry and hot in the summers. On average, 5 degrees cooler then Las Vegas on any given day. Here is a pic last August cut at 2 5/8". This is the first year I'll be maintaining it at less than 1".

 

@Powhatan I most likely won't be able to install an irrigation system for a few years if at all due to GPM flowrate from the main. So that's good to know that it does seem to do well in drought. What kind of soil do you have it planted in?
@ronjon84790 First off your yard is impressive! Are you irrigated? I am concerned about the monostrand, that is the one thing I have not seen any articles about or even pictures of mono SPF30. Maybe when I make it happen I'll go viral as the first successful homeowner to grow a mono of SPF30HBG in Texas!! haha

 

I actually tried it with some midnight back in 2015 I think it was, on a partial reno. I moved two yrs after seeding. I was not really impressed actually. It didn't spread real quick and color wasn't up to what I imagined it would be. It might work differently for you in texas? I felt I read a lot of hype about it and was maybe expecting too much???

 

Thanks @jakemauldin

I have an irrigation system. Grass would not grow here without it. We are dry, hot, and get nominal rain each year. It will be sweet to see you grow a monostrand spf30. Can't wait to see it.

 

I most likely won't be able to install an irrigation system for a few years if at all due to GPM flowrate from the main. So that's good to know that it does seem to do well in drought. What kind of soil do you have it planted in?

@jakemauldin I have sandy clay loam. My last soil test CEC # was 8.5 which is on the sandy side. I've been adding organic matter to help make my CEC # go up.

 

I did a monostand of Thermal Blue Blaze a few years ago in Washington DC. The color is not bad. It's darker than Thermal Blue and probably darker than SPF30. However, it was pretty unattractive, rather dull looking, and moderately thick bladed. Also, it never really formed a dense turf, but maybe that was my fault. I'll be interested in your results.

 

I am in DFW also and looking at the Thermal Blue, SPF 30, and even Reveille (I bought some seed a couple of years ago).

Like you said, I have not seen much data on any of these. My decision is either Zoysia or one of these hybrids.

Keep us posted. I will probably start posting my progress soon.

 

@jakemauldin any updates on how it went?

 

So I'm awaiting some results, I seeded it on 6/15 and the following morning we had 3" of rain from what was supposed to be a light drizzle with no accumulation. I'm hoping it didn't get wiped out. I feel like most of it should still be there. I seeded it along with Princess 77 in my (immediate yard 25k SF) the rest was planted with the SPF 30. The P 77 has started to emerge and make an appearance. I should see some SPF 30 in the next week I would think. I cannot find anything about the actual germination time frame for it. But I assume around two weeks.

 

Because of a colossal screw up on my part I need to seed my front yard. Only thing in seven that grows is fescue and I think that would be a waste of seed in early July. I too have ordered spf30 and will let you know how it grows in Spartanburg South Carolina. If anyone has seeding tips please let me know

 

Because of a colossal screw up on my part I need to seed my front yard. Only thing in seven that grows is fescue and I think that would be a waste of seed in early July. I too have ordered spf30 and will let you know how it grows in Spartanburg South Carolina. If anyone has seeding tips please let me know

Welcome to TLF.
Please don't seed now in South Carolina. Your seeds will germinate and then heat and disease will take your younglings away from you.
Target fall.
Have a close read of this overseed guide.

 

I had some Thermal Blue in my mix I used for an overseed last Fall. We are just getting into Summer heat now, but I expect good performance for the area which is not regularly irrigated. I can't tell which grass is the HBG and which is regular Bluegrass at this point. I wouldn't be surprised if they look about the same though. I'm excited about the idea of having a decently performing grass mix in that area. If it can make it in places like Texas and South Carolina, it should perform pretty well in Summer here in New England without too much issue.

 

oap
how did the thermal blue do in your climate ?

 

I have had quite a bit of germination of the SPF-30 just shy of 12 weeks post seed down. I planted this in areas that I was not able to water frequently or at all. We have had temps mostly in the upper 90's since seed down and had very little rainfall since. It has started to cool off a tad bit at night in the low 70's and we have had about 1/2" of rainfall last week.
I did have a small area that germinated at initial seed planting and it greened up then once 100 degree days hit no matter how much water and care that area got it all turned yellow and I believed it surely had died, but with that 1/2" of rain I mentioned it just greened back up. So about the time I had given up on 1k dollars of SPF-30 here it comes popping up all over. Stay tuned!

 

These pictures are all I have that show the progression of the SPF-30 that I planted since I basically thought it was a fail.
This first picture has it starting to green up in the small patch at the top of the picture "the patch all by itself".


Then this picture shows it heat stressed and at the time what appeared to be very dead. Not a single bit of green. And this was watered the same as the Bermuda since I was trying to push the Bermuda out that direction.

Then here's the SPF-30 making a comeback after some slightly cooler temps and a 1/2" of rain.
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Just wanted to share as I am new to this group and in Fort Worth Texas, disgusted with my grass I wanted KBG. I did some research and found KBG SPF-30 ... so I thought I would try it.

Pics added are after 4.5 weeks. Growing grass you sure do learn to be patient as grass grows in heat

The grass is still germinating (3 seedings every 2 weeks with starter fertilizer).

Let me know what you think

Jeff

To be fare, when I first started it was 90-105 for the first 2 weeks.

 

I think it looks good, especially if it can survive next summer's heat.

 

Updating my pic for my yard in Fort Worth, TX using SPF30 KBG.
I have very happy with the way it has matured and filled in, only in a couple months time (start in September).

 

That looks awesome. I will be curious to see how it fares next August as well!

 

Very impressive.
Looks darker than the Thermal Blue I tried a while back.
Is it 100% SPF-30?

 

So my seed is now starting to germinate since I seeded the SPF-30 everywhere that I can't reach with irrigation. so it gets natural water only. I had a few showers before it got super hot and had a few small spots germinate and take off. they with stood the 105 Heat without water. These spots did brown out and go dormant almost looked dead to me at times but they have came back stronger than before with the rains we've gotten over the last few weeks. I have to bring up my side yard several feet and I might seed some more of this in the spring and will document what it does with actual proper irrigation. I'll also try to get around to taking some pics and might even do a video explaining whats happening with the SPF-30.
@jeffcatton Your yard looks great. Do you know how many lbs/k you have put down altogether thus far? I originally threw out 200 lbs over 3 acres.

 

Thanks Jake, I want to learn more about caring for SPF-30 in the heat and what has failed/worked for others as this is my first with SPF-30 in Texas heat. Hope you can share your experience also, thanks.

I have full irrigation on my yard (.25) and I used about 70lbs (over did it would say - impatient me) so far. I bought 2 @ 50lbs bags - 98% KBG germination rate. I will over reseed in January when it start to warm up so I can get the spots where it is not a thick. I am cutting high, at 3.5" right now to help force out any weeds and give a little more bend to the grass.

It is very dark, I like it. Others in the neighborhood are using Winter Rye (I used for 2 years), it is very light in color (lime green color but there is a Double Green which is darker). That winter rye is awful to cut (very wet - cannot mulch it), and it is messy - plugs the lawnmower. This is why I also moved to KBG SPF-30 for year round green grass : )

Jeff

 

So you know, this is where I got my seed from ... https://www.outsidepride.com/

 

This was back on 9/3 after some rainfall. It helped push the seed to germination after sitting there all summer. I'll try to mow/blow all the leaves once they are done falling and show the growth I've gotten since. It has progressed along.

 

Well it is a start of a new year and nearing the end of January already, wow. Added a striper to my mower and it seems to work very well with the 3.5-4" high KBG-SPF30 grass in Fort Worth Texas. I hope this will make it through the hot summer with the longer grass and irrigation. Only time will tell!

Here are a couple updated pictures of the grass growing in Texas during the winter.