Zoysia grass

15 years ago

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with zoysia grass in northern Delaware/Maryland or SW NJ. I am very close to the Delaware river in the extreme NE of DE. My lawn was poorly maintained when I bought the house and although I have worked on it since I moved in, I really don't have the drive to do a whole lot with it. I heard about zoysia grass and would like to know if anyone in the area has any ideas or tips. I read what the UD extension said about grass choices... Since we're in a ="transition zone," it wasn't terribly helpful. Honestly, if I don't have to do much with it (e.g. watering, fertilizing, mowing), I really don't care if it is less than attractive over the winter...it isn't that attractive now anyway. I would really like to see a picture of what a dormant zoysia grass lawn looks like. I haven't been able to find much as I guess people aren't very proud of them so don't post pictures.

I would like to continue to use my rotary mulching mower and I don't really thing encroachment is going to be much of an issue. I have a hard border on 3 sides of my property and a row of hedges/bushes on the 4th.

Thanks

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (16)

texas_weed
15 years ago
Zoysia is not going to work up there unless you like dormant grass 8 months out of the year, and a good chance of being frozen out every winter.
iforgotitsonevermind
15 years ago
A lot of people from up north have been posting here about how to get rid of their zoysia. Don't fall prey to "miracle turf" advertisments. You will regret it.
Related Discussions
Constructing garden bed in yard with zoysia grass
Q
Comments (5)
I came across this old thread because we are adjusting the contour of our Zoysia grass lawn And I wanted to check the recommendations for barrier depth. it turns out our old barrier is only 4” deep and it has easily contained the rhizomes from spreading underneath. What we have to watch is those that want to grow over the barrier. That’s just a matter of edging the lawn regularly. Nevertheless, I am installing a 6” deep barrier this time only because we have tree root problems going everywhere, but I think 4” is plenty deep. I’ve had this zoysia grass lawn for at least 30 years and never regretted choosing it. I chose it because I had German Shepherd Dogs and I wanted a grass that would take ball chasing and peeing. If I didn’t wet the urine spots down when they happened, the grass would tend to die out. But zoysia sends out rhizomes to cover those bare spots rather quickly. It also stands up well to big dogs chasing balls. It is extremely drought tolerant. It is thick and luscious underfoot. and while it does go straw colored dormant in winter, it does not go dormant for long, especially in the warmer winters we’ve been experiencing the last few years. Last winter it didn’t even go fully dormant. To compare, I’ve grown buffalo grass and it has a MUCH longer period of dormancy and is no more drought tolerant and not half as attractive. One more thing, I have a seedless cultivar of Zoysia so there is no seeding about. It’s a great lawn Grass.
...See More
Will zoysia grass work for me?
Q
Comments (13)
To put it as simply as possible, zoysia is a warm season grass, suitable to mild winter, hot summer climates. It will be dormant in winter, offering a dead, brown look from October to March. It doesn't grow well this far north - we are far too cool in summer for it to be happy. Yes, it may survive......but only just and you will have the exact same conditions you are encountering now. A sparsely turfed, weed and moss filled yard. Unless you address the conditions that have resulted in that sort of situation now, planting zoysia is not going to magically create a lush full lawn - the weeds and moss will take over. If that is what you want, go for it. But you will have to order the seed - it is not sold here because it doesn't grow here. And it is very difficult to establish from seed - plugging or sodding is far more effective but at 3-4 times the expense of seed (for plugs, which would also have to be mail ordered. Sod is is just not a practical approach in this area). It also requires 6-8 hours of sunlight to grow and will not tolerate heavy or poorly draining soils. And will require watering during our very dry summers. And you cannot compare our climate with anywhere else in the US - it is unique. Zone 8 in Maryland is nothing like a WA state zone 8. All that reflects is how cold it may get in winter. It addresses nothing about summer temperatures, humidity or rainfall amounts and patterns. Most of Washington state is further north than just about anywhere else in the continental US - that makes a huge difference in what can and can't be grown here. Or how it's grown.
...See More
Any idea why sections of my Zoysia grass are doing this?
Q
Comments (3)
