Question
Hi! I live in South Jersey and have two large size patches of zoysia. How do you get rid of zoysia? Next I have Oak trees in my yard which gives me partial shade in some areas and direct sun in other areas. What grass seed would you recommend for a thick lawn?

Thanks
Ray

Answer
Getting rid of Zoysia is easier said than done.

Zoysia's deep, persistent roots make it difficult, expensive, and -- some people would say -- impossible to remove.

A 'Getting Rid of Zoysiagrass' page is posted by Landscape America:

www.landscape-america.com/grasses/zoysia_out.html

This group agrees that Zoysia is 'unsightly' in Cool Season Grass territories like yours and mine.  One technique they recommend is to cut Zoysia-infested sections out with a sod cutter.  Two weeks later, you have a choice of either rolling out new sod or adding topsoil to existing Soil.  Then re-seed.

An alternate method that takes more time with less work is to solarize the Soil where the Zoysia is growing.  You need to find every trace of Zoysia on your property.  Water well, cover with CLEAR plastic to capture as much sun and heat as possible, and weight the plastic down with Rocks all along the outside to max out the temps underneath.

As the weather heats up, all life beneath the solar blanket ceases.

To make sure, turn over the Zoysia areas and repeat the process twice.  After a few months, you should have not a single Zoysia molecule in that section of your Lawn.

Now for the fun part:  Your new Lawn.

Oak Trees and Grass do not mix.  You need a groundcover under the Trees.  Not only will it grow better than Turfgrass in less-than-perfect light, but a groundcover won't suffer from malnutrition the way Grass does when it competes, and loses, against Oak Tree Roots for nutrients.  Hosta, Pachysandra, any number of alternatives are perfect for those Oak Tree dripline territories.  Look over the Bluestone Perennials website and see if any look appetizing:

www.bluestoneperennials.com

Your choice of Lawn starts with Cool Season Grass.  I buy my Lawngrass from Seedland.com:

www.seedland.com

Which you grow depends on how much traffic will be running on it; how much Sun it gets; and how much work you are willing to do to maintain it.

Remember, Zoysia is not the kind of Grass that you can break up with without a fight.  Zoysia will not be rejected.  Be prepared to stand up for your rights.  This is a battle of wills.  The winning side never surrenders.

Your followups invited.

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER