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Zoysiz grass

Zoysia is a genus of eight species of grass which are native to China, Japan, and other areas in Southeast Asia. Often found in coastal areas, Zoysia is a sod-forming perennial that contains both stolons (also called runners) and rhizomes, the horizontal stem of a plant that sends out shoots or roots underground. The first species of zoysia, matrella, was introduced to the US from the Philippines in 1911. Since then, it has gained popularity.

Adapting to a foreign soil

Zoysia is a warm season grass, which means it thrives in areas along the Atlantic coast, from Florida to Connecticut, and along the Gulf Coast, from Florida to Texas. It is also gaining ground in California, and can be found in other regions of the deep South. Zoysia is commonly used on golf courses, for home lawns, in parks, and on athletic fields. Highly versatile, zoysia can be grown in many types of soil, ranging from sand and clay to acidic and alkaline.

Three's a charm

There are three species of zoysia grasses found in the US, each varying in texture, cold tolerance, and care requirements.

  • Zoysia Japonica, also called Korean or Japanese lawn grass, is coarse in texture, but is more tolerant of cold than the two other species. The only species grown from seed, Meyer grass is a strain of Japonica. Meyer produces a dense turf, and grows well in partial shade. It grows well in areas where summers are too hot for cool season grass, but winters are too cold for a hot summer grass.
  • Zoysia Matrella is primarily a tropical and subtropical grass. Although it takes a long time to become established, Matrella will eventually form a thick mat. While it prefers full sun, it will also grow in shady areas. This species will stay green year round in warmer climates, but will brown after several frosts in cooler climates.
  • Zoysia Tenuifolia is the last species, but it has the finest texture of the three. It is very fluffy, and does not hold well in cold climates. It is often used as a ground cover because of its short, wiry leaf blades. Like all zoysia, it also produces a dense turf.

So why chose zoysia?

Here are a few great things about zoysia and a few reasons why you will want to consider growing it:

  • Drought-resistant. In severe conditions, it will turn straw colored, but it can bounce back with rainfall or irrigation. The nature of zoysia grass allows it to conserve water, as it has a deep root system.
  • Holds up well underfoot. Due to denseness, zoysia is often the grass of choice for lawns, golf courses, and baseball fields.
  • Self maintaining. It doesn't need to be fertilized regularly, like many other grass types. If you choose to fertilize, use a nitrogen-release type in the spring, and a winterizer in late fall.
  • Tolerant of salt. That's why it is often grown along sandy seashores, such as the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Relatively pest-free. While no lawn is completely free of pests and disease, the only major things to watch out for are brown patch, rust and leaf spot diseases.

The drawbacks

No grass, of course, is ideal for every lawn in every location. Here are a few reasons why zoysia may not be right for your yard.

  • Slow growth. That's right, but good things come to those who wait.
  • Inability to grow in cold climates. If you live in the Northern part of the US, zoysia is probably not the right grass for you.
  • Intolerant of excessive shade. If the majority of your lawn is in the shade, zoysia will probably not grow well. It can tolerate some shade, but too much and your grass won't stay green.