Or, if you need a hardier grass that isnt as finicky or doesnt require excessive maintenance, Zenith Zoysia might be the better option. Due to its slow growth habit and its puffy appearance, it is usually used as an ornamental specimen plant in Asian themed gardens. Zoysia grass Zoysia grass More in Plants Zoysia grasses, in particular, are usually more prone to insects likebillbugs. Corded vs. Cordless String Trimmers: Which One is Right for You? EMPIRE Turf is a Zoysia grass that has truly raised the bar for warm season turf grass. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. I highly recommended purchasing seed fromZoysia Farms. Our selection includes both wholesale and home grown sod. Rhizomes strike new roots downward into the soil and also shoot stems upwards. Zoysia grasses are generally slower growing than Bermuda and St. Augustine, with Emerald Zoysia being one of the slowest growing Zoysia grasses. Zoysiagrass will turn brown with the first fall frost and remain dormant during the winter. Menu. Identifying Common Lawn Weeds Since neither variety is grown from seed, both "Empire" and "Zeon" are sold only by licensed grower/suppliers in the United States. If one or more inches of rainfall occur in a week,additional irrigation is not necessary. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. Zeon Zoysia is a patented product of The Turfgrass Group, Inc. Zorro Zoysiais a very fine-bladed zoysia with a dark green color that is suitable residential lawns. Be sure to take a look at a few related Sod University blogs onCollecting and Submitting a Soil AnalysisandWhy Use Lawnifi Fertilizer?. Buy EMPIRE Zoysia; For the Pros; FAQs; Testimonials; Research; El Torois a lighter green zoysia grass with a medium blade that forms a dense canopy and can handle a lot of traffic. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Its also important to note that there are a few big keydifferences between warm season and cool season varieties. You can learn more about some of the most common of these in ourInsect Identificationblog. Zeon has extremely low maintenance and fertility requirements. As always, when using a chemical, be sure to read and follow all guidelines on the product label. It also thrives in a variety of soil and climate conditions and features a reduced thatch build-up compared to other extremely fine-textured zoysia grasses. 'El Toro' grows rapidly and has leaf width similar to 'Meyer'. Meyer Zoysia is best adapted to the transition zone where summers are too hot and humid for cool season grasses and winters too cold for bermuda grass. It has excellent shade tolerance. Unlike a lot of grass species, Zoysia actually spreads by sending out runners, or stolons. This is one reason the grass type is so great for the Peach State. This zoysia grass variety is hardy, yet attractive, has a very good shade tolerance and is easy to maintain. Sodding will also help to reduce the weed population typically will occur in the bare spots between plugs. "Empire" is often marketed as a modern replacement and improvement over the long-standing "Emerald" selection of zoysia grass. Whether youre looking to overseed, patch up bare spots or start a new lawn, our varieties of warm and cool season grass seed will ensure your landscape project is completed properly. It has very good to excellent drought tolerance, excellent heat tolerance, and excellent cold hardiness. For example, after 90 days of controlled, favorable growth on samples of these two varieties, "Empire" grew to cover an area nearly twice as large as a comparable planting of "Zeon." EMPIRE is the first Zoysia to demonstrate improved tolerance to brown patch as compared to Meyer Zoysia in side-by-side plantings. St. Augustine also tends to have a higher salt tolerance than zoysias, so you will typically see more St. Augustines along the coasts or around areas high in salt content. Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed. Fertilizing your lawn is an essential part of its care. But Emerald mostly is grown from sod and that is usually the most expensive method for installing a lawn. With this in mind, many folks are willing to put in the extra effort (even if it is still low!) Once your new lawn is rooted follow the chart below. EMPIRE performs well in sandy and clay type soils throughout the southern U.S. and has tough runners, rhizomes and deep roots that provide excellent sod strength, wearability and improved drought tolerance. Take a look at some of our most popular insecticides below. Palisades Zoysiais a medium-to-coarse textured zoysia grass known for its drought tolerance. It is drought tolerant due to its deep root structure. JaMur is a medium-coarse textured zoysiagrass that thrives well in a home lawn environment. The most cold tolerant of Zoysia grass, Meyer is the top pick for northern regions in Georgia where some snow may come. Meyer has a wider leaf than Emerald and has good cold tolerance. Certain zoysia grass types have distinct characteristics that perform differently in various environments. