By David W Lambert
At Green Living Made Easy, we are always on the lookout for products that reduce maintenance, use of toxic chemicals, and provide a better quality of life for homeowners. While Zoysia Grass definitely does meet all of this criteria, there are certain drawbacks you should be produced aware of. We have put together a listing of advantages and disadvantages with the use of this turf and you should use this list to determine if it will work in your area of the country:
Advantages:
Fantastic option for areas with hot summer months as it maintains its green color.
It can be mowed very short without any consequences, ranging between 1/2" to 1-1/4".
The resulting turf is very thick and dense.
As a result of the dense turf, it crowds out weeds and crabgrass.
Very heat stress resistant.
With proper soil management, it will grown in most soil types.
Once established it will tolerate low fertility.
Here Is The List Of Disadvantages:
Upon the first cold weather, it will turn to a 'straw brown' color for the winter. This can mean it will become straw colored from about the middle of October to the Middle of May.
Propagation is usually by means of means of stolons or plugs, which is very laborious.
You can grow it from seed but the the seed is very slow to germinate and the texture of the leaves tends to be somewhat course.
Establishment of Zoysia is very slow. With ideal growing circumstances, you can acquire full coverage in one growing season with either plugs or stalons. It is more probably to take between 2 or 3 seasons.
Once established, it can become invasive, especially in planting beds.
It is very flammable during the dormant stage and you should keep it away from wood structures with a buffer.
Do not plant it in the shade.
It can sustain a considerable amount of damage due to heavy traffic during its dormant stage.
Using It in Northern Climates
While there have been same varieties that have been developed for northern climates, such as the Zoysia Japonica or the varieties of 'Meyer' and Emerald', it is generally not suggest that it be planted up north. At the beginning hint of cold weather, even the cold weather varieties will turn yellow. This is not very appealing for people who want a green lawn for most of the year.
A Guide to Establishing Zoysia Grass:
To have the most success with Zoysia Grass, about the most beneficial time of year to plant it is from the middle of May through the end of June. By planing early you have your best chance at having a full, think, filled-in turf by means of fall.
Preparation of the Planting Bed: Have the bed well prepared, leveled and free from weeds and weed seed.
Grass Plugs: Remove the dead material and begin planting. The seed can additionally be used, but the slow germination of the seed, which can be several months, deters many people. A far better option, while being much more labor intensive is through placing plugs in the soil. You could also use sod, but that is even more expensive, but you will have a nice green lawn immediately.
Plug Planting: If you divide sod into plugs, a 12" x 12" square of sod will yield 36 2" x 2" plugs. Accepted spacing is between 8" and 12" on center throughout the planting area. Match the plug size to the hole size to ensure that the plug has good contact with the surrounding soil. Plant the plugs in such a way as to have the top of the plug slightly above the surrounding soil level.
Some of the Problems:
Thatch: Although you will be dealing with less labor for mowing frequency, it has the tendency to build thatch very rapidly. You will need to stay on top of the problem, which can take some significant time. Minimize these problems by means of regular aeration of your turf.
Invasive: This is a very invasive grass. With its fantastic, nearly weed-free characteristics, and because it crowds everything else out, it can be difficult to eradicate when in planting beds or your neighbors yard.
Shade: If you have shady areas in which you plan to plant grass, don't plan on Zoysia Grass. It hates the shade and will not tolerate it.
Damaged Areas Offer Slow Recovery: Although its slow growth is enduring for maintenance reasons, this additionally means that damaged areas will take a long time to fill-in or be repaired.
Fertilizing Techniques:
One of the many benefits of Zoysia is that once it is established, it is comparatively maintenance free. This is due to the minimal mowing cycles that are required as well as the infrequent application of fertilizer. We should be clear though that nearly every grass can benefit from applications of good quality fertilizers. So to keep it looking in fantastic shape, follow these recommendations.
Upon emergence from its dormant state, in the spring, and as it reaches about 50% environmentally-friendly, position a slow release, high nitrogen fertilizer.
If it is necessary, make a secondary application of the same fertilizer in about 8 weeks.
In order to minimize stress in the over-winter dormant period employ a winter fertilizer.
Although it is possible to grow Zoysia Grass in cold climates and it will survive, it is predominantly a warm weather grass and has fewer problems when grown in a more temperate climate.
About the Author:
If you found this article useful, you can get additional information by visiting Zoysia Grass. Additionally, more information on planting Zoysia Grass can be found at: Zoysia Grass Facts
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