Zoysia is more tolerant to shade. Bahia grass has excellent wearability, but gets a high-maintenance rating in the mowing department. link to How to Keep Crabgrass Out of Flower Beds, link to 5 Tips for Creating Beautiful, Low-Maintenance Flower Beds, establishing and maintaining a healthy Zoysia lawn, Will Zoysia Grow In Clay Soil? Zoysia sod is more expensive than St. Augustine, and can cost anywhere from $.50-$.85/sq’ foot. The only way to determine your soil’s fertility and pH is with a soil test. This helps you will have success with a … Keep in mind that Bermuda grass does not do well in shade, so if you have a shaded area of rugged terrain, you are better off choosing Zoysia. Zoysia can only tolerate a pH of 5.8-7.0, which makes it less versatile than St. Augustine. If St. Augustine begins to turn brown, it is dying, not going dormant. Standard lawn grass species are cool-season grasses that thrive during the cool, moist weather of spring and fall. Silt tends to act like clay under most conditions. Both grasses tolerate some shade, but St. Augustine is more shade tolerant than zoysia. You can also establish zoysia from sprigs, plugs, or sod. For zoysia grass to overtake and smother St. Augustine grass, the soil must become drier to favor the zoysia's slower growth and cause the St. Augustine to wither. St. Augustine will require supplemental irrigation in dry climates. St. Augustine grass is a thickly-growing grass species that creates a lush, inviting landscape. Sprigs are sections of stolons cut from sod that you spread over bare soil and press into the lawn with a heavy roller. Empire Zoysia grass is the perfect choice for Florida. Mowing height depends on the variety, but most varieties should be mowed ¾”-2.5” with a sharp blade from April-October. Lawn Service Grapevine > Lawn Blog > Sod Installation > Bermuda vs Zoysia vs St Augustine Grass in Texas, Author: Clint E Read on to find which one is better for your lawn. Patrick Dickinson, the Urban Water Program Coordinator at Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center, suggests St. Augustine will lose this category of the turf wars, because it greedily slurps up twice the amount of water as Bermuda grass. Lush, colorful flower beds increase curb appeal while attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Occasionally, it will be found in areas of California. Warm-season grasses are generally creeping grasses, which means they send out runners to put down roots and establish new leaves. However, their tolerance limits to cold weather are different. Both grasses are warm season perennial grasses that grow actively during the summer but … Besides climate, soil is the most important factor for turf choice. Learn more about zoysia vs. centipede grass. Zoysia is one of the recommended species of warm-season grass for clay soils. Q: My lawn gets 4-5 hours of sunlight. Please help us, we don’t know what to do! Therefore, it may be easier to plant seeds in the spring when there is more rainfall and the temperatures are lower. Zoysia can choke out weeds in sunny areas of the lawn once it is established. Healthy maintenance practices are the key to a lawn’s success, so make sure that no matter which turf you choose, you follow a consistent maintenance schedule that includes aeration, topdressing, proper irrigation schedules and mowing heights. Recommended Reading: Best Fertilizer For Clay Soil Lawn: Why Ingredients Matter. Mow every 5-14 days to maintain the proper height. Even the more desirable “turf type” Fescue is the heaviest maintenance lawn type for our area. St. Augustine is a dense, bluish-green turf that should be mowed 2”-4” tall. Bermuda grows much taller and requires more mowing. St. Augustine is a low-maintenance grass under the right conditions. After a week without moisture, zoysia will go dormant until the next rainfall, and then quickly green up again. Bermuda is an aggressive, low-growing grass that is nearly impossible to remove because it spreads through rhizomes, stolons, and seed. Silty soils can become compacted under high traffic, but they are easier to amend with compost, and they usually have better drainage than clay. Zoysia is more prone to disease and "bald spots". Besides this similarity, these are grasses that have many different properties. She has an A.A.S. Once established, it’s durable even without fertilization. Bermuda grass is a traditional favorite that has remained popular. Bermuda grass does well in zones 7, 8, 9 and 10, while St. Augustine grass really only performs well in zones 8 through 10. If your lawn