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lawnifi 9 Bottle Annual Fertilizer Program, Merit Imidacloprid .5G Granular Insecticide, Spectracide Immunox Fungus + Insect Control. This particular variety of Zoysia was developed specifically for the landscaping industry. When sodding, test the soil and properly prepare the soil. EMPIRE Zoysia is a patented and trademarked product of Sod Solutions, Inc. Empire Compadre Zenith Zoyboy Palisades. St. Augustine vs. Bermuda Grass Turf Wars. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! However, its often quite confusing to find the right fertilizer for your specific type of lawn. Zorro has superior shade tolerance to most other warm season grasses, allowing it to grow in areas other grasses cant. The blade density is much higher than other grasses, giving a very dense, carpet-like, or "hedgehog" appearance. You can learn more about some of the most popular of these inPopular Zoysia VarietiesandPopular St. Augustine Grass Varieties. Zoysia is bright and stays green longer. This grass has a fine, soft texture and can be left unmowed as it only grows to a height of 612 inches (1530 cm). This variety isnt as winter-hardy as some of the other Zoysiagrass cultivars, but it offers better shade tolerance than others. According to Purdue University's turf test trial results, "Empire" is faster growing and quicker to establish when compared to "Zeon." Zoysia and St. Augustine can perform well in a wide range of soil types and climates, but there are soil types that they perform better in than others. Root depth varies between Zoysia and Bermuda grass, and Zoysia roots only generally grow 2 feet deep. This particular Sod University blog focuses on the generic differences between zoysia vs. St. Augustine grasses. Our product line of Lawnifi grass seed features fertilizer coated seed designed to promote root growth and successful establishment at planting. Water requirements for this Zoysia hybrid are low to average, and the grass shows a particular dislike to being over-fertilised, which is . Zenith and Emerald are among the cultivars of fine- and coarse-textured Zoysiagrass, each offering different benefits. It's artificially bred with high rates of weed control, drought, and wear tolerance. When it comes to zoysia varieties, zoysia is still pretty shade tolerant for a warm season grass, but their shade tolerance ranks second to that of St. Augustines. Meyer Zoysia develops a very dense turf, demonstrates good cold tolerance and grows well in partial shade. Drought tolerance is the ability to survive a drought. EMPIRE is another zoysia grass that demonstrates immunity to another common pest found in St. Augustinesthe chinch bug. Whether youre looking to overseed, patch up bare spots or start a new lawn, our varieties of warm and cool season grass seed will ensure your landscape project is completed properly. To determine a specific fertilization program for a site, contact a local County Extension Agent or the Clemson Home & Garden Information Center. How Do I Fix Bare or Brown Spots in My Lawn? Pictured above from left to right: Zorro, El Toro, Palisades and Meyer Zoysia. Each option has its ups and downs and is better suited to different situations. Although it has a slower growth rate, it tolerates heat as well as other zoysias once it is established. If theres spotty shade across your lawn, either option may work, but if your property is fully shaded, Zeon Zoysiagrass might be the better option. Be sure to read each label thoroughly before application. An inch of rainfall or irrigation per week will meet the needs of your Zoysia grass. Sod Cover Lawn Read more. For example, if you really like zoysia grass but live in an area that may endure periods of drought, EMPIRE Zoysia is a great pick. Emerald is a cross between Zoysia japonica and Zoysia matrella, it has a thin bladed leaf, and one of the slowest growth rates of the Zoysia family. This is why zoysia grasses can be found in golf courses instead of St. Augustineszoysias are generally more durable. The