Question
I read recently in a magasine about Amazoy Zoysia Grass.  The advertisement claimed that the lawn requires very little mowing and watering, that the lawn would grow so thick as to choke out weeds, and that the grass resists pests and disease.  The offer sounds too good to be true.  I was wondering if you have ever heard of this type of grass, or this company.  If so, do you know of anyone who has used the product who might give me an honest opinion?  Thank you for you help.
Alex

Answer
Yes, these advertisements are wonderful, aren't they ? If you buy the "improved" version of the amzazoy grass, I am sure the lawn will also mow itself, make coffee, walk the kids to school, and feed the poor....

You may have heard the old saying.. When something appear to good to be true, it usually is ?

In this case, it is not excactly false advertisement, but as usual the devil is in the details...

First of all, zoysia is a warm season grass which means that it is green and grow when soil temperatures are warm. This as opposed to cool season grasses which may stay green even through winters in the northern areas. If you are located in the northern half of USA with cold snowy winters and warm summers, this grass will be brown most of the year. If you are in a warm sesaon area, this grass is suitable. You do not mention where you are located ?
In New York City, NY or Chicago, IL it would be a poor choice. Washington, DC it would be border line, in Houston, Tx it could be a good choice.

Secondly, zoysia does create a thick lawn and can crowd out weeds, but again, the devil is in the details. If you 'plug' the lawn (which means that you take a piece of sod and cut it into small 3x3" square pieces which are then planted individually on 6" or 12" centers) it can take 2-3 years for a dense lawn to develop. Zoysia develop slowly and you will have to be very diligent about weeding until it has fully established. After this point, the lawn is above average when it comes to weeds.

Generally, zoysia is fairly resistant to pests and disease, but no significantly different than most other lawns. The difference is that cool season grass (kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescues) in hot summer months in cool season areas (basically northern half of USA) is somewhat stressed. these grasses do better in the cooler months of spring and fall compared to a hot summer. Any grass which is not under stress generally is better at holding disease and insects at bay compared to a lawn under stress. so, if you are planting this grass in a cool season area, then during hot summer months a well established zoysia lawn is probably better at handling disease and insects. Of course, you may have to accept the lawn being brown (dormant) from october through april if you are located in Detroit, and you may have had to wait 2 years for your perfect lawn (that is somehow implied in the statement, but not spelled out).


When it comes to water and mowing, again the details or assumptions are not clearly spelled out which makes zoysia appear a little better than it really is. It is correct that a warm season grass like zoysia is better able to utilize water compared to cool season grasses like bluegrass, perennial ryegrass or fescue. This require less watering to keep the lawn green during hot summer months. But, if you live in a cool season area and if a green lawn is your priority, then you will have to choose between a kentucky bluegrass lawn which stay green from march through december or a zoysia lawn which is green from june through early november.

A zoysia lawn require less mowing than most warm season grasses (e.g. compared to st.augustine and bermuda) during hot summer months. In these same months (july/august) cool season grasses grow very slowly, however, (as they have less than optimal growing conditions) so compared to cool season grasses you have more mowing. If you are talking about the months of april, may and october,november, a cool season grass grow faster and there is more mowing compared to a semi dormant zoysia lawn. This somehow gets lost in the translation when they say "less mowing".. yes, less mowing, but when and compared to which grasses ?

My honest opinion ? The advertisements make it seem much better than it is... there is no 'miracle' grass (or all people would have zoysia lawns, right ?).

If you live in a warm season area (the "deep south", florida,  or southern california for example) zoysia is naturally suited and excellent for shady areas.

If you live in cool season areas you have to be clear what zoysia offer, and if it is a good choice for you...

if you hate to water during hot summer months and a dense thick lush green lawn during months of june through august is more important than the fact that it stays brown in cooler months then zoysia is a good choice for you. In hot summer months it does grow faster than cool season grasses, but not terribly more. You should expect mowing during summer, though. On the other hand, there is very little mowing in spring and late fall. My brother in law had a zoysia lawn in their old house in New Jersey, and it was absolutely fantastic in July. Everyone stopped to admire it... it winter it was brown (straw colored) and the same people asked him what happened to the lawn....

If a green lawn is more important for you for the most part of the year, then choosing another grass type is better if you live in a cool season area. also, it may be easier to spread some perennial ryegrass seeds this spring to create a dense green ryegrass lawn compared to plugging a zoysia lawn..

it all depends on what you need and are willing to accept..

As to the advertisements.. they are vastly overstated !!