With many municipalities and HOA’s adding more restrictive lawn watering limitations, you may be considering Zoysia grass as an alternative to St. Augustine. Before you choose let’s look at all the factors to consider.
Zoysia blades are finer textured than St. Augustine grasses and have a softer feel. They are slower growingand produce less leaf clippings than St. Augustine varieties.
Once fully established, Zoysia lawns will produce underground rootstalks known as rhizomes, in addition to above ground stolons. This is the key attribute that allows Zoysia to be more tolerant of traffic, drought and freeze than St. Augustine. However, establishment to this degree will typically require 12 to 18 months.
In northern and north central areas of Florida, Zoysia grasses will typically go dormant in the winter. When completely dormant, the turf will appear uniformly brown. However, when the grass is going into or out of the dormant state, the turf may appear mottled with green and brown patches. Zoysia grasses are often the last turf varieties to become green again in the springtime. Some homeowners will react too quickly to this, thinking something is wrong, when it is really the natural growth cycle of Zoysia grass.
Here are some tips for caring for Zoyisa grass from our 30-plus years cultivating it and keeping it healthy with our Landscape Services.
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Watering
- Zoysia grass does not perform well in areas that excessively retain water. Like most turf grasses, Zoysia grass prefers a soil that is moist, but well drained.
- While Zoysia grass is often marketed as beingmore drought tolerant than St. Augustine grass,Zoysia requires just as much water in terms offrequency and volume as St. Augustine to remaingreen and attractive.
Mowing
- Proper mowing height and frequency is crucial to the health and appearance of a Zoysia grass lawn. Avoid mowing at heights higher than recommended. The most widely planted Zoysia variety in Florida is Empire. Empire should be mowed at 2.25 inches. This is slightly higher than most commercial services cut grass. Dwarf varieties, such as Geo, require a lower mowing height of 1.5 to 2 inches. Mowing should always occur when the height of the grass becomes 1/3rd higher than the mowing height.
- It is highly recommended that the mowing height be reduced by 1/3rd of the recommended mowingheight for the first mowing in the spring.
- Clippings from regular cuts should be mulched back into the soil to return valuable organic matter and nutrients to the landscape. The mulching process allows sunlight to more easily reach the new shoots emerging from rhizomes and will provide a quicker spring green-up.
Drought Conditions
- The attribute that makes Zoysia grasses more drought tolerant is its ability to transition into a dormant state under drought conditions. In the dormant state, the color of the turf is brown to grayish-brown. Under short-term dry conditions, St. Augustine grass will wilt. Upon receiving sufficient water, it will return to an attractive appearance within a few days. Under the same short-term dry conditions, Zoysia grass will turn brown in its dormant state and require new leaf growth to cover the dormant brown leaves.
- The benefit of Zoysia grass over St. Augustine is only under severe drought conditions. In severe drought situations, Zoysia grass would be more likely to recover, while St. Augustine grass may require replacement.
Other ImportantInformation
- Make sure Zoysia is the right grass for the conditions of your lawn. Zoysia grass lawns perform best in full sun and will tolerate only moderate shade.
- Zoysia grasses are equally or more affected by disease issues than St. Augustine grasses. Dollar spot and brown patch fungus are the primary concerns. Zoysia grass performs well when growing in an acidic soil and does poorly in an alkaline soil. We recommend a soil pH value below 6.5, which can be achieved through amendments to modify soil pH and the use of organic soil conditioning.
For additional information or for afree landscape inspection,contact Massey Services today!
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FAQs
The benefit of Zoysia grass over St. Augustine is only under severe drought conditions. In severe drought situations, Zoysia grass would be more likely to recover, while St. Augustine grass may require replacement.
Which grass is better, Zoysia or St. Augustine? ›
St. Augustines only spread through the above-the-ground runners, stolons. They are usually better than zoysias at choking out weeds for this reason. Since zoysias grow with both methods, they usually rank higher in wear tolerance, injury recovery and drought tolerance.
Will St. Augustine overtake Zoysia? ›
They will be overtaken by almost any other grass variety that you plant nearby, whether it's Palisades Zoysia, or a St. Augustine, or Bermuda. Those other varieties will run right over the top of the fine-bladed Zoysia grasses because they grow so slowly.
