It is really up to you and what you like. Both are acceptable choices for NC. For your current fescue, I would suggest you cut back on the spring and summer fertilization. After that first burst of spring growth, you should not have to mow 2x per week. You should only need to fertilize 3-4 times per year, not 5. As for dethatching, if you don't over water and don't over fertilize, you may never have to dethatch. Zoysia is more prone to thatch than most grasses though, so if it does start to build up, a once a year treatment should be more than enough to keep it in check. Preferably though, you would care for it so that it doesn't become such a reoccuring problem.

I think I need to defer to Dennis or others who actually have VdB. I believe I have Negronne which apparently, has minor differences. In any case my Negronne actually seems to grow taller shoots than my other figs and the fruit is a bit smaller typically than White Marseilles, Celest or Hardy Chicago in my yard. That is so far... They are all in their 3rd growing year in the ground and were frozen down to the ground last winter. They need to have a few more years for me to really be sure.

Im posting on this to bring this thread back to life. Lots of good information here. I just saw this post from Uniondawg and feel kind of relieved. Artisian is one of the pool builders I wanted to get a quote from. He didnt seem to want the business. We live out of state, and are building in the Charlotte area. I told him we were coming in for a few days for the sole purpose of meeting with a few pool builders and he couldnt find an hour to give me, even a month out. I felt like I was begging him to take my business. After asking about three different times on two different days and being met with, "thats family time, or Im pretty sure im booked" it was obvious to me he wasnt interested in my business. He was very nice, but strange behavior for a business man. Too many other pool builders in the area to be dealing with that. Plenty of other reputable pool builders out there that want the business.

What kind of grass do you have? If it's tall fescue, be ready to see it go dormant and lose a portion of it every summer, especially if it faces the sun. You will have to overseed every year. There is no amount of water you can apply that will prevent it for going brown in 90+ degree weather. Be especially mindful about weed control, with the grass dormant in the summer and no therefore no competition , crabgrass can completely wipe it out. Apply pre-emergent in the spring and follow up with post-emergent as needed. Check the NCSU website for maintenance calendars and other advice, they are a great resource.