What is Zoysiagrass?
Zoysia is a type of grass that grows best in warm weather and first came from Southeast Asia, Japan, and China. It arrived in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. During the 20th century, turf breeders cultivated new Zoysia varieties that are well suited for lawns in warm-season climates and in transitional zones between warm- and cool-season climates in the U.S., including Hawaii.
Zoysia grass usually does well in shady areas (although it prefers full sunlight) and some Z. japonica varieties can withstand colder temperatures, making them a popular choice in areas with warmer and cooler climates.
Other grasses, such as some cultivars of bermudagrass, may not survive in the transition zone because of the cold winters while cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass can't tolerate the hot summers. Zoysia fills a needed niche in these areas.
Zoysia grass is a good choice for homeowners with kids or pets since it is dense and can withstand a lot of foot traffic. Zoysia grass is also very resilient to damage, and will quickly recover if damaged. Although Zoysia grass is a great option for a lawn, it grows slowly so it would take a while for it to recover if it were damaged.
The traits of each individual cultivar may differ slightly, so it is best to do your research before making a decision. This grass has a dense growth habit, so you won't have to weed as much. It does a great job of defeating many types of weeds.
Species And Cultivars
There are several different types of zoysiagrass that are used for things like yards, athletic fields, and golf courses. Leaf color, texture, and establishment rate can vary widely.
Species
ZOYSIA JAPONICA STEUD.
This species, commonly called Japanese lawngrass or Korean lawngrass, was introduced into the United States in 1894. Cultivars of this species are generally coarse-textured. Of all the zoysiagrasses, this species has the fastest growth rate and the best cold tolerance. It is easily mown using a rotary mower. The only zoysiagrass for which you can buy seed is Zoysia japonica, although the kinds grown from seed aren't usually as high quality as the ones grown from plugs or sod. You should only use seeded cultivars where it's more important to establish the plant using seed than to have a high-quality plant.
ZOYSIA MATRELLA (L.) MERR.
Manilagrass, also called Japanse Stiltgrass, was introduced to the United States in 1892. It produces a finer and denser turf than Zoysia japonica, but it is generally less winter hardy and grows more slowly. Manilagrass is a type of grass that is similar to bermudagrass in terms of texture, color, and quality. It is often recommended for use in high-quality, high-maintenance turf areas where a slow rate of establishment is not a disadvantage. Z. matrella cultivars typically tolerate both shade and salt well.
ZOYSIA PACIFICA (GOUDSW.) M. HOTTA & S. KUROKI
This zoysiagrass has a very fine texture and is very dense, making it the best option that is available. This type of grass is only adapted to areas that are warm and not cold. It has good wear tolerance, meaning it can withstand a lot of foot traffic, but it cannot tolerate cold temperatures well. It also creates too much thatch, making it look puffy. This species of grass is not often used for lawns, but ratherfor low-growing, ornamental specimen plants, especially in Asian-themed gardens.
Cultivars
Although there is a lot of information online about different types of zoysiagrass, not all of it applies to the climate and environment in Florida.
ZOYSIA JAPONICA CULTIVARS
El Toro
El Toro is a Zoysia japonica that was released in 1986 from California. It is a coarse-textured grass that has been improved. Meyer zoysiagrass has a faster establishment rate, improved cool-season color, better drought resistance, and less thatch buildup than other types of grass. Other benefits of El Toro include early spring green-up, more shade tolerance, and improved resistance to rust disease. It is susceptible to large patch disease.
Empire Turf
‘Empire’ (‘SS-500’) is a popular coarse-textured cultivar. It has a very dense growth habit, is very green, and establishes quickly. Empire has done well in both sandy and clay soils. It tolerates shade as well as El Toro and more than Meyer. Although empire zoysiagrass is the most common type of zoysiagrass in Florida, it is not resistant to large patch disease.
JaMur
JaMur is a type of cultivar that has medium-coarse textured and has performed well in many areas. It is available in Florida. The plant has a very attractive color and does well in moderate shade. JaMur establishes quickly and does well when mowed at the recommended height using rotary mowers. It is susceptible to large patch disease.