turns a bluish color, or if footprints remain when you walk across it in the evening, irrigate ¾”-1” the following morning (source). Going by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), the Hardiness Zones for Zoysia and Bermuda grass are different. When you prepare your lawn for St. Augustine, mix in 3”-6” of high-quality compost to help with drainage and improve fertility. If you live in the south zoysia is a good choice, particularly those with thicker blades. In the final analysis, if you are choosing between Zoysia, Bermuda grass or St Augustine you are generally better off picking from between the first two. I’m trying to decide between TifTuf bermuda and Zenith zoysia. St. Augustine is a good turf grass for hot, humid, coastal climates with sandy soil. Keep zoysia consistently moist until you begin to see active growth from sprigs, plugs, or sod. For best results, all three of these types of grass should be watered deeply once a week using a minimum of one inch of water. A: Both grasses are “somewhat“ shade tolerant. Most soils will need a starter fertilizer to help the turf establish roots quickly, and you may need to fertilize every 6 weeks until the first frost to help the turf prepare for cooler weather. Let’s Settle This! Side By Side Comparison, St. Augustine Lawn Care Fertilizer Schedule (Free Printable). Then depending on the severity of that shade, one variety of St. Augustine or Zoysia may work better than another. They are usually a blend of several hybrids that offer different qualities. Can You Dethatch St. Augustine Grass? Plant zoysia if your lawn has high-traffic areas, gets inconsistent moisture, and has poor soil. So, if you live along the Gulf Coast or warm coastal areas of the country, St. Augustine grass is a better choice. --, Weeds In Your Lawn? Seeds may take up to 3 weeks to germinate, and you must keep the soil moist during that time. Both of these are hearty enough to tolerate the challenges present in these rough areas. An attractive yard provides an elegant and relaxing space to enjoy on the weekend or after a long day. Zoysia grasses are usually mowed at a height of.5–2 inches whereas St. Augustines are generally mowed at a height of 2–4 inches. When it comes to sunlight, zoysia is more shade-tolerant than Bermuda and, as such, is a better candidate for lawns with areas of moderate shade. Zoysia handles clay soil much better than St. Augustine. You can plant zoysia any time from mid spring to 8 weeks before the first frost. Both are warm-season grasses and are widely planted throughout the South and warmer regions of the U.S. They are: Bermuda grass, Zoysia Grass and St Augustine grass. It would be better not to mix because the former grows slower than later which can choke the latter. Darker soils have a high organic matter content, which means it should hold onto nutrients well and retain moisture without becoming waterlogged. Zoysia is a low-growing grass with a dense root system and tolerates drought better than St Augustine. You need to mow frequently with sharp blades. Though there are many varieties to choose from, always pay attention to the weather and conditions in your lawn before finalizing any type of grass. Chinch bugs are the most common pest that affects zoysia. One popular choice is Zoysia grass. Best Fertilizer For Clay Soil Lawn: Why Ingredients Matter, Recovers well from low-height mowing and dethatching, Does not choke out weeds as soon as St. Augustine grass. You can use a simple test to determine your soil texture. Thriving Yard is a privately owned website. It’s surprising that St Augustine is as popular as it is because it is actually not very drought hearty and it consumes quite a bit of water. Zoysia does not handle shade as well as St. Augustine, so in a humid climate with shady areas, St. Augustine would be a better choice. Side By Side Comparison). Bermuda and Zoysia are more resilient and more likely to rally after lengthy periods of drought. Zoysia doesn’t need mowed as often as St. Augustine, and it is tolerant of a wide range of poor soils. St. Augustine does not handle power-raking, but you can use a hand rake each spring to remove an unhealthy thatch layer. This will result in an instant, weed-free lawn. My front yard (approx 1,000 square feet) is Floratam St Augustine and has lots bare spots from drought, dog wear & tear etc. Better toleration of aeration and dethatching. The first step in establishing a new lawn is to do a soil test (link to Amazon) so you can properly prepare the soil before you plant. If it doesn’t hold its shape, you have