Zone 7 favors the cool season grasses much better than warm seasons. However, by your description, it looks like you're very much set on planting a warm season grass.

Another aspect you must carefully check in zone 7 is sun exposure. If the selected site where you're going to plant the warm season grass is not a Southern exposure in full sun, don't bother; you're going to have poor results.

I'm in zone 7 as well, here's my experience with Zoysia:

My neighbor across the street, Cavalier Zoysia on Southern exposure in full sun starts to green up in early Spring, produces a beautiful dense turf during the summer months, and it stays green until about the third week in October, then it starts to turn brown slowly. Sporadic winter damage is a giving north of Columbia, SC on the east cost even in this exposure.

My friend, Meyer Zoysia, Eastern exposure in partial shade, turns brown quickly in the Fall, does not start to green up until about mid Spring, and does not produce a dense turf even during the summer months.

Meyer Zoysia is the recommended variety for the northen states because it has the best cold tolerance of most warm seasong grasses. I think Buffalo grass is the only other one that can handle very cold temperatures with minor damage.

I'd recommend Fescue or a Midnight-type KBG instead of the warm season grass you're thinking about getting.

As fas as Bermuda grass, live it to the golf courses unless you don't mind mowing every other day, wather every other day, fertilize every 4 weeks during the summer months. It's not a grass for the masses.

As it is, my Elite KBG needs to be cut every 3 to 4 days so to not remove more than 1/3rd of the blade and at the highest mower setting, I can't imagine mowing bermuda every other day during the heat of the summer...

From American Lawns:

Do yourself and your neighbors a favor and do not plant warm season grasses where cool season grasses dominate home lawns. They have very invasive root system that will crossover into your neighbors Fescue/Bluegrass lawn. The Fescue/Bluegrass will remain green most of the year, but the Zoysia turns brown as soon as temperatures cool and does not turn green again until late spring. This makes your neighbors bluegrass lawn look like it has large irregular shaped dead spots all winter and into spring.

It should be made illegal to plant warm season grasses in the northern zones.

I couldn't agree more with the last paragraph.

Zoysia from seed is a pain at best. Bermuda from seed is as easy as falling asleep.

Zoysia does not need mowed or fertilized as ofetn as Bermuda. Zone 7 is good for either.

I failed to mention my exposure to sun each day in addition to a dedicated 8 hours, is a Southern exposure. Also, should the Bermuda overrun into adjacent property _ I'd be delighted. My house is in the Chesapeake Bay area and is heavily wooded. The house was built with allowance for a small grassy area (8000 sq ft). Woods surround me on three sides with a great deal of Poison Ivy which I'm bringing to bear with Roundup. Should the Bermuda encroach in there...hooray!
I'm really paying attention to what's said regarding the the virtues of Bermuda versus Zoysia. The seed company I'm preparing to order from touts Bermuda La Prima as able to withstand the winter temps expected here, as well as giving me the dense green lawn desired. I know the Zoysia may do that as well (maybe not as dense green), but the Bermuda has the edge (I think) in not allowing anything else to crowd it out. I dunno...I'm still listening to everything said - suggested. Please keep the comments coming. Thanks much, Fred

Zoysia not as dense? You have got to be kidding... Zoysia is know for its density. There are a few varities that are extremely dense, ie Cavalier and Emerald to name a few. The only dense bermuda I have ever seen is Mini-Verde, and it's not intended for homeowners.

As far as green color, when fertilized properly, some of the hybrid bermuda grasses produce the darkest green color of all of the warm season grasses.

Whare are you located?

Emerald Zoysia on the left damaged by winter temps in zone 7B, the lawn on the right is fescue/bluegrass. Pictures were taken in early May 2005.

{{gwi:89604}}

bermuda requires a ton of fertilizer to stay green, probably every month and a ton of mowing at 1 inch MAX with rotary mower or 1/2-3/4th of an inch with reel mower TWICE A WEEK.

Zoysia requires a lot less fertilizer. Probably only needs spring and fall application. Coarse bladed can be mowed with rotary mower at 2-3 inches height every 7-10 days. Zenith and Comprade are two seeded varieties that you can grow. Probably best to have 50/50 of each if you go with this route. There is no fine bladded seed variety but it would require reel mower to look good anyway so no point in that.

Personally, I think bermuda is the worst choice for homeowner lawn due to high maintenance and it is very obvious when you drive around my neighborhood. Most look bad because the homeowners are not willing to put in that many hours maintaining bermuda lawn to look decent.

Frederick_gardener,

I really am hoping that you are not located in Frederick, Md.

If so, I don't think you'd be very happy with the performance of Bermuda there. That is only about 80-90 miles from me. The growing season for either Bermuda or Zoysia is going to be VERY short.

I am really hoping your handle here is just your first name. But if you are located in Frederick, do yourself a favor and look into some other options.

I agree if you are in MD, neither Zoysia or Bermuda is a very good choice as they will be dormant 6 months out of the year.

I bought 700 plugs of Meyer's Zoysia, stuck it in the ground in my back yard, and now the stuff lifts me off the ground when I walk on it. Nothing else can grow in it...the weeds are choked out; the annual bluegrass, now trying to takeover my Bermuda in the front, hasn't even penetrated that dense, rough turf. It seems to come to green sooner than the Bermuda, and it lived extremely well through our drought last summer. I don't know if anyone else here (on this post) has had a lawn of what they call "Monster" grass down here (GA), but this stuff is the best grass I've ever seen. It's thick and grows extremely dense. The bugs don't even like it. The only caution I can give is that you should be ready to sharpen those mower blades often -- this stuff is hard on the blade edge. Had I to do it all over again, I would surely pick the Zoysia for my front lawn.

I have planted both by seed and I am very dissapointed in the zoysia. It is a very course grass, not comfortable to walk on, where as the bermuda is soft and fine.

I personaly like the bermuda by looks, maintainece and feel.

lou_midlothian_tx, Your assessment of Bermuda is incorrect. Bermuda does not have to be fertilized every month nor is the maximum cutting height 1". It can be fertilized that often but it isn't necessary. Mowing it at 1 inch provides a nice dense carpet like feel and looks good but isn't the only way. Bermuda can be mowed at greater heights up to 3 inches or more if it's mowed often. The secret is not cutting too much off at one time. If too much is cut off it will as you know show the yellow/brown portion that takes a few weeks to turn green again. I would say that most of the problems people encounter with Bermuda cut at 2.5" or more are caused by them cutting it down to that height from 5 to 6 inches. Of course it will not look good maintained like that.

Maybe it is because nobody I know ever mows more than once a week, but the bermuda I've seen mowed at an inch or higher is pure stubble underfoot. I prefer walking on that to walking on bull thistles, but not by much. I certainly would not call it carpet at that height. rdaystrom, do you have pictures?

Nope. My assessment is still correct. I've had experiences with bermuda and zoysia so I know what I'm talking about. Bermuda ALWAYS fades away to light green color after 2 months. They are ALWAYS brown at the bottom when mowed high. They are NEVER dense enough when mowed high to keep weeds out. That is what I have observed in my neighbors even some mows regularly at higher height.