Zoysia for a heavy duty lawn.

Hello, guess who? LOL

I seeded a lawn in the rear yard year before last and my neighbors promptly flooded it out and what they did not finish off, the kids and dogs did manage to take care of. I was considering putting in sod so I would have the instant lawn. Then I started reading about zoysia and plugs and how quickly those spread. I do realize it will brown in cool temps but I also realize it makes a very thick, hardy lawn. Do you all have any thoughts on if this would be good or bad, comfortable (even if not golf course so) for six kids and two dogs??

Hey chele :)

Several years ago I did zoysia plugs in 6a where we lived. We had a really, really steep hill and at the time my son was only 3. All I can say is that they did spread quickly and by the time he was 5 - that winter - we had about 10 little guys sliding down our hill. Spring came and they continued to slide down that hill, although it was on cardboard box tops rather than saucers :)

It did take those 2 years for the plugs to spread, but once they did, it was the toughest lawn around. Brown in the winter? Yes! Did I care? No :)

It really is tough stuff.

Michele, I would have two serious reservatons about recommending Zoysia to you:

1) it is a slow-growing grass (a good thing compared to its thuggish warm-season grass counterpart, the despicable Bermudagrass.) It will take several years to establish into the lush, thick turf it is renowned for. In the meantime, you'll have to provide some other type of grass that won't compete with it, but will allow it to spread.

2) More importantly, I'm not sure there's any variety that is fully hardy to your zone. From what I've read, Zoysia japonica is considered more cold-hardy than Z. tenuifolia and Z. matrella, but I've seen dieback problems with warm-season grasses in both Oklahoma and here (TN), and our *cold* winters are nuthin' compared to yours - our coldest cold snaps are much shorter in duration, and typically not as cold.

Thanks and bummer! I was doing some research and read where it did seem to brown up pretty quick in Minnesota. People in my neighborhood have it and it is the most thick, dense, sturdy stuff I have ever seen! I guess it is brown almost half the year though.

What can I grow quickly and thickly WHILE six kids and two dogs stomp all over it? I'm afraid the price of sod will kill me. LOL

It is a bummer. (I really wish I could give you better news.) Can you try seeding your lawn in portions? Maybe a fast-growing annual rye or something to get *some* grass, and then section off an area to give a good cool season turf, and make it off-limits until at least mid-summer. Then in the fall, turn your attention to the rest of the yard, and seed it with the "good stuff".

You can always try some Zoysia plugs and interplant a cool-season grass in between. If you can get it to establish, it's a great lawn, but I just don't know how much success you'll have at it unless you can afford to sod it (there are few people who can afford a fully-sodded Zoysia lawn in Oklahoma and here - and we have local sod farms.)

It's most of the WHOLE back yard. wah hahah haa My best guess is that it is about 75x50, give or take. I priced sod last year and it was around $3 for a piece less than 2x4. I'd need a whole bunch of those. LOL I filled in one pond last year and dug a new one so the whole yard is mud. I don't have high hopes for a lush lawn this year. I wonder if carpet is cheaper. :)

Was the sod you priced Zoysia? If so, you can cut it into "plugs" (we did that with Bermudagrass for our first lawn - we couldn't afford to sod the whole thing, and two pallets did the entire 1/4 acre yard, with one-square-foot "plugs" placed on about 2-foot centers. We sprinkled grass seed in between, and it didn't take too long (but we're talking Bermudagrass, not Zoysia.)

Terry, I don't recall what type of grass the sod is. It would come from a local landscape company. They are one of the most well known and popular in the area and you know what that means. $$$$! LOL They also offer hyperseeding and some other spray on type lawn. I think the miniumum on that though would do my yard and a neighbor or three. That stuff IS really neat. For anyone that has not seen it, they come with a truck like you'd see for spraying chemicals on your yard. It has a big hose. Out of that hose, comes a fluffy green spray, looks like that lawn patch stuff you buy. When they get done, your previous mud is covered with a pretty aqua green blanket. About two weeks later, voila, LAWN! From what I remember, it is the grass seed, fertilizer and the blanket filler stuff, keeps it moist and protected. Neat concept really!

I will call them again for the price on sod and also find out what grass/grasses it contains. I do know it is cut fresh and has to be laid right away. My SIL did part of her lawn with it and had to make 2 trips at about $50 each. They ONLY did a spot by their shed. Ouch!

Hey, while I have your attention...under the kids playset, mulch or grass? It was pea gravel and we learned quickly we didn't like it. That rubber stuff is out because it stains your feet then the indoor floors. Any suggestions? :)

We did grass under ours (when we had one) and that wasn't a good choice - the usual mud spots under the swings and at the end of the slide soon appeared. When you say rubber stuff, do you mean the rubber mulch that looks like cypress mulch? If not, that might be worth checking into - durable, won't wash away, less likely to leave slivers in feet and hands, etc.