transitional zone is an irregular band that spans the low to mid United States, including lower California, upper Arizona, upper Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, etc. There are three main types of soil: sandy, clay and loamy soil. Meyer Zoysia. Learn to take the best possible care of your lawn and garden by subscribing to our weekly Sod University newsletter or by referring to our installation, establishment and maintenance guides. "Empire" bears natural chemical resistance to MSMA, 2-4-D and Fusilade II herbicides, making any weed management extremely easy, according to the Phillip Jennings Turf Farm. A grass that thrives in the southern states, Zoysia sod is a warm climate grass. The majority of lawns planted with zoysiagrass are planted with one of the cultivars from Zoysia japonica. No matter which type of turfgrass variety you choose for installation, every one of them is going to need some form of nutrition. What are Some Natural Deer Repellents That I Can Use in My Garden? Perhaps the most drought tolerant, JaMur Zoysia is one of the most adaptable varieties of Zoysia grass in Georgia. I replaced the entire front with Zeon in February of 2020 and it turned out beautiful the entire summer of 2020. to care for this variety over another. Be sure its a deep watering to help encourage the drought-resistant roots to stay strong. "Empire" is often marketed as a modern replacement and improvement over the long-standing "Emerald" selection of zoysia grass. During short drought episodes, the grass remains green. Blade-width: 5-7mm Color: Blue-Green Very Soft Feel Very Good Wear Tolerance However, it does not do well in full shadeas compared to Rye and Fescue. Tolerates hot weather, but not extreme heat, Needs more water than other types of Zoysia, requiring 3 to 4 inches in the hottest weather, Is exceptionally resistant to rodents and other pests, weeds, and disease, Should not be watered more than 1 inch per week, Is exceptionally tolerant of high levels of traffic, Requires infrequent watering, when signs of dehydration appear, Needs infrequent watering look for signs of dehydration. The rate of establishment is very slow. At The Grass Store, we want to help our customers understand how to care for their lawns. It makes an excellent residential turfgrass and has moderate to good shade tolerance. Overall, zoysias are typically fine turfgrasses with a smooth feel. Browning may occur in triple digit heat, but adequate hydration can restore its vibrant green color in a matter of minutes. It also has a good fall color retention. Emerald zoysiagrass has a very fine leaf texture but is less cold-tolerant than other zoysiagrass varieties. In comparison to drought tolerance, drought resistance is the ability to look good during drought. NicholasGeraldinePhotos/Shutterstock.com. St. Augustines only spread through the above-the-ground runners, stolons. Emerald Zoysia is an excellent choice if youre going for a high-end lawn and are willing to maintain it meticulously. Use grass plugs to test a grasss shade tolerance or to determine how well a certain grass type performs in your home landscape. Finally, CitraZoy Zoysia features improved disease tolerance to large patch. EMPIRE also grows in a wide variety of soil and climate conditions, which make it a great choice for home lawns in many locations. El Toro will withstand heavy foot traffic and grows rapidly in hot temperatures. Avoid fixed timer irrigations settings. Once you plant the grass seed, you need to cover it lightly with soil by raking carefully over the freshly-sprinkled seed. Dethatch if theres more than a half inch. Check them out:Zoysia Farms. When left unmowed, it forms a humpy convoluted surface which is sometimes used in oriental landscapes. Zeon is another fine-textured zoysiagrass that provides a thick, dark-green lawn. The blade density is much higher than other grasses, giving a very dense, carpet-like, or "hedgehog" appearance. An artificially bred hybrid released by Dr. Forbes several years after Meyer, Emerald produces an extremely dense, fine textured turf of true emerald green color. Insects, pests, and lawn diseases are easy to prevent with the right lawn maintenance. It thrives in full sun or partial shade and only requires 34 hours of sunlight to thrive. Atlanta Sod Farms is a disabled veteran-owned small business with over 20 years of combined experience in Georgia Sod and a licensed sod grower in the state of Georgia. Finer-bladed zoysias, such as Innovation and Geo Zoysia, are more shade tolerant that