sand. It is not at all tolerant of cold temperatures, and requires plenty of moisture for survival. If it holds its shape without crumbling, you have clay. If you want to prevent dormancy, irrigate as needed April-October at 1”/week (source). How To Get Rid Of Them, Gardening Advice to Harvesting Fresh Produce Regularly. The downside is that St. Augustine grass does thrive better in shady areas and will wear down in areas that are heavily frequented by children or pets. Learn more about Zoysia grass from our comprehensive guide on establishing and maintaining a healthy Zoysia lawn. But despite its popularity, there are both pros and cons of Zoysia grass that are worth contemplating before you make the decision to switch. An easier method is to use plugs, which is small sections of cut sod spaced apart across the lawn. St. Augustine can thrive in moderate shade, so it is able to choke out weeds and other grasses in shady yards better than zoysia. Of the three, Zoysia is actually the best performer, but it is also the most expensive. Zoysia is more expensive in all cases than the Bermuda. It is also more tolerant of dethatching. For Most People, Zoysia Grass is the Better Choice If someone asks, “would you put Bermuda grass or Zoysia grass in your yard,” I’m putting Zoysia every time. Most homeowners want a beautiful yard to compliment their house. Zoysia has a deep, dense root system that grows well in sandy conditions. The rhizomes are protected from the sun and mower blades, which makes zoysia more drought-resistant and able to recover much easier from short mowing heights or dethatching. However, they each thrive in different climates, and they have different appearances, which may influence your turf choice. St. Augustine and Zoysia are popular grass options in the southern United States due to their aggressive growth and relative drought tolerance. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "add2e773fa4925e335feb2970106bbd9" );document.getElementById("bbd004a1d9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Bermuda vs Zoysia vs St Augustine Grass in Texas. St. Augustine should be mowed May-October 2”-4” with a sharp blade. It is slightly less salt tolerant than St. Augustine, which makes it a better choice in drier climates that may have salt buildup and less annual rainfall. However, it has a lower tolerance of poor soils and poor drainage, which may disqualify this turf as an option in your climate. Of the types of grasses for Texas, St Augustine is a long time favorite. St. Augustine Grass. There are many factors to consi… However, new zoysia lawns may take 6-8 weeks to begin active growth, so you may need to spray a broadleaf weed control during the first year. If thatch is a consistent problem, try bagging your lawn clippings every other time you mow, which will help keep thatch at a manageable thickness. Bermuda grass is second in popularity, and Zoysia (a fairly recent addition to Texas grasses) is gaining ground. Specific zoysia and St. Augustine varieties may differ, but they generally fall pretty close to their generic mowing heights. Both zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) Required fields are marked *. Learn more about preparing clay soil, how to care for St. Augustine, and how to establish zoysia in clay soil. It’s surprising that St Augustine is as popular as it is because it is actually not very drought hearty and it … Zoysia is drought-tolerant and will go dormant within 7 days of hot, dry conditions. Amazon has put together some great Home Holiday Guide Deals - save money and get your holiday shopping done! Zoysia grass grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 10, and Bermuda grass is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 10. Related Reading: Will Zoysia Grow In Clay Soil? By: Evan Gillespie 19 October, 2009. As with most sod options, there are some varieties that are more shade or pest tolerant that are only available in sod form, so in some climates it may be worth it to plant sod because you won’t have to wait as long for good coverage. St. Augustine needs more frequent mowing, irrigation, and fertilization than zoysia. Bermuda Grass. If the lawn is mowed too short, or if you use a power rake to dethatch, you will damage the stolons and your lawn may not recover. This is what makes them excellent for sports fields because they recover quickly. Both put off runners that get into everything, although zoysia isn't quite as aggressive. St. Augustine has above-ground runners, known as stolons, which creep along the soil and put down roots. Annual