Hey there…
I am sure if you are a long time reader you have read
about our lawn.
Our Zoysia grass lawn that is.
There is a story behind it, however I will only give you the brief version.
We have been in our home now for 7 years.
When we moved in
our lawn was terrible! I think it was fescue or something like that.
By the time mid summer hit
it looked like we had hay stalks for grass.
Before I get to the story…
Here are some deets on Zoysia grass
- Needs far less water than other grasses
- Thrives in blistering heat and survives the coldest winters
- Excellent for slopes, play areas & tough conditions
- Reduces mowing to once a month or less
- Chokes out weeds & replaces other grasses
- Cuts costs and chemicals & naturally resists insects
- Grows incredibly thick, like a soft carpet
Also, note zoysia does better in different regions than others.
Do your homework first!
My husband did his homework for a few weeks before he decided this would be the grass for us.
I swear he truly is lawn obsessed.
And so the story goes…
Mike as I mentioned earlier,
does his home work extensively and decides Zoysia is our best option.
However, to get Zoysia grass in a slab form…
we are talking big money.
Probably looking at $5,000 to do our lawn.
Not happening…
so what is our next option?
Zoysia plugs.
We can afford those…
HOWEVER….
you must do it right! In order to do it right..
you have to make literally hundreds of holes in your lawn.
My husband looked like a screwball out there. Believe me there were a lot of slow drive bys and looks his way. Our lawn had looked like
it had chicken pox all over.
Crazy!
Keep in mind, we were new to the neighborhood when my husband decided to tackle this project.
Six years later, the Zoysia finally took over.
Did I mention, it takes approximately 5 years if you are using the plugs?
Cost: $600.00
Patience needs to be your friend.
The pride and joy my husband gets from his lawn,
well, it’s a man thing I guess.
There are different variations of Zoysia and I have included a map to see if your region would favor it.
Also, in the Winter time, here it is NOT green, it is completely brown..which is fine, it did however get some taking use to.
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Zoysia Grass Planting Zones – ADAPTATION AREAS MAP
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I give my husband most of the credit, however, I cut many of those plugs and had blisters on my hands by the time I was finished.
The neighbors don’t think we are so crazy after all! Let’s just say they have lawn envy.
Some have since did the same.
Thanks for stopping by today and hearing about our lawn, fun, I know:)
There is plenty more for you to see.
Yes, friends of ours highly recommend it. And it isn’t just a man thing. I am the lawn obsessed person in this house.
Your lawn looks great. My husband found out about Zoysia being a great grass for our area about a year ago. Wish we had known about it when we first moved here 12 years ago! Keeping up with fescue is awful! Our lawn looks horrible after the last 2 summers and last summer just did our lawn in. Guess it will have to wait until we move to our next house. Mike was smart to spend the time to put in the Zoysia plugs!
Wow Debbie your lawn looks so beautiful. Totally worth the wait and what a savings to do the plugs. I just love looking at your inviting home. So gorgeous.
Kris
Yes, we did the zoysia plug planting too at our old home of 35+ years (Maryland). You’re right about the lusciousness, thickness, less watering in the summer, etc. but it takes over everything, and I mean everything, We had hilly yards both in the front and in the back. The grass grew backwards toward the house, into the mulched area. It took over my flower beds and was too hard to keep up with removing it. It even grew over rocks and concrete and spread into our neighbors yards and it was difficult to cut if you let it get too high. There are pluses and minuses to having zoysia, but in my new home, I don’t miss it a bit!
I think it really depends on the region. We certainly have not had a take over like you mention LOL…
Your lawn looks awesome!! My hubs is the same way with “his” grass LOL!
Our lawn could be dead and my husband wouldn’t notice. Ha! Not really but almost…your grass is incredible and what a process. Hard work always pays off!
Your lawn looks fabulous! My hubby is a bit obsessive about his yard too, but, that’s ok with me since he doesn’t get on me about my obsessiveness ‘inside’! LOL! Have a great week!~~Angela
It’s a funny thing, men and their lawns! What is that about, I’d like to know! Your lawn looks beautiful!
Your lawn is beautiful Debbiel! Your husband is a true trooper.
OH! Boy did I ever need this last year when we literally did not have a blade of grass in our yard. Filing this just in case…
This sure is what our new place needs….just don’t know if we want to invest while renting, though I know we would like to stay and possibly even purchase our cute place. Thanks for the education!
Hugs, JP
We have Fescue…it is gorgeous in the winter, but hard to take care of in the summer….our neighborhood pretty much has Fescue grass…We truly miss the St. Augustine grass in Florida…and my hubby is “lawn obsessed” too!
I will admit, your lawn is a beauty! Our lawn is sick . . . sadly we’re in the “not recommended” zone!!! Great info, thanks!
Hi Debbie,
We purchased our house with Zoysia already planted. It grows,yes and grows, and grows. It chokes out the flower beds if your not careful. It can happen fast, too. Most of our neighbors have it too. They must