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Q: I've been reading and hearing a lot about new drought tolerant grass varieties such as Empire Zoysia ™. Could you tell me more about this specific grass, why it's better and how to care for it?
A: As more and more communities have grown concerned
and proactive about water conservation, the demand for innovative new grass solutions has skyrocketed. Zoysia is a fine example of a "next generation" grass variety. It has a wide range of features that make it a superior performer vs. a regular St. Augustine grass. These improvements include heat tolerance, shade tolerance, and drought tolerance, in addition to an overall enhanced appearance. Below is a complete summary of these benefits as well as the best methods for proper upkeep.
EMPIRE GRASS TURF SPECIFICATIONS CHARACTERISTICS:
Warm-season grass - leaf texture from fine to medium coarse - color ranges from light to medium green - forms a dense, low maintenance lawn - spreads by stolons and rhizomes - shoot growth rate is slow. Easy to maintain.
RECOMMENDED USAGE:
Hot, humid and tropical climates - can withstand very heavy usage - recommended for residential and commercial lawn sites.
TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE:
Tolerates heat exceptionally well up to 100(F, - subject to winter dormancy as it turns tan to brown at temperatures below 55(F, Zoysia japonica has fair cold hardiness, the best of the zoysias, but still ranks lower than cool-season turfgrasses.
DROUGHT RESISTANCE:
Moderate to good - remains green and resists short periods of drought - takes heat as well or better than any other grass. Can go into summer dormancy when irrigation is withheld; upon return of moisture supply, will green up again.
Some varieties have better tolerance to heat and drought.
SHADE ADAPTATION:
Good - slow growing in partial shade, but much better than some warm-season grasses.
WEAR RESISTANCE:
Superior - exceptionally hardy, has the best wear resistance of any grass - tolerates heavy traffic - but slow to recover from severe thinning.
EMPIRE GRASS MAINTENANCE
Taking good care of an Empire Zoysia lawn requires no more effort than a normal St. Augustine lawn. Just follow these basic steps.
WATER NEEDS:
Low to medium - apply at least 1 inch of water as a deep soaking every, 4 to 7 days to encourage a deep, healthy root system during dry or hot periods.
Avoid frequent, shallow watering that results in shallow roots, permitting weed germination and growth.
MOWING & THATCHING:
Optimum mowing height 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches for a high quality lawn, slow growth rate reduces mowing frequency. Mow regularly with a sharp rotary or reel mower, allowing clippings from frequent mowing to remain on the lawn. Never remove more than 1/3 of the shoot growth at one mowing. Periodic vertical cutting may be needed to control thatch accumulation if high nitrogen level is applied.
SOIL & FERTILIZATION NEEDS:
Tolerates high salinity and infertile soil relatively well. Fertilize twice a year, spring and fall, with a complete fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. May also apply 1 or 2 summer fertilizer applications in climates with a long growing season. Apply N at 2 to 5 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. per year.
Water thoroughly after fertilization
DISEASE, WEED & INSECT CONTROL:
Some varieties have good resistance to diseases such as rust and leafspot, and to billbugs. The dense turf produced by zoysia grass prevents most weeds from appearing.
All information is based on average/normal conditions; individual sites and situations may differ. Therefore, contact your local nurseryman or county extension office if more detailed information is needed on specific grass maintenance questions.
Q: WHERE IS BETHEL FARMS LOCATED?
A: We have several locations- our corporate office is located in Arcadia, FL, this is the office that all ordering goes through. We also have a farm in Fort Pierce, FL and one in Newton, GA.
Q: how do i tell what kind of St. Augustinegrass i have
A: Send sample to local extension agent. Very hard to tell by photo alone.
Q: is there a bermuda grass for my golf course that does not have to be covered with straw in the winter or a strain that can be played on year round ?
A: Need to know your location in order to answer this question properly
Q: I live in Northeast Oklahoma. What is the latest month of this year or coldest air/soil temp. I can lay the Empire Zoysia. -Thanks, Mark
A: 3 or 4 weeks ahead of the first normal yearly frost.
Q: I live in SW Florida. Chinch bugs kill large portions of my Floratam yard every year, what are my options?
Thanks, Sue T.
A: You can fight chinch bugs year after year, or replace your St. Augustine grass with EMPIRE Turf. EMIPIRE is the only permanent solution. The time & money saved on the repair of chinch bug damage will be well worth the switch to EMPIRE turf.
Q: Living in SW Florida, when is the best time of year to resod my lawn? Also, when is the Empire Zoysia and Centepiede sod available?
A: In SW Florida Empire can be planted any time of year. Just make sure you have an irrigation system available. Centipede is not appropriate for this area.
Q: I HAVE ZOYSIA Z-3. THERE ARE YELLOW SPOTS AND THE BLADES ARE THIN. WHAT CAN I DO? TRIED WATER AND FERTILIZING.
A: You most likely have Zoysia patch. Here is some additional information on description and treatment from Purdue University:
http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/tips/2005/rhiz415.htm
Hope this helps your problem.
Q: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOUR PLUGGS (FLORATAM )TOO COVER A 10 X 20 AREA IN SPRING HILL FL 34606 THANK YOU
A: If you plant them 18' from the center and in the spring it will normally take about 14 weeks for them to fill in your yard. If you check out our turf calculator under resources that will allow you to input your yard size and it will inform you how many pieces of sod and how many plugs it will take to cover that square footage. Feel free to contact me if you need any further assistance. Thank you for choosing Bethel Farms.
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