St. Augustine grass requires three to six pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn annually, while Bermuda grass only needs about one to four pounds for the same area. For example, centipedegrass and carpetgrass grow best in acid (<7.0) soils. Warm-season grasses are green in the summer and become brown and dormant in the winter. Their best-selling sod varieties are Zeon Zoysia, TifTuf and Tifway Bermuda, and TifBlair Centipede. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the three nutrients needed in the largest amounts, while iron, boron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, manganese, and molybdenum are typically needed in smaller amounts, although theyre just as important. Your hands and a piece of decent gardening equipment are the finest organic weed killers. Shade from trees or a building is a common occurrence in most landscapes. Zoysia is quite stiffer compared to Bermuda grass, and as a result it's more difficult to mow. When she's not writing about home remodeling, gardening, or pets she is busy being a mother and wife, reading endless amounts of books, and tending to her garden and backyard ducks. Otherwise, it is the best species for anyone who wants an almost completely barefoot lawn, with excellent ground cover and low water requirements. Zoysia is a grass that can take a lot of suns, but it does best with the cooler temperatures in the fall. Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass typically produce the finest leaf texture of the Southern turfgrasses. If youre considering planting St. Augustine grass, looking for general information, or just curious, heres everything you need to know about planting and caring for it. Once Zoysia seeds are planting, you can see some form of growth by the 21-day mark if properly cared for. Zeon zoysiagrass is a fine-textured, dark-green turfgrass that is adaptable to a partially shaded lawn.Joey Williamson, 2016 HGIC, Clemson Extension. Sharp blades are needed for a reasonable quality cut with rotary mowers. It does best in the coastal regions and Piedmont but can also thrive in the Western areas provided that it gets enough sun. Finally, well help homeowners decide on the best variety of Zoysia for their North Carolina lawns. Find Out Today, Can An Avocado Tree Grow In A Pot (yes + How To). Can You Put Epsom Salt in a Humidifier: Complete Guide with 6 Benefits. Tall fescue does best in heavier clay soils. It also is very slow-growing, meaning less mowing for you. Each turfgrass grows at a different rate and has optimum levels of fertility, mowing and irrigation, which produce a quality turf. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. link to How Do I Stop Pictures From Tilting On My Wall? Its the fastest-growing warm-season grass and spreads above and below the ground. In fact, in the transitional zone where cold season grasses fare better in one part of the state and warm season grasses in another zoysiagrass will survive in both. Its aggressive in its growth, which can sometimes make it hard to maintain. Zoysia is not as fast-growing as Bermuda and is much more drought-tolerant. Zoysia is considered low maintenance because it doesnt need much fertilizer to grow to be strong. Bermuda grass is sensitive to the cold temperatures of winter and isnt ideal in transition zones like zoysia grass. Not as susceptible to diseases relative to the other turf grasses What kind of fertilizer do azaleas need? Choosing between sod and grasses is not only aesthetic but also often about function and climate. Zoysia grass has some hairs and feels different: stiff to the touch. Given North Carolinas soil conditions and temperatures, Centipede, Carpet grass, and Bermuda are popular choices for NC lawns. Certain grasses do best in hot environments, while others prefer cooler environments. Best Dehumidifier for 55 Grow Tent: 5 Must-Look Parameters Revealed! This area is too hot for some grasses and too cold for others, so it can be hard to find grass thats just right for your specific climate needs. Its best to spray your Bermuda grass with water after mowing it so that you do the most damage to them. Tall fescue. Do not attempt to insert Zoysia plugs into an existing warm-season grass like Bermuda. This variety can spread quickly under the right conditions and doesnt need fertilizers. There are several turfgrass species and cultivars of each from which a selection can be made. Zorro Zoysia: Best Feature: Considered the Cadillacof warm season grasses as it provides that sought after, manicured, golf course look with proper mowing. While Empire Zoysia is a great choice for sodding, it is also important to note its shortcomings. Always a true dark green, even