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Zoysia Grass

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Zoysia Grass

Zoysia grass is a Warm Season grass.  Zoysia grass used for turf is available in three species, Japonica, Matrella, and Tenuifolia.  Zoysia Tenuifolia is a very fine bladed grass, has a low cold tolerance, and is usually used only as a ground cover in Southern California.  Therefore, it is not recommended as a turf grass.

Zoysia Japonica has a medium to high shade tolerance.  Its water requirement is medium compared to other Warm Season grasses.

Zoysia Japonica grass has a medium to high tolerance to salinity, and a high tolerance to cold. Additionally it has a high tolerance to traffic, and has a medium to low disease potential.  .  Zoysia Japonica grass should be mowed every seven to ten (7-10) days, and should be maintained at a height of one inch to one and one-half inches (1.0” – 1.5”).

Zoysia Japonica is the only Zoysia variety that can be grown from seed.  It can also be grown from sprigs or from sod.

Zoysia Matrella also has a medium to high tolerance to shade.  Its water requirement is medium compared to other Warm Season grasses.

Zoysia Matrella grass has a medium tolerance to salinity, and a medium tolerance to cold.  Its tolerance to traffic is medium, and its disease potential is medium to low.  Zoysia Matrella grass should be mowed at a height of one-half inch to one inch (0.5” – 1.0”), and should be mowed every five to seven (5-7) days.

Zoysia Matrella grass can be grown from sprigs or from sod, it is not available in seed form.

Zoysia grasses is a very versatile species, and are used for lawns, golf courses, parks and athletic fields.  They are tolerant to all types of soil including sand, loam, and clay.  Additionally, they do well in both acidic and alkaline soils.  Zoysia grasses are found along the Atlantic coast from Florida to Connectict, and along the Gulf Coast, and California.

What is the Best Turf Grass for North Texas?

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What is the Best Turf Grass for North Texas?

There is not a perfect turf grass for North Texas.  The most common turf grasses for lawns in North Texas include Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysias.

Common Bermuda grass is the most popular.  It is inexpensive, easy to install, holds up well to foot traffic, and has a pleasant appearance.  Common Bermuda is not shade tolerant.  It requires approximately six (6) hours of sunlight.  Common Bermuda grows easily, and spreads.  It will invade your planting beds if you do not have a barrier.  It can be planted from seeds or sod.  Bermuda can stand up to our hot summer sun and is also very winter-hearty.

St. Augustine grass is the next most popular.  It is also inexpensive, easy to install, an holds up fairly well to foot traffic, but not as well as Common Bermuda.  The appearance is pleasant and it has a thicker blade than Common Bermuda.  St. Augustine is more shade tolerant than Common Bermuda, and requires only four (4) hours of sunlight.  St. Augustine grows easily, and spreads.  It is also invasive to your planting beds if you do not have a barrier.  St. Augustine can only be planted as sod.  St. Augustine is the lion of the grasses.  St. Augustine will over-take Bermuda or Zoysias.  St. Augustine needs more water than Bermuda, can stand up to our hot summer sun, but is not as winter-hearty as Bermuda.

Zoysias are still being tested.  Zoysia is showing promise, as it is in between the Common Bermuda, and St. Augustine.  So far, it can stand up to our hot summer heat, and has been cold tolerant.  Zoysia is not as shade tolerant as St. Augustine, but is more shade tolerant than Common Bermuda.  Unfortunately, there is just not enough experience with Zoysia to name it as a great grass for North Texas.  It will take at least another decade to determine the ranking for Zoysia in North Texas.