Zoysia sod varieties - how to choose?

7 years ago

We live in zone 7b, just outside of Raleigh, NC. I think we're finally fed up with the high maintenance needs of our fescue lawn here and are currently getting quotes for zoysia sod installation for next year.

So far, the two installers who have been out to provide quotes are saying they would each install a different variety - one says Compadre, the other says Meyer. We're not sure why they only offer one option. We will likely get another quote, but in the meantime, I've done some online research on varieties of zoysia and my head is starting to spin. ;)

I know about NTEP trials, but honestly wasn't sure I was reading the results correctly. And some of the info I've seen, describing color, toughness, cold hardiness, etc., seems to conflict.

We'd like something that isn't horribly aggressive (my neighbor has a variety that forced them to essentially build an underground cement barrier at all mulch borders...not doing that!) We'd also like low maintenance, since that's the whole reason for switching to the warm season grass. We have fought battles with common bermuda for over a decade, so would like a thick turf that might win that war. The lawn is mostly sunny out back, mostly shady out front (so we may just keep fescue there), receives sprinkler irrigation and does get light people and dog traffic. I'm aware that dog urine will be a problem, but it already is with our fescue lawn, so we'll just have to deal with it.

Any suggestions on varieties I should pursue for this area that will meet my wish list for characteristics? And any idea why the installers don't let you choose what you want? I'm guessing they develop relationships with sod farms and only offer what those farms have, but I'd like to choose an installer based on more than just the sod variety they offer, if possible.

Featured Answer

hawksster .

7 years ago

Choose the installer you like best and the sod variety you like best. Don't believe that the choice is mutually exclusive. I have yet met a sod farm that will not sell directly to a customer. So if your chosen installer really can't get your preferred choice, you should call to get it.

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Comments (6)

User
7 years ago
The Zoysia NTEP data for Raleigh is totally confusing. The 2010 test has the "DALZ 0701" rating for "FALL COLOR DECEMBER" at 7.7 . What are they rating, how nice the brown is? Unless of course it was greener in December than in June (5.7 rating)

Between what months is your neighbor's zoysia green? Do you know what variety it is?
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I used to spend a lot of time in Middle Tennessee visiting around Tullahoma. Wish I had paid attention to the lawns when I was there. I think I remember a lot of common bermuda out in the sunlight. Back in the trees I'm not sure what I saw. I am sure it wasn't zoysia, though. Who is recommending Emerald? Is it someone selling it or someone who has had it in their lawn for 20 years? In my limited experience with zoysia...if you fail to water it before you think you need to water it, it will go dormant on you. Once it goes dormant from drought, no matter how much you water it, it can be weeks (and WEEKS) before you see any sign of green. Mine is not the Emerald variety. If you are willing to water once a week, then St Augustine should work. If you are unwilling to water, then buffalo grass will work but only in full sun. Bermuda will survive the conditions you say but if you want it to look nice you would have to water it every week or so, fertilize it heavily every month, and mow twice weekly. You don't sound that ambitious. The seeded varieties of buffalo will not grow in dense. They quickly become weedy and look like pasture. One variety called Tech Turf grows very dense. St Aug and Tech Turf both thrive when mowed at your mower's highest setting. Both would spread once established and fill in without having to cover the entire half acre. Unlike the fescue, though, all the southern grasses will go dormant (brown) in the winter. Suck it up and get used to that feature. Another alternative would be native prairie grasses. Some of those, when mowed like a lawn, look excellent. They never need water (in Tennessee) and never need fertilizer. They do require full sun, like buffalo grass and bermuda do. Zoysia is known for being v-e-r-y slow to spread and slow to recover from damage. Anyone who tells you otherwise is probably trying to sell it to you.
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reeljake
7 years ago
Meyer has been around a long time, like 1940's. I would pass on that as its only builder grade. I recently switched from builder grade 419 Bermuda to an improved celebration Bermuda & I can tell you the better genetics matter!

I'd look into Bermuda sod if you're already fighting it & save zoysia for the shady front. They'll actually match pretty well. The neighborhood next to mine just installed zeon zoysia in their new treehouse park which is 100% shade. It looks really nice from afar, but haven't seen it up close. If you want the latest & greatest, check out Geo or Empire zoysia from sodsolutions.com
keeval3 thanked reeljake
keeval3
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for all the tips, so far. Please keep them coming.

j4c11, that particular neighor has El Toro, so I plan to avoid it. Not sure which months it is green. Thanks for agreeing that the NTEP numbers are confusing...I was hoping it wasn't just me.

hawksster, good tip on choosing the installer and sod separately, and making it work.

reeljake, I had no idea Meyer was considered builder grade, so thanks. I've heard good things about Empire, but also that it wasn't reliable during the winter this far north? One of those pieces of conflicting info I came across.

I've got a list of sod producers in the state, but there's no general number on that site where I could call and ask about the pros and cons of varieties. Some producers only grow one kind, so they're probably not a good resource for comparisons, either. It's not easy, when it seems the installers have their favorites.
reeljake
7 years ago
Installers generally favor their own bottom line, so when choosing someone to do the work you can tell them the grass pallets will be in your driveway waiting for them. That way you either order your own or you get their honest price--It's a win for you either way. If they really want the business they'll get whatever kind you really want. The farms will also spray paint the grass type on the side of the pallet, so if you ordered Zeon & the pallet is sprayed MEZ instead of ZZ, buyer beware.
keeval3 thanked reeljake
reeljake
7 years ago
Looks like NC Mulch in willow springs carries certified Empire according to the sodsolutions website. Super sod ships to NC, they have Zeon, Zenith & Leisure Time brands. Good luck!
keeval3 thanked reeljake

Zoysia sod varieties - how to choose?

hawksster .

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Zoysia sod varieties - how to choose?

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