Zoysia Grass. Plugs vs Sod

[PineRidge]

Had an neighbor more than a few years back that plugged Zoysia into his front yard. It took about two seasons to really look good. Less mowing, far more more resistance to drought. His did go dormant at the first sign of frost but that never seemed to bother him as he always knew when to put the mower away for the season.

 

[HGM]

You guys may have seen this page but I found some good info on all grass' here...

 

[EddieWalker]

bmac,

A small correction. When I mentioned the St. Augistine and being able to see the stripe while mowing, I was talking about how fast it grew and when I cut it, there was a very big difference in the height from just a weeks growth. I never watered it, but it grew like crazy!!! Faster than the bermuda that I had in the front yard.

Sorry for mis-using the word striping. It was meant as a discriptive term for what the mower created when cutting.

As for Centapede, I also never saw it before. It's all over the place, but if you don't know it, you miss it. It's very low growning. very green and VERY thick in coverage. It will choke out bermuda in time, but you ahve to be very patient. Depending on how thick the seed is spread, it could take years or more years to take over.

It's pricey, but in my opinion, the best of the best!!!!

Seed is the way to save money and cut corners, but it's like planting shrubs and trees. Put in a small one for less money and let it grow, or pay the big bucks for instant landscapeing and shade.

I'm a one gallon or smaller plant buying type of guy!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie

 

[bmac]

Eddie,

<font color="blue">I'm a one gallon or smaller plant buying type of guy!! </font>

You make me laugh. You are a real big spender, compared to my brother. He lives for time in the yard. But to him, free is the only way to go. He propagates cuttings from other people's shrubs. Talk about patience. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JazzDad]

I'm sure you've already checked with reputable landscapers about how well the zoysia will grow in your area. Years ago, my parents bought the plugs that "will give you a carpet-like lawn in a year". It's been 28 years, and the patch around each plug has spread about 3 feet. In the Houston, Texas area, St. Augustine is the predominant turf grass. It is vulnerable to disease, wants a lot of fertilizer, and takes a LOT of water.
You won't get a golf-course lawn, but native varieties are always a good choice. You are assured that the variety you plant can actually grow in your area. If you go to the big box store, they might sell you sod or seed that is native to Bulgaria, and won't thrive in your locale.
Just some random thoughts.

 

[bmac]

JazzDad,

Thanks for the tips. The variety of zoysia in our plans was the one recommended by our landscape designer after he visited the site, determined the sun-exposure, etc. I am relying on his expertise. That said, he never suggested plugs - that was my idea in an attempt to reduce the landscaping costs. We may see the same slow growth here your parents did.

I'm now looking into seed for the bulk of the lawn, with sod up front and a little in the back yard. As with everything else on this house, these plans are subject to change.