Question
QUESTION: What would be the downside of Zoysiagrass?  Aside from some minor imperfection, cosmetically?
ANSWER: The "downside" really depends, Danny, on where you live.  As a general rule, Warm Season Grass hits its high point in the hottest weather, when temps hit 95 degrees F.  At that temperature, Cool Season Grass faints into dormancy for weeks.  Zoysia is a Warm Season Grass.

Which is why you see this in the South.

Zoysia is hardy enough for cold Northern and Midwestern climates -- but it can get ugly.  Zoysia grass usually goes dormant when temperatures start dipping below 40 degrees; it turns brown and stays that way until the weather warms up and stays above 70 degrees F.

Since it spreads by stolons and rhizomes, Zoysia is one of the Lawn Grasses we refer to as "sod forming".  This type of grass has to be mowed lower than grass classified as "bunch type" (Fescue, for example).  You would need to mow Zoysia around 1 to 2 inches; not all mowers can cut a lawn that close.

Zoysia grows very slowly.  That means it's less "invasive" than Bermudagrass, another sod forming Lawn Grass -- but it also makes it slow to get established.

Zoysia needs more sun and water than St. Augustine and some other Lawn Grasses.  But Zoysia will take more shade than Bermudagrass.

If you are considering incorporating Zoysia in your established St. Augustine lawn, however, forget it. Seedland says that would be "not recommended as success rate is very low."

Seedland offers improved Zoysia varieties(http://zoysias.com/info/comparison-seed-varieties.html) that are worth looking into -- if you're a Southern Lawn grower.  In the right place, at the right time, Zoysia can be the grass of your dreams.

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QUESTION: This is only used in the South, I get it. My house is New Jersey. I have a neighbor from Puerto Rico who has Zoysia. I'm surrprised it lives if he isn't supposed to use it. What grass is best for NJ?

Answer
Zoysia is not the greatest grass for the Garden State.  Zoysia takes FOREVER to green up in the spring.  You'll be standing there with brown grass while your neighbors' lawns are green for 2 months.  I don't want to be YOU with the Zoysia lawn.

If you have the sun, I would go for one of the newer Kentucky Blue Grass varieties.  You can find them at Seedland.com (www.seedland.com).  Do whatever you can by the way to keep your neighbor's Zoysia out of your yard.  You do not want a single Zoysia molecule there on your side of the border.  It will come to dinner and it will never go home.