If the ground seems wet, that's too much water. Here's more on watering to get you started. Watering: Deep and infrequent is the mantra for watering. This is for all turf grass all over the place. Deep means 1 inch all at one time. Put some cat food or tuna cans around the yard, and time how long it takes your sprinkler(s) to fill all the cans. Memorize that time. That will be the time you water from now on. My hose, sprinkler and water pressure takes 8 full hours to fill the cans. Your time will likely be less. I like gentle watering. As for watering frequency, that depends on the daytime air temperature. With temps in the 90s, deep water once per week. With temps in the 80s, deep water once every 2 weeks. With temps in the 70s, deep water once every 3 weeks. With temps below 70, deep water once a month. Note that you have to keep up with quickly changing temps in the spring and fall. This deep and infrequent schedule works in Phoenix and in Vermont, so it should work for you. The reason for deep and infrequent is to grow deeper, more drought resistant roots and to allow the soil to dry completely at the surface for several days before watering again. If it rains, reset your calendar to account for the rainfall.
...See More
Palisades Zoysia grass - red tips
Q
Comments (7)
Don't get a new mower. If you read a different university's recommendation it will say 2.0583634 inches. It ain't that critical as long as you don't scalp it. Zoysia will adjust to the mowing height. You are perfect for this forum. You are curious and willing to learn. There is not that much to learn. I tend to write a lot which can become confusing. I came to this forum with 37 years of incorrect experience in lawn care. I had a lot to unlearn. And I fought tooth and nail to support my wrong ideas. Thankfully I was successfully converted in about 10 years (shouldn't have taken that long, but I'm stubborn). If you want to know why I do what I do, I am armed with more detail than most care to read. I have reasons for just about everything. RE Scott's: One of the first things I unlearned was that chemical fertilizers were the best. I converted 100% to organic fertilizers, cold turkey, in 2002. I tried using corn meal and my lawn transformed in 3 weeks. It was awesome. Here is a picture I harvested here in 2011 from mrmumbles. He threw a handful of alfalfa pellets (a common ingredient in organic fertilizers) onto his zoysia lawn in mid May. The picture was from mid June. It's pretty easy to see the improvement in color, density, and growth. This one picture is responsible for the feed stores in Texas becoming familiar with lawn care products hidden in their plain brown bags. So I really cannot tell you anything about Scott's products. On a cost per square foot basis, the organics and chemical products are close enough for me. Chemicals are somewhat cheaper so if you have large acreage, you'll probably want to do most of your fertilizing with chemicals. Scott's sells their (4 or 5)-step program which has you applying fertilizer too early in the spring, broadcast herbicide in places where you don't need it, insecticide when you don't need it, etc. If you follow the steps I outlined above, and ask questions here, you'll be much happier. Even if you decide to go 100% with chemical fertilizers, I would urge you to use organics at least once a year. The organic fertilizers improve the health of your soil where chemical fertilizers cannot do that at all - even slightly. The application rate for alfalfa pellets is 15-20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. One of the other things I like about using organic fertilizers is that if you accidentally spill the bag on the ground, you can spread it out with a broom, or vacuum it up with a shop vac, and the lawn will love it. You can apply 50 pounds per 1,000 if you have the budget for it. You can do that every week if you have the budget for it. All it does is improve the soil and turf. My wife uses alfalfa pellets in her vegetable garden, rose garden, butterfly garden, cactus garden, and all her specimen plants. We live in deer country with deer roaming the front yard every night and have no additional issues using alfalfa or even corn meal in the garden. Our yard is not picked out for their dining pleasure any more than the neighbors' yards. Same for the jack rabbits and squirrels. What else are you wondering about?
...See More
dchall_san_antonio
15 years ago
If you are looking for a very low maintenance turf, consider going to Dutch white clover. Check out this site for more info on clover.
jeremy_undybug_com
15 years ago
I live in Tampa, Florida and my zoysia lawn hasn't come green yet. And we've been in the 80's for a little while now. With nightime lows in the 60's. The one thing I noticed with the zoysia is that it really doesn't grow much when it's not hot. Once it gets up near 90 here with hot nights it starts shooting up. I'd be scared to plant it if I were you.
pkapeckopickldpepprz
15 years ago
Jeremy, so when does the Zoysia start to take off? I'm in Sarasota and I planted Emerald Zoysia in the front yard and they were green when I planted them a month ago but probably from lack of rain and water restrictions they turned to straw. That said though, I planted 3 plugs in the back yard before I decided to go with Celebration Bermuda. Even though the Bermuda in the back yard is green the Zoysia was green and is now straw brown. It gets the same water as the Bermuda so it's not like it is getting parched. Maybe in a month or so then before steady growth from the Zoysia?
mcsierra
15 years ago
If you post your E-Addy I can send you a picture of my dormant lawn.
jcifjr
15 years ago
Don't do it!!!!

Read my posting "Replacing Zoysia Lawn"

I live in Ocean County NJ (near the shore about half way up the state) and I HATE my backyard. I'm going to attmept to get rid of it late this summer.

When it's dormant from Sept - June, it not only look terrible, it makes a God awful mess. Straw gets everywhere....especially if you have a dog and 2 kids running around in it.

