Zoysia Grass Anyone Know if this is Good?

[Karin]

Dh found an ad for Zoysia Grass and we're wondering if this is really as good as it seems. And, if it is, does it invade the neighbour's lawns? He's wondering if it's as invasive as kudzu.

[Fran51]

We had it years ago at another house. It was thick (sometimes a bit difficult to cut), wonderful grass; browned out in the wintertime, but still a good carpet. Needs good sun exposure, and it can take years to establish the whole yard as a lawn (slow growing). Not invasive, IMO. Good luck with it!

[Claire]

The ads can be misleading as zoysia grass can have problems. In some climates it can be invasive. In others, it may never look good. As I recall from research quite a few years ago, it is also a fairly rough-looking grass compared to others.

If you Google zoysia grass faq you will pull up some websites with information on it. You really want to specifically research it for your climate (zone).

Another good place for info is the Garden Web. Here is a link to the Lawn Care Forum (http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/lawns/). Scroll down to the bottom and do a search on zoysia grass.

Your best bet is to research lawn varieties in your local area. I would never buy zoysia from an ad, as I think they are willing to sell it to anyone anywhere, even if it is not a good choice for your area.

[melissel]

We had it years ago at another house. It was thick (sometimes a bit difficult to cut), wonderful grass; browned out in the wintertime, but still a good carpet. Needs good sun exposure, and it can take years to establish the whole yard as a lawn (slow growing). Not invasive, IMO. Good luck with it!

This was my parents' experience with it, in NJ. To my knowledge, it has not (20 years later) invaded either neighbor's lawn. It is the last to green up and the first to brown out for the season, but it is good, strong grass. They don't regret the decision at all. I think they did buy it from an ad, though the PP has a very good point about being sure that it's right for your zone.

[Karenciavo]

This was my parents' experience with it, in NJ. To my knowledge, it has not (20 years later) invaded either neighbor's lawn. It is the last to green up and the first to brown out for the season, but it is good, strong grass. They don't regret the decision at all. I think they did buy it from an ad, though the PP has a very good point about being sure that it's right for your zone.

We are in NJ and at our last house our neighbors had it and it was invasive. Maybe there are different types? Granted it didn't quickly spread, but it did spread into our yard significantly over the 13 years we lived there.

My biggest gripe against it is that it's not as soft as grass.

[Karin]

Thanks for your answers. Dh wants to go to check with some agricultural place, too, but I told him I always like to check on the boards (aka hive mind):). This information has already helped as if it does turn out to be good for our area, we'll need to research places to buy. I'm always leery of advertising as it's not always meticulously honest! I'm going to check the Lawn Care Forum as well.

[Kathy in MD]

I don't like the stuff. I don't like the texture, I don't like that it can move into the neighbor's lawn and I don't like that it's brown in winter when I desperately want some color.

[Karin]

I don't like the stuff. I don't like the texture, I don't like that it can move into the neighbor's lawn and I don't like that it's brown in winter when I desperately want some color.

Around here, all the grass is brown in the winter, too. Since I grew up in lotus land (lower mainland of BC) where grass and evergreens are green year round, it took a few years to get used to. I'm not worried about the texture. My main concern is whether or not it will eventually annoy the neighbours. The contractors who put up this place used horrid soil and we cannot afford to redo our lawn correctly. Plus, it cost way too much to water it, dh works very long hours in the summer so could use something that requires less mowing (I have too many allergies to mow, or I would gladly do it--I enjoy mowing lawns and shovelling snow, but only in my yard:)) Also, I really, really want a yard that will look fine with no chemicals because I won't use the chemicals, and dh doesn't like the natural look.

We will check with our county (sorry can't see all of your post now) and make sure it won't encroach. Although it couldn't be any worse than the crabgrass they're constantly fighting in their otherwise perfect (and chemically treated) yard.

[cin]

NO!!!!!! It is invasive, impossible to kill and it is spikey on your feet.

[Karin]

NO!!!!!! It is invasive, impossible to kill and it is spikey on your feet.

Wow! Sounds like something from a horror movie.