Question:
It is possible that the weed invasion could be thwarted by overseeding with annual rye in the winter, but only if you like mowing 52 weeks a year! I have seen Zoysia infested with weeds, but by midsummer these same yards are fairly clear of weeds. But then again I haven’t seen too many Zoysia yards, there are other disadvantages to Zoysia …
One disadvantage I didn’t mention was how thick it gets, and that you need a relatively strong mower for it! Many of the zoysia lawns I see are also treated with weed and feed products. Since weeds grow much faster than zoysia, they are allowed to go to seed between mowings. This is a very great disadvantage to zoysia as well. I can’t understand the monoculture thing, either. My yard is common bermuda, fescue, zoysia (in a couple of curbings), clover, etc, etc. and people tell me how good it looks. I’d like the idea of buffalo grass ( in the HOPE that when we do get these hot summers and dry weather) it would shine. Would you recommend buffalo as an overseeding "additive"? The one reason I haven’t tried it was the relative expense of the seed …. – Ed K.
You can overseed with buffalo when the temperatures are right, and to increase the germination rate, I would lay the seed in and top dress it with compost. You don’t need a solid covering of seed to eventually have a nice buffalo turf, but keep in mind the vast differences in cultural needs from bermuda, fescue, clover and buffalo. The latter will always need some water, but after the buffalo is established, (about two years) it will not like to be watered. So, I would rather see a lawn of buffalo with no bermuda, but in combination with the clover/rye/fescue as the winter cover, and buffalo as the summer cover. Most clovers melt down in the heat, but for some reason in my organic turf, the clover does remarkably well in the heat all summer? Go figure. Maybe it is the bacteria and fungi in the soil which I allow to live. Victoria
Response:
I’m having a new house built in Austin, Texas. The builder is giving me a choice of Burmuda or St. Augustine in the front yard. I’ve decided to go with St. Augustine even though it requires more water because I think it looks and feels better. They will only plant Burmuda in the back, to start the lawn, but I’ve been considering "displacing" it with Zoysia. I only know it from mail order adds that make it out to be a miracle grass. Has anyone had any experience with this kind of grass; especially in central Texas? You put it in with plugs. They claim it uses less water, doesn’t need re-seeding, replaces old grass without having to dig it out, resists extreme heat and cold, does well in part shade to full sun, chokes out weeds, and requires less chemicals. If it’s so good, then why isn’t everyone planting it? Minerva
Response:
My neighbor has zoysia. She sold the house last year and the new people don’t use any herbicides and it is FULL, repeat FULL of noxious weeds after one season of no herbicides. It gets brown in the fall and is not my favorite grass. St. Augustine is a very wide bladed grass, and can be kept very nicely, but it does have problems with "decline." If you get the hybrid ‘Raleigh’ it is more resistant. This grass is not as hardy or tough as bermuda, and does require more water, but also is tolerant of some shade where bermuda is NOT. I would not recommend plugs, rather, use solid sod. It spreads by stolon, but it takes a while to establish. I hate to say it, but I like bermuda, buffalo, and a nice mixture with some perennial rye/fescue/Dutch clover. I dislike a monoculture. I also think the turf is far healthier and more resistant to drought and disease when you don’t have a monoculture….unless you plan to put tons of chemicals on it as golf courses do. Victoria – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m having a new house built in Austin, Texas. The builder is giving me a choice of Burmuda or St. Augustine in the front yard. I’ve decided to go with St. Augustine even though it requires more water because I think it looks and feels better. They will only plant Burmuda in the back, to start the lawn, but I’ve been considering "displacing" it with Zoysia. I only know it from mail order adds that make it out to be a miracle grass. Has anyone had any experience with this kind of grass; especially in central Texas? You put it in with plugs. They claim it uses less water, doesn’t need re-seeding, replaces old grass without having to dig it out, resists extreme heat and cold, does well in part shade to full sun, chokes out weeds, and requires less chemicals. If it’s so good, then why isn’t everyone planting it? Minerva
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m having a new house built in Austin, Texas. The builder is giving me a choice of Burmuda or St. Augustine in the front yard. I’ve decided to go with St. Augustine even though it requires more water because I think it looks and feels better. They will only plant Burmuda in the back, to start the lawn, but I’ve been considering "displacing" it with Zoysia. I only know it from mail order adds that make it out to be a miracle grass. Has anyone had any experience with this kind of grass; especially in central Texas? You put it in with plugs. They claim it uses less water, doesn’t need re-seeding, replaces old grass without having to dig it out, resists extreme heat and cold, does well in part shade to full sun, chokes out weeds, and requires less chemicals. If it’s so good, then why isn’t everyone planting it? Minerva
You have an excellent horticultural agent in Austin – Skip Richter. He will be able to give you all the pros and cons on the various grasses that grow in your area. I suggest you call him at the Travis County Extension Office. I live in a different climate than you do, even though we are both Zone 8b, and do not feel comfortable advising you. — Elsie USDA Zone 8b, Texas, with a southeast Texas AND a gulf influence… Sunset Zone 28/31 (on the cusp)
Response:
It is possible that the weed invasion could be thwarted by overseeding with annual rye in the winter, but only if you like mowing 52 weeks a year! I have seen Zoysia infested with weeds, but by midsummer these same yards are fairly clear of weeds. But then again I haven’t seen too many Zoysia yards, there are other disadvantages to Zoysia … I can’t understand the monoculture thing, either. My yard is common bermuda, fescue, zoysia (in a couple of curbings), clover, etc, etc. and people tell me how good it looks. I’d like the idea of buffalo grass ( in the HOPE that when we do get these hot summers and dry weather) it would shine. Would you recommend buffalo as an overseeding "additive"? The one reason I haven’t tried it was the relative expense of the seed …. – Ed K. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My neighbor has zoysia. She sold the house last year and the new people don’t use any herbicides and it is FULL, repeat FULL of noxious weeds after one season of no herbicides. It gets brown in the fall and is not my favorite grass. St. Augustine is a very wide bladed grass, and can be kept very nicely, but it does have problems with "decline." If you get the hybrid ‘Raleigh’ it is more resistant. This grass is not as hardy or tough as bermuda, and does require more water, but also is tolerant of some shade where bermuda is NOT. I would not recommend plugs, rather, use solid sod. It spreads by stolon, but it takes a while to establish. I hate to say it, but I like bermuda, buffalo, and a nice mixture with some perennial rye/fescue/Dutch clover. I dislike a monoculture. I also think the turf is far healthier and more resistant to drought and disease when you don’t have a monoculture….unless you plan to put tons of chemicals on it as golf courses do. Victoria