What are the cons of St. Augustine grass? ›
Augustine grass is susceptible to a range of diseases and insects, including chinch bugs and brown patch. Additionally, this grass type is prone to thatch buildup, which creates a breeding ground for pests and diseases. When first planted, St. Augustine grass requires frequent watering to establish a deep root system.
Does Zoysia grass overtake other grass? ›
Will Zoysia Grass Take Over Other Grasses? Zoysia is considered invasive and is known to take over lawns, when given enough time. That includes crowding out other grasses that exist in your lawn or newly seeded grasses that you plant.
What is the disadvantage of Zoysia grass? ›
Often, the lawn will stay brown well into Spring, which is a deal breaker for some. So, if year-round color is necessary for you, you may want to think twice before choosing zoysia grass. Zoysia will not tolerate heavy traffic during these dormant periods. Another negative is the very poor shade tolerance under trees.
How to tell Zoysia from St. Augustine? ›
Zoysia blades are finer textured than St. Augustine grasses and have a softer feel.
What grass will take over St. Augustine? ›
So, if you do a poor job of maintaining your St. Augustine, Bermuda is going to take over.
Will Zoysia grass choke out weeds? ›
Fortunately, zoysia grass is one of the more weed resistant types of grasses because it forms a really dense canopy that chokes out weeds. Even the finer-bladed zoysia grasses are somewhat prone to thatch, which creates a thick canopy that sunlight can't always break through to help weeds photosynthesize.
Will St. Augustine choke out other grass? ›
Augustine will almost always crowd out the Bermuda. Conversely, if you want to accelerate the Bermuda, mow shorter and more often — then the Bermuda will win. The reason is Bermuda can't grow in shade — taller St. Augustine will shade the slower growing Bermuda.
The Alternatives
- Bermuda Grass – This grass is superior to St. Augustine in drought resistance and may require less frequent mowing, as it is a low-growing species. ...
- Buffalo Grass – This grass has a longer dormancy period than St. ...
- Zoysia Grass – Zoysia is similar in thickness to St.
St. Augustine grass is one of the most popular lawn grasses in Florida and the Gulf states, thanks to its tolerance of heat and humidity. Its blue-green blades form a dense turf that establishes quickly and easily, and can tolerate salt, making it an excellent choice for coastal yards.
Is St. Augustine high maintenance? ›
St. Augustine grass is the most popular warm-season turf for Southern U.S. states. It's also a popular choice for waterfront areas in warm locations because it's salt-tolerant, unlike many other warm-season grasses. It requires moderate maintenance in its preferred climates and growing conditions.
What is the most aggressive grass? ›
Bermuda and Zoysia are what I call “alpha grasses” meaning they are very aggressive and work hard to take new ground. They do this by spreading wide through “runners” that creep across the surface and just below ground, sending new shoots of growth upward. These runners are called stolons and rhizomes.
What is the best spreading grass? ›
Kentucky bluegrass is a lush, dense and durable lawn grass. This self-spreading variety withstands cold and is resistant to disease.
Should you leave grass clippings on Zoysia grass? ›
If those clumps are left to sit on the lawn, then it can cause the live grass beneath it to be subject to disease, rot and ultimately death. Bagging your zoysia grass clippings will allow the grass that is left after a mowing to grow and thrive in a healthy manner.
Is Zoysia or St. Augustine better for dogs? ›
Zoysia – This hardy grass does well with moderate amounts of shade and high traffic, but may not tolerate dog urine well. St. Augustine – A good choice for shaded yards, but not for yards with high traffic from dogs.
What is best alternative from St Augustine grass? ›
The Alternatives
- Bermuda Grass – This grass is superior to St. Augustine in drought resistance and may require less frequent mowing, as it is a low-growing species. ...
- Buffalo Grass – This grass has a longer dormancy period than St. ...
- Zoysia Grass – Zoysia is similar in thickness to St.
The contrast between Zoysia and Red Fescue is illustrative. While both are popular lawn substitutes, only Red Fescue will be lush and lovely year round without toxic chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
Why is Zoysia grass so good? ›
Zoysia grass is known for its ability to stand up to heat, drought, heavy foot traffic and a variety of other challenges. In its optimal growing zones, this tough grass can deliver a beautiful, dense lawn with very little input from you.