though theyre different shades. It can handle foot traffic well and grows quickly. In this section, we included a concise list of other types of grass you may want to consider for your North Carolina yard. Connect With Us. Moderate fertilization mow every 7 days Between the two of them, Zoysia grass is less maintained than Bermuda grass, and it is slightly better because of that. This type of grass actively grows during the warm season, starting in early spring. Since its drought and heat tolerant, theres no need for extra watering during the hot summer months. Zeon has a higher tolerance against disease and is considered to be more insect resistant than other warm-season varieties. Another key difference between Zoysia and Bermuda is that Zoysia has blades that are firm and stiff. Bermuda grassis a warm-season turfgrass that thrives throughout the hot summer months. Is St. Augustine grass better than Zoysia? If you have a mulching reel mower, you can cut the grass a few inches below the ground, then use a broom to get the clippings up into a pile.After that, apply compost and fertilizer to the new grass and water it thoroughly. This natural weed barrier means youll spend less time and money preventing and getting rid of weeds. Shade Tolerance: Bermuda needs a ton of sunlight, whereas zoysia is more tolerant of some . If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. This area is too hot for some grasses and too cold for others, so it can be hard to find grass thats just right for your specific, Its aggressive in its growth, which can sometimes make it hard to maintain. If you plant the Zoysia as plugs, then it will be at least 2 years before you see the entire yard or pasture covered. By mowing as high as possible for a given species, the increased leaf surface for photosynthesis will result in a deeper root system, better drought tolerance and healthier turf. Zoysia is a good choice if you want a soft lawn that keeps weeds out. Its popular for being low maintenance and growing densely. It is often confused with Bermuda grass, as they have much in common. Luckily, just about any granular insecticide in concert with a light layer of water is enough to remove chinch bugs. Two common tropical types of grass are Bermuda and Zoysia, but whats the difference between them, and which is better? Bermuda grassesneed a temperature around 90 100F and the recommendation of sunlight is 7 hours a day. This is especially so if the sunlight is further intensified by a wall or fence that traps and reflects the suns heat during the day, then continues to radiate heat after sundown. While the three are similar, some display characteristics that make them better for warmer climates. Unlike Empire Zoysia, Zeon is more tolerant of cold temperatures and is slower to brown in the Winter and quicker to green in the Springtime. The good news is that it grows so well in the right conditions that you can simply lay grass seed and avoid the hassles of sod or plugs. But North Carolina includes as many as five hardiness zones: the Western regions tend to be higher in altitude and colder, while the Southern are warm and dry. All rights reserved. Bermudagrass. The grass grown on Zoysia plants is fine to medium in texture and dark green in color. tags: Typically, zoysia requires little to no fertilization either. Fertilize with 2-3.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year. This is also the time when the plant matures and is ready for harvest. Otherwise, it is the best species for anyone who wants an almost completely barefoot lawn, with excellent ground cover and low water requirements. This height of cut should be easily obtained so long as the lawn is smooth. There are also other types of Bermuda grass the hybrid Bermuda grass. Grassy weeds are among the most difficult to control in the landscape. Most traffic tolerant of all Furthermore, Zeon will take longer to become established and may spread more irregularly than Empire Zoysia. The existing grass will have to be removed first. Susceptible to anthracnose, blue mold, and powdery mildew. We suggest that your lawn be mowed as close as 1 to 1 inches if possible. When stressed by drought, weed control is poor and turf damage may occur. Not very traffic tolerant, St. Augustine (Raleigh): These mowers are more dangerous to operators and nearby personnel as the blades tend to throw objects that are accidentally hit. Azaleas, while not the most difficult plant to care for, do have some particular needs. Its low maintenance and ability to grow in transition states make it ideal for many lawns. Fescue provides year-round green color if watered during summer. However, this variety is more dense, has stronger leaf