Zoysia is found mostly in and from the middle part of the U.S. and east toward the Carolinas. Growth Habits of Zoysia and St. Augustine Grasses Both St. Augustine and zoysia are warm-season grasses, which means they have a similar growth habit. A golden-brown, crispy lawn in the winter is the norm with a warm-season grass like zoysia (Zoysia japonica). I'm sure fescue look's good in the spring and fall but you will never have nice grass in the heat. Zoysia doesn’t need to be mowed as often as St. Augustine, and it is tolerant of a wide range of poor soils. The landscape guy recommended Zoysia in the well shaded sections of the yard and said it is better shade tolerant than St. Augustine. Zoysia grass forms a lawn that feels like a thick, prickly carpet. Gardeners enjoy this grass type for its compressed grass blades that contribute a dense texture for lawns. It does not hold up to foot traffic as well as zoysia, and it does not fill in as fast after aeration or damage. Zoysia is a more versatile turf grass than St. Augustine, and it is fairly low maintenance in the right climate. Zoysia grass is more expensive to establish, compared to St. Augustine. For most homeowners, St. Augustine grass is the go-to. It can also be found in the North, but will turn brown once the weather turns cold. The Palisades Zoysia is one of the more aggressive growers so St. Augustine and Palisades Zoysia, they kind of duke it out. Zoysia can regrow from small roots left in the soil, so pulling out the grass may compound the issue. You need to seed warm season grass (zoysia) in the spring. Agrostis is right about the amount 2lbs per 1000. Zoysia Grass is a popular choice for Texas homeowners, because it can adapt to various types of soil. St. Augustine is a good turf grass for hot, humid, coastal climates with sandy soil. In its optimal growing zones, this tough grass can deliver a beautiful, dense lawn with very little input from you. And when well maintained, this grass can also look great on a property. I do not recommend overseeding warm season grass with cool season grass (fescue,rye) in the winter. Zoysia likes to be fed regularly, and consistent fertilizing will keep its root system healthy and resistant to disease. You should think about planting St. Augustine if your lawn drains well, receives consistent rainfall or irrigation, and has shaded areas. Bermuda grass is second in popularity, and Zoysia (a fairly recent addition to Texas grasses) is gaining ground. Chokes Out Weeds Once established, the dense turf created by zoysia significantly reduces summer weeds. In Lake Wylie, without irrigation. Those other varieties will run right over the top of the fine-bladed Zoysia grasses because they grow so slowly. Both zoysia and St. Augustine grasses are pretty shade tolerant compared to other turfgrass varieties. If your St Augustine grass isn’t growing as quickly as you like or is starting to turn yellow, it’s time to take action. Zoysia does not typically perform as well in shaded areas, so growth will be limited by the factor of shade. Expect slow germination, very slow without water. See also: The 10 Best Fertilizer for Zoysia Grass – … Learn about Bermuda grass, zoysia grass, st augustine grass, and centipede grass. © 2020 Taylor Anthony 365 All Rights Reserved. Using the popular Zoysia Empire as an example, this grass establishes more quickly than some other Zoysia cultivars, is robust and creates a tight carpet of soft, green grass. You can choose either of the two or mix the seeds and sod when planting your lawn. JavaScript is disabled. You are suppose to allow zoysia to grow for two years before mixing it with fescue. You must log in or register to reply here. CitraBlue and Palmetto® St. Augustine are the best grasses for shade. One other perk of Zoysia, is that certain types are chinch bug resistant. I mow three zoysia yards and I cut them at three inches. It cannot thrive in areas where temperatures dip … It is a hybridized grass seed combining zoysia japonica and zoysia tenuifolia to create fine texture, more rapid growth and cold tolerance. Zoysia grass does well in full sun and is tolerant of partial shade. It will tolerate a wider range of temperature than zoysia, but it must have good drainage and consistent irrigation in order to thrive. This is Zoysia grass, and there are several different varieties. Mow at a taller height to help shade out zoysia. For most homeowners, St. Augustine grass is the go-to. Many who move to the South mistakenly believe that St. Augustine lawns can be installed the same way that their northern bluegrass or fescue lawns were installed. With different blade textures