aeration can help manage thatch, but because St. Augustine does not have rhizomes, the aerator must be set to remove fewer cores so that it can fill in before summer. Space plugs 6”-12” apart. So, which grass should you choose for your new lawn? 0 Comments. All of these diseases can cause grey or brown spots in the lawn or on individual leaves. Your email address will not be published. Squeeze the soil firmly. Zoysia species are best grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9, while Bermuda species perform best in USDA zones 7 through 10. Extremely poor drainage in compacted clay will prevent almost any grass from thriving. kcr6419 – posted 06 June 2013 17:26 I’d give Zoysia a try. Click Here to see the latest deals (link To Amazon). and centipedegrass (Eremchloa ophiuroides) are medium-textured warm-season turf grasses that are well adapted for use in lawns in Southern climates. Plant St. Augustine three months before the first frost and keep it moist. Zoysia also tolerates salty soils, but this is more consistent with dry climates that have salt buildup due to lack of rainfall rather than coastal regions. Of the types of grasses for Texas, St Augustine is a long time favorite. St. Augustine grass is best suited to warm-arid regions such as Florida and the Gulf Coast region. Learn why Empire is a superior choice over Floratam St. Augustine. Best for Shaded Areas with Sprinkler Systems. It is more expensive than the St. Augustine’s that we have. Fertilizing Bermuda grass is similar to fertilizing St. Augustine grass. Zoysia will do well in most silty soils, and St. Augustine will do well as long as the soil drains well and has low foot traffic. St. Augustine has higher nitrogen requirements than zoysia, so it needs a fertile soil or consistent fertilizer applications. It does not hold up to foot traffic as well as zoysia, and it does not fill in as fast after aeration or damage. While zoysia is a good choice for low-maintenance lawns, there are some climates where St. Augustine is the better option. One major benefit to planting zoysia rather than St. Augustine is that zoysia has viable seed options, which is by far the cheapest way to establish a new lawn. Bermuda grass is usually identified by its spikelets that are borne in four or five slender spikes at the tips of the upright stems. There are many varieties to choose from, such as Pampas, Bermuda, and St. Augustine. St. Augustine requires more water and care than other grasses and is susceptible to freeze and disease. St. Augustine is a good turf grass for hot, humid, coastal climates with sandy soil. If it holds its shape but crumbles easily, you have silt. In the south, one big element of that mastery is understanding the pros, cons, similarities, and differences of Bermuda grass vs. St. Augustine. However, zoysia has a high drought-tolerance, so if you notice brown patches that don’t recover after irrigation, treat for chinch bugs before they can spread to the rest of your turf. Sandy soils drain easily, which can contribute to drought conditions in dry climates. There are a lot of additional factors that will determine success when planting either grass in partial shade. April 4, 2019 April 11, 2019 Tiffany Hepburn Grass, lawn maintenance. For this reason, there are only a few types of grass that do well in Texas. Warm-season grasses, though less … Sydney has over 15 years of experience in lawn maintenance, landscape design, and organic gardening. Thriving Yard is an affiliate for companies including Amazon Associates and earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Zoysia thrives in the southeastern United States, but it can tolerate regions as far north as Nebraska. There are many factors that can determine which turf you choose, but first, Let’s dive into the basics of each grass. It is a very coarse-textured type that grows via above-ground stolons that can reach several feet. Plugs have an intact root system, which makes it easier to keep alive after planting and helps the lawn fill in faster than sprigs. We have just moved to our first house, the previous owner put a really nice Zoysia grass everywhere, but now it is dying under the invasion of St.Augustine grass from our both neighbors. Both zoysia (Zoysia japonica) and Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) are common lawn grasses in the United States, particularly in warmer areas such as Florida and the Gulf States. Bahia grass is low-growing and forms a tough, open turf that resists thatch. Better yet, these species have a low fertilizer requirement. Bermuda