Meyer
The Meyer grass cultivar has been around since the 1950s and is known for its winter hardiness. It can be slow to establish, and is susceptible to hunting billbugs and nematodes. It is susceptible to large patch disease. This plant is not recommended for use in Florida.
Palisades
Texas A&M University developed a coarse-textured zoysiagrass known as ‘Palisades' in 1996. This plant has more leaves that point up than the Empire and JaMur plants, and it does not need as much water to survive. This plant has a fast rate of establishment and is tolerant to shade like JaMur. This plant is resistant to most diseases, but is especially vulnerable to large patch disease.
Zenith
‘Zenith’ zoysiagrass is a coarse-textured, seeded cultivar. The seeded cultivars don't do as well as cultivars that are grown from vegetative cuttings. Zenith zoysiagrass is dark green but is not very tough and does not last long in Florida because it gets sick easily. Although Seed of Zenith is for sale in Florida, it is not a good idea to use it on your lawn.
ZOYSIA MATRELLA CULTIVARS
Cashmere, Diamond, Taccoa Green™, and Trinity
The four cultivars are very close in terms of appearance, have a very delicate texture, and work well when mowing heights range from golf course putting green heights to 0.5”. Their optimum height of cut is 0.25”. There are four types of grass that are not widely available in Florida, but would be suitable for use on golf courses or extremely fancy landscapes. They are extremely shade tolerant. The cashmere plant was selected from a naturally occurring stand in Florida and was introduced to the market in 1988. The ‘Diamond' type of grass was released to the public from Texas A&M University in 1996. It is specially known for being able to tolerate high levels of salt in the ground. Some golf courses in Florida use it for their greens. The ‘Toccoa Green' (‘BA-305') was released by the University of Florida in 2004. This product has a faster rate of growth and recovers more quickly from scalp damage than others on the market. The ‘Trinity' cultivar has been doing well in Florida since it became available.
Geo, Zeon, and Zorro
These three cultivars have a fine-textured, dark green appearance and are very similar. All three have limited availability in Florida. ‘Zorro’ was developed by Texas A&M University. Although Zeon is a popular zoysiagrass in many regions, it is not as well adapted to Florida. The three options listed have good tolerance to shade, making them ideal to use as a replacement for bermudagrasses on golf course where insufficient light is an issue. They work well at mowing heights from 0.5” to 2.0”. Disease issues include dollar spots and large patches.
Thrive
There is a new type of Z. matrella called ‘Thrive' which has a limited availability in Florida. Its appearance resembles Geo, Zeon, and Zorro. Other than people's stories about how good it is at tolerating drought, very little information is available about its origins and whether it would do well in Florida.
Hybrid Cultivars
CitraZoy™
The University of Florida released CitraZoy in 2019. This plant is a hybrid between two other plants, adapted well to its environment. It has medium-fine leaves, similar to those of the Meyer and Z. matrella cultivars. This cultivar is slightly more tolerant of shade than varieties of Z. japonica but is less tolerant than cultivars of Z. matrella. It's a sturdy grass with a strong root system that can handle a lot of wear and tear. It also keeps its color well in the winter. Although large patch has not been observed to occur on CitraZoy, it will get a leaf spot. As of the time this text was published, it was expanding in production with a few Florida producers.
Emerald
Emerald zoysiagrass is a grass hybrid that was developed in Tifton, Georgia, in 1955. It is a cross between Zoysia japonica and Zoysia pacifica. This plant is a hybrid of the winter hardy plant Z. japonica and the fine textured plant Z. pacifica. It inherits the color, fast growth rate, and winter hardiness of the former, and the texture and density of the latter. Emerald grass is similar to Manilagrass in color, texture, density, and disease resistance, but it is more winter hardy and can grow in a wider range of conditions.
Icon™
Icon zoysiagrass is a hybrid between Zoysia macrantha and Zoysia japonica. It is a type of potatoes that is coarser than Empire, El Toro, Palisades, and JaMur. This grass has strong roots, can tolerate a lot of salt, and doesn't create much thatch compared to other zoysiagrasses. It is available in Florida, and Icon has not observed it in large numbers.