blades, Bermudagrass enters active growth once soil temperatures warm to at least 65F. However, once you reach February or March, you should notice your Bermuda grass begin to come back slowly. During the summer, if kept healthy and in the shade, zoysia will crowd out weeds and other grasses. Cons: High maintenance required with mowing every 4 days to avoid scalping into the crown area. Grassy weeds are a problem in both lawns and beds. Typical use ranges of turfgrass for lawns in Southern United States Illustration by Walker Massey, PSA Communications, Tall fescue will grow well with as little as 5 hours of sunlight per day.Joey Williamson, 2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension. A good plugging grass, Cons: Susceptible to Chinch Bugs and Brown Patch Finally, its ability to withstand heavy use and perk back up once its beaten up makes it ideal for those who like to host outdoor parties. Sod Installation Apex Zoysia Grass: What You Should Know About It. This type of grass actively grows during the warm season, starting in early spring. This makes it perfect for transition areas where other grasses might struggle. This is why pruning is necessary. Emerald Zoysia. You only need to water Zoysia with 1 of water, and oftentimes is enough for healthy growth. If you plan on seeding, you will need to remove the old grass. Chinch bugs and billbugs are insects that enjoy eating zoysia grasses; however, chinch bugs are far more usually seen in St. Augustine grass. Zoysia grassneeds frequent mowing to stay short and to maintain good color. Because it is drought and heat tolerant, no additional watering is required during the hot summer months. Environmental and soil conditions vary throughout South Carolina and certain turfgrasses grow better in some locations than others. Leaf blade width for Empire: moderate You might have a hard time keeping this grass from taking over your gravel driveway or creeping into your garden bed. Bermuda grassis a good choice for a small area. However, if you live somewhere like Florida, California, or Texas, Bermuda will thrive better than Zoysia due to the constant sunlight. Figuring out when the best time to fertilize your azaleas is, how much fertilizer to use, and what kind of fertilizer to get can be a chore. Centipedegrass. However, the cost of maintainingBermuda grassis high. Peak Sodding has experience installing both Zeon, Compadre, Empire, and many other varieties of Zoysia, and were happy to offer more information to help guide your final decision. Even if introduced into a small area, this . The amount of shade the turf will receive, as well as tree root competition, can limit the selection of suitable grasses. Zoysia grassis easier to keep under control than Bermuda. Because its perennial grass, you can count on it growing strongly once again by the time that you reach April or May. There are ways to do this without mowing the lawn, but it is a lot of work. For example, in the Piedmont regions, centipedegrass often performs best if grown in relative open areas (little shade) on south-facing or southwestern slopes. Direct sunlight between midday and sunset is the most intense exposure. Before picking a species for your garden, make sure you can provide it with all it needs to survive and stay healthy. In the US, this plant is cultivated for lawn decoration and is also used for a lawn on golf courses. Zoysia. Zoysia grassgrowsin partial shade, but preferably from 4-6 hours of sunlight, the favorable temperature will be from 60- 75F. Zeon Features. Each of these types of grass has unique life cycles, water needs, and characteristics that make them appealing. You will struggle to keep a lush green lawn without full sun and warm temperatures. Azaleas are a shrub with beautiful flowers that range from purple to white. Comparison of the Major Grasses Grown for Lawns in South Carolina. Peak Sodding Customer Reviews. Zeon Zoysiagrass is a luxurious and resilient turf grass ideal for use in the "sunbelt" areas of the country and stretches further into the northeast region that many other warm-climate varietals! Raleigh St. Augustine: Best Feature: Second to none with its ability to tolerate fairly shaded conditions, and its cold tolerance is important for the colder winter seasons we may have here in South-East, North Carolina. Sod prices are $3-$8 per roll. . It handles heat and drought well. Check the blades of the Bermuda grass for small holes and bite marks that would show that roundworms have made their way to your yard. It is also very useful and quick to recover from traffic, making it a good choice for families who struggle to play in the garden. 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