grass wins this round, if you are looking for a type of grass with lower water requirements. Zoysia Vs. Centipede Grass. It also tolerates poor drainage better though this should be taken with a grain of salt. Let’s start off with the most important element for plant life: water. Recommended Reading: St. Augustine Lawn Care Fertilizer Schedule (Free Printable). Examples provided of tested products are actual products owned, tested, and used regularly by the author. Mow as frequently as needed to prevent breaking the 1/3rd rule, which is generally every 10-14 days. Let’s Settle This! Copyright © Lawn Service Grapevine 2015. Aerate from April-September each year, and dethatch if there is more than ½” of dead grass clippings. Kane Skennar/Digital Vision/Getty Images. St. Augustine tolerates extremely high summer temperatures as long as it has enough moisture. Unlike corporate website companies, the authors on this website regularly use many of the tips and recommendations provided in their own garden and lawncare. If St. Augustine is maintained well, it can choke out most weeds without help from herbicides. Learn warm season grass identification and grass care. Here Are The Facts, Does Lawn Aeration Really Work? Now that you’ve gone through Zoysia vs Bermuda difference, you know which one suits your lawn best. In this article we will talk about Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses that are good for warm climates. Your email address will not be published. Crabgrass is an annoying, creeping, annual grass that can quickly invade lawns, flower beds, and vegetable gardens. Clay soils tend to become compacted, which leaves very little pore space for drainage. Bahia grass: Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) is a tough, coarse grass that roots deeply and extensively. Improving the soil will cut down maintenance requirements of both kinds of grass, so topdressing after aeration each year will gradually cut the time and money invested in your lawn. The cheapest, but most labor-intensive method of establishing a St. Augustine lawn is to use sprigs. St. Augustine and Zoysia have similar growing zones, so which grass you choose will come down to your soil classification and how much effort you want to put into improving the soil in your yard. Product recommendations not personally owned are based on the author’s knowledge of the company, product, reliability, and reputation. The most common warm-season species are bermudagrass, buffalo grass, centipede grass, seashore paspalum, St. Augustine and Zoysia grass. Both St. Augustine and zoysia are warm-season grasses with roughly the same growing regions. Zoysia does not require as much fertilization as St. Augustine, which makes it the better choice for poor soils. While both kinds of grass will survive in most southern lawns, they are each suited to different climates and soil conditions. For example, in areas to the north and to the west of San Antonio, it Is a lot smarter to choose Bermuda or Zoysia for sod installation. Versatile Zoysia does well in both. Zoysia spreads with stolons, like St. Augustine, but it also spreads using below-ground runners called rhizomes. It will tolerate a wider range of temperatures than zoysia, but it must have good drainage and consistent irrigation in order to thrive. If you have full sunlight, I’d say Bermuda grass is better than Zoysia out on sports fields or in higher traffic areas where it’s important to have grass that recuperates faster from traffic and … (See Does Lawn Aeration Really Work? However, St. Augustine is susceptible to a few pests and diseases. The hybrid cultivar Raleigh is less disease-prone than other varieties. St. Augustine has large flat stems and broad coarse leaves while Bermuda grass has short flat leaves. Stolons allow the grass to fill in quickly as long as there is adequate moisture. In this article, we will compare and contrast these types of grasses. Elevate your lawn expectations. Bermuda grass is second in popularity, and Zoysia (a fairly recent addition to Texas grasses) is gaining ground. It handles dethatching and aeration well, so if you topdress each year with compost, you may be able to skip fertilizing and irrigation. One of my neighbors decided to replace his lawn with Zoysia without the homeowner associations’ approval. It is also important to have a consistent and abundant supply of water for Saint Augustine. Zoysia Grass vs. St Augustine in North Texas. Zoysia tolerates a wider range of climates and soils than St. Augustine. 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