the thicker-bladed zoysias like EMPIRE. Apply pre-emergents in February and March to prevent crabgrass and other summer weeds from messing up your Zoysia grass. Dont plant too early or too late and youll develop rich, lush grass that stays greener longer than many others. If youve had a chinch bug problem in the past, then this grass may be the best choice for you. A rhizome runs underground horizontallyoften just underneath the surface of the soil. Factsheet | HGIC 1212 | Revised: Nov 15, 2018 | Print. Zoysia turf is renowned for its dense mat-like qualities, as well as tolerance of shade, summertime heat and seasonal droughts. They are also more tolerant than St. Augustines of soils with poor drainage. Keep in mind that this type usually requires more maintenance and recovers slower than other types. Zeon supposedly produces less thatch and spreads easier. Zoysias and St. Augustines can be plagued by different insects, bugs and grubs including mole crickets, billbugs, armyworms, white grub worms, sod webworms, ants, grass spiders or spittlebugs. It is drought tolerant due to its deep root structure. While less cold-hardy than its closest japonica cousin, Meyer Zoysia (also non-seeding), it is softer and more shade tolerant. These three zoysia types are:Zoysia japonica,Zoysia matrellaandZoysia tenuifolia. Geo zoysiagrass is a fine-bladed turfgrass with dark green color. This should give a complete cover in two growing seasons or less if properly watered and fertilized. Use grass plugs to test a grasss shade tolerance or to determine how well a certain grass type performs in your home landscape. Average stolon growth is slightly longer in "Empire" than "Zeon," but no more than 1 inch. A lot of homeowners arent sure where to even start with this process. It's a popular pick for high-end lawns, where there's a devoted maintenance program in place. The zoysia grass variety "Empire" is a type of Japanese lawn grass (Zoysia japonica). If youre worried that the grass has died during these periods, check the base for green sprouts. That means its harder for weeds to break through and easier to keep it healthier. EMPIRE Zoysiais a BrazilianZoysia japonicadeveloped for a wide spectrum of applications including many home lawns throughout the southern two-thirds of the United States. These grasses form an excellent turf when properly established and managed. Similarly to insects, both zoysia and St. Augustines, along with every other grass type, are prone to more diseases or fungus outbreaks than others. Geo Zoysia requires a little more maintenance than that of other zoysias, but it will make your lawn the best looking in the neighborhood. It is a highly dense turf that is frequently used on home lawns and its thicker blade width makes it a little easier to maintain. Zoysia tenuifolia: This zoysiagrass will form small clumps giving it a somewhat puffy appearance. It is an excellent grass for the southern and southeastern states. I had emerald zoysia on about 2500sf in front and about 3500sf in the back. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. Come spring, Zoysia lawns are among the first warm-season lawns to green up again. Using Your Tow-Behind Spreader to Control Weeds in Your Lawn. Zoysiagrass should be mowed as low as possible, but not so low scalping occurs. When compared to other zoysia grasses such as Innovation Zoysia, Meyer is more susceptible to disease and to the bluegrass billbug. Its cultivars are adapted to the entire state and are some of the most cold-tolerant of the warm-season grasses. Zoysia grasses are generally slower growing than Bermuda and St. Augustine, with Emerald Zoysia being one of the slowest growing Zoysia grasses. St. Augustines are considered good with wear tolerance and injury recovery, although the superior variety, CitraBlue, has a better wear tolerance than most other St. Augustine varieties. Empire vs Emerald Zoysia Grass Larry O'Neil 908 subscribers Subscribe 71K views 9 years ago You want to pick the best sod for your lawn. It wont be as dense growing and it wont have the thatch build-up that you may have with other superfine zoysias, so itll just be easier to maintain and keep looking attractive year-round. Palisades Zoysia is a certified turfgrass variety that was developed by the Turf Lab at Texas A&M University. The grass exhibits a dense creeping growth, rather than an aggressive upward, or sprawling growth. With a general idea of each type of Zoysiagrass, lets examine different aspects of each. 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