and winter cold tolerances, these two grasses are not often deliberately grown together -- one species will be the weed and the other desirable. St. Augustine needs more frequent mowing, irrigation, and fertilization than zoysia. Fertilizing Zoysia Grass. And grass growth even depends on the type of Zoysia or St. Augustine grass you choose. A healthy lawn requires the right grass for our temperamental North Texas climate. We are leaning towards St. Augustine because those lawns look better than the Zoysia lawns and it is less expensive. per 1000 sq. Both Bermuda and St. Augustine are warm-season grasses and will thrive a lot better in warm conditions. There are not specific products labeled to kill St. Augustine grass in zoysia, however many folks will either spot treat with a non-selective herbicide, or they will use a product that is labeled as safe for zoysia but not for St. Augustine. My brother has both in his yard and his experience has been that the St. Augustine is encroaching faster into the Zoysia than vice versa. With a mixed lawn you’ll have to work to two separate fertilizer protocols, as St Augustine needs more Nitrogen than does Centipede. Fescues can be mowed from 3”-3.5”, while zoysia should be mowed at 1”-2”. Zoysia & St. Augustine Growth Habits. It handles dethatching and aeration well, so if you top-dress each year with compost, you may be able to skip fertilizing and irrigation. however, we hear that Zoysia uses less water and you mow it less. Unfortunately, sod growers produce only the most popular varieties which, except for a few, are mono-cultures. Zoysia is a popular choice for homeowners because it can tolerate shade, drought, cold and traffic. You’ve probably seen fine, thin, dark-green grass that feels like soft carpet to the touch. Winter weed's in dormant zoysia can be unsightly. As zoysia is a slow-growing grass, it is … IF you do NOT want to kill your existing lawn.. then you should consider planting zoysia grass plugs and NOT seeds. Seed zoysia at 2 Lbs. Plant St. Augustine grass plugs or sod in full sun, at least 90 days before your region’s first estimated fall frost, to give the grass plenty of time to establish. Your success rate seeding zoysia in an established lawn will be slim to none. I really don't like the look of the full dormant winter warm seasons but these grasses seem to take the drought easier. ft. after the last frost in the spring. I would have 100% zoysia. Both warm-season grasses, zoysia and St. Augustine grasses relish warm soil and air temperatures. Zoysia Grass . All the major brands make fertilizers that work well for Zoysia turf. The best fertilizers for Zoysia grass have a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium, or N, P and K. Commercial or residential, Taylor Anthony is prepared with the landscaping solution that is ideal for your situation. Be careful not to set the mower too low, as it may scalp the lawn. Irrigate 3-4 times per week during the summer to keep fescue healthy and encourage a deep root system. I have also read you should put in zoysia around mid May to Mid June. It is a big thatch producer and requires much moisture. Learn warm season grass identification and grass care. WillR – posted 29 July 2002 19:08. Call us today at (904) 230-3386. Amazoy will choke out all existing cultivated and wild grasses, including Bermuda (often called wire grass) and St. Augustine. Sometimes it can be joked that it will grow on concrete. And when well maintained, this grass can also look great on a property. But that is up here in TN. Augustine yard out to Zoysia. Correct. One such strain is Empire Zoysia. For instance- you have to lay a base that’s a mix of silica sand and Canadian peat moss. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. A good non-selective choice for spot treating would be … Most sites are a mix of conditions, so a suitable grass would logically be a mix of grass varieties. The growth habits of Zoysia grass and St. Augustine grass are quite different. Warm-season grasses are generally creeping grasses, which means they send out runners to put down roots and establish new leaves. Let’s compare them so you can make the best choice for your landscape. Also, because it is maintained at a height of 4 inches, it requires less mowing than other varieties. Your cutting height should be fine. I have also heard you need to take the grass area to pure dirt to grow zoysia. We say EMPIRE Turf is "Drought Tough". You will need to till the area, then put the zoysia down. The growth habits of Zoysia grass and St. Augustine grass are quite different. 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