There are other better alternatives. I would explore them.
wrager
15 years ago
Can you guys send me your zoysia :) !
woodinvirginia
15 years ago
Here in Central Virginia my Zoysia (in the Front East facing yard) is still part green and part brown.. I have it in the sun 8 hours per day but generally it doesn't green up FULL TILT till the end of April guys. [The secret of golf courses is that they Spray paint the zoysia grass ALL WINTER LONG!!] The rest of my yard is part fescue and bluegrass near my border of oak and poplar tees. That area is just been fertilized and pre-emergent. Not going to try to grow grass till the Fall of this year.. Spring here is too short to try to grow grass. Normally we jump from Winter to Summer in 5 weeks and there is no guarantee on the rain amounts. Trying a mixture of fertilizers this year.. Going with Lesco 19-0-7 Dimension and Greenview (Lebanon) available at Southern States fertilizer on the fescue..One of my neighbors swears by the Greenview. The cost of the Scott's this year is SO HIGH its up to what Greenview cost is and it supposedly feeds for 12- 16 weeks not 8 weeks like Scott's. Going to go with the one without the fancy TV commercials this year.
GLTA
iforgotitsonevermind
15 years ago
In some climates zoysia does not go fully dormant. needless to say delaware isn't likely one of them.

The plugs they sell through the mail are not the improved hybrids that have certain desirable characteristics. They are meyer more then likely or some other lower ranked variety. (or species!)
scott504
15 years ago
Im in Baltimore Md and I've got a neighbor down the street that seeded with Zenith zoysia a few years ago. I think it looks good. It is starting to turn now. It looks really good in the summer.
iforgotitsonevermind
15 years ago
WEll that's great one whole season of color. Fan-tittley-tastic.
auteck
15 years ago
Zoysia is a very poor choice on the east cost north of Florida. It might do well during the summer months, but once winter sets in, hell breaks lose.

1.- Disease problems, particulary; Fairy Ring, Large Patch, and Spring Dead Spot.

2.- Dormant brown turf for 6 or more months (depending on location)

3.- Heavy Thatch is a problem as well.

4.- If damage occurs in hybrid zoysia lawns, you CAN'T overseed like you could with cool season grasses. All you can do is wait for the turf to heel/fill in - which takes forever with Zoysia.

It requires a knowledgeable person to care for Zoysia, most home owners aren't.

Zoysia, when it works, it makes a beautiful turf, so I'm not against the grass. Of the warm season grasses, I think is the best looking one. However, there are better grass choices for the Delaware area, Tall Fescue/Bluegrass mix/blend is # 1.
ANNROBBBINS_AOL_COM
15 years ago
Hi:-don't listen to nay sayers. We have lived in Moorestown, NJ for 50+ years, and my mom convinced my dad to plant zoysia when his beloved Ky. blue just wouldn't grow. We fertilize in spring, and the only summer we tried to water was a disaster, the grass just gets a little paler as it goes dormant. I love the straw color, and when I do bag, it makes great mulch, improves the tilth-told my bro. "I'd rather have green grass in the summer than brown." It easily grows from underground stolons, and can be invasive at the edges, like flower beds. I have a huge amount that I would gladly give you if you would only help me dig it. It only grows to 8-9 inches, so don't cut it if you don't have height laws. Some years I only cut 5-7x a summer. I have also transplanted it to Ellendale De, and it is fantastic, basically neglected, rarely fertilized. It does best in FULL sun, but will tolerate some shade, just won't be as thick. I don't know variety, probably is Meyer as so old, I think Mom got it from Michigan. It feels like a luxurious carpet as you walk on it, virtually no weeds will grow, except onion, garlic, gone soon. My husband has cut ours twice already. send email phone whatever, you can come with shovel, knife, fork, and I will be eternally grateful. ann PS I hate the stuff, but roundup kills it easily. to plant, just make slit, drop in runner or rototill and put in sod--i have that much
auteck
15 years ago
Ok, here's your picture of Dormant Zoysia (the lawns around it are Bluegrasses and Fescues)

{{gwi:82717}}
wheelhorse_of_course
14 years ago
I just moved to Northern VA. When we looked at the place in March it looked like a tanker of herbicide had crashed and killed all the lawns on this side of the road. I jokingly said something to the Realtor and she said it was Zoysia.

I was very curious because I recall reading the ads for Zoysia in the Sunday paper for many years. We moved in April 1st and it was mostly dormant. By the end of the second week in in May, when I went back to my old place to pick up the tractor it was green and over a foot tall.

I cut it and racked up the clippings. It is sort of brownish underneath (max cut on my mower deck is about 3 inches).

We've had lots of Sun (off and on) but it has been cool. The post mow brown is mostly gone, but it is hardly a deep green. I am wondering if I should get to bio material on it to get things going (the soil her is red clay).

I am thinking I'll put some Milorganite on it and see what happens.

In the front yard it is kind of thin, but there are trees there so I guess that is no surprise.

Cheers

Zoysia grass

Comments (16)

texas_weed

iforgotitsonevermind

Related Discussions

dchall_san_antonio

jeremy_undybug_com

pkapeckopickldpepprz

mcsierra

jcifjr

wrager

woodinvirginia

iforgotitsonevermind

scott504

iforgotitsonevermind

auteck

ANNROBBBINS_AOL_COM

auteck

wheelhorse_of_course

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US