Innovation™
The zoysiagrass known as Innovation™ was developed in 2017 by a joint effort of Texas A&M University and Kansas State University. This plant is a cross between a Z. matrella and a Z. japonica that can withstand colder temperatures. Innovation has been shown to be more winter hardy than Meyer, as well as having a finer leaf texture. The leaf texture of this plant falls somewhere in between that of the Meyer and Z. matrella cultivars. There is not a lot of information available about how well this type of grass would do in Florida or how it would respond to different types of diseases. There is only a small amount of it available.
How to establish Zoysia
The majority of experts agree that Zoysia lawns are best established through the use of sod. The best time to lay sod is in the spring, late summer, or fall. Sodding your lawn requires preparing the soil and watering it regularly to ensure it grows properly. Many people believe that the higher quality results are worth the extra effort.
Zoysia japonica grasses can have their seeds bought, but it's not recommended if you want high-quality turf. Zoysia lawns are harder to establish with seed because of the weeds and how long it takes to get a full grass stand.
It is important to remember that timing is everything when you are planting warm-season grasses. The best time to establish a Zoysia lawn from seed is spring. The lawn will have a full growing season if it is not cut until late spring.
If you're trying to save money, you might be tempted to use seed instead of buying a pre-made lawn. However, you should be aware that a grass like Zoysia grows slowly, so you'll need to put in extra effort to prevent weeds from taking over while it's getting established.
Although sprigs and plugs are available for Zoysia grasses, they take a long time to grow and may not cover the entire yard for a year or more.
Maintenance Of Zoysiagrass
Nutrient Management
The health of your lawn depends on proper nutrition. While plants can get some of the nutrients they need from the soil and rain, they will often need additional nutrients from fertilizers. Cultural practices like fertilization influence the health and quality of the lawn, which in turn makes it less vulnerable to things like weeds, insects, and disease. It is important anyone who wants to fertilize their lawn is familiar with the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Best Management Practices. The goal of these practices is to have a healthy lawn while reducing the pollution of water resources that could come from fertilizing lawns and doing other things to take care of them. Different states and localities have their own laws and regulations regarding lawn fertilization, so it is important to be aware of the guidelines in your city or county. Always follow the directions on the fertilizer bag.
Mowing
Zoysiagrasses require regular mowing during the summer to maintain their appearance. You should cut medium- to coarse-textured zoysiagrasses once a week, or when they reach 3–4 inches in height. Mowing at a height of 1.75-2.5 inches with a rotary mower is ideal. Zoysiagrasses with a fine texture need to be cut more often when they're kept at a height of 1 inch or less. Zoysiagrass leaves are more difficult to mow than other turfgrasses because they contain more lignin and silica. After mowing, the clippings should be left on the ground unless they become excessive and start to clump on the turf surface. The best type of mower to use is a sharp, well-adjusted rotary or reel mower.
Watering
Zoysiagrass turns brown and goes dormant within a week under drought conditions. If there is no rain or irrigation, zoysiagrass will not grow for a long time. Once it starts raining or the irrigation system is turned back on, the zoysiagrass will turn green again.
If you have established, mature grass, the best way to water it is by only giving it as much water as it needs. It is okay to let the zoysiagrass turn brown as a way to conserve water. You will need to water your lawn when the grass starts to turn blue-gray, fold up, or wilt. You will also need to water it if you can see footprints after walking on the grass. Apply ½–¾ inch of water per application. Approximately eight inches of soil is where most roots are, this is where the water is applied. Be sure to follow any local watering restrictions.
Thatch Management
Zoysiagrasses typically develop a thick thatch layer, especially when overfertilized with nitrogen, in the years after establishment. Thatch is a layer of organic material (living and dead grass shoots, stems, and roots) between the green vegetation and the soil. The thatch needs to be regularly removed or cut to keep the grass looking even. The most common way to do this is to use a vertical mower or power rake every year or two. Although scalping may help reduce thatch buildup, it can also be harmful to the lawn. Keeping nitrogen levels at recommended amounts is one of the most important ways to reduce thatch buildup. Proper mowing heights also help prevent thatch buildup.
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