Question
What is a good drought-tolerant turf suitable for the Denver, CO area?
The Colorado State Extension indicates that all Kentucky Bluegrass is drought-tolerant, but they also list a number of cultivars that are more drought-tolerant, and they list a number of hybrid cultivars that are even more drought-tolerant. Of these three categories, which are considered acceptable under SS 2.2: generic Bluegrass, drought-resistant Bluegrass, or hybrid Bluegrass?
Answer
I would disagree with the Colorado State Extension. No Bluegrass cultivar is drought-resistant; each requires around 40" of water each year and Denver only receives about 16" annually. For a drought-tolerant turf grass in Denver I would recommend a Buffalograss or Blue Grama, or a mix of the two. They make a good mix because Blue Grama fills in quickly and Buffalograss becomes dense over time. These are native grasses which are adapted to our climate and require only about 20" of water annually.
I am not sure what you mean by SS 2.2; are you referring to LEED v2.2 Sustainable Sites?
