Question
Hey, I've recently purchased a new house in Long Island, NY. Construction is almost complete, and we need to find a good landscaper to establish a lawn after we sod it. I'm looking to find a good type of grass that will not require a large amount of maintenance. The area mostly receives sunlight, however some areas are shaded. I've heard about a type of grass called "zoysia", and was curious about that as well. I'm looking for grass that'll stay lush and green through summer, and not die out completely through a freezing winter. Any suggestions?

Answer
Zoysia is one of those grasses that is not recommend for our area because of its straw tinge.

Drive around a middle class neighborhood with postage stamp lots tomorrow, Tom, and you will spot the Zoysia lawns a block away.  They're still straw colored and will be staying that way another 2 or 3 weeks, assuming we get some normal spring weather soon.

Zoysia gets that color practically the first day of Fall.  And some people don't mind it.

Because one thing Zoysia does it stay green through the hottest summer days, with less water and less maintenance than other grasses.

'Cool season Grasses' like Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue stay green all winter, all fall, all spring.  In the hottest days of summer, however, these grasses burn out and fizzle.  Color fades a bit and they do not have the beautiful picture perfect lawn you are looking for.

Go to Seedland.com and look at all the different lawn grasses they sell for our area.  They describe Fescue, Rye, Bentgrass (I think this is the one they call the 'Rolls Royce' of grass), KBG.  This is an opportunity for you to start fresh with an exquisite seed choice.  Remember, you'll be looking at that lawn for a long time.  Why not do a ne plus ultra job?

Of course, beauty being in the eye of the beholder, you may just like that Zoysia.  Be my guest.

Thanks for writing.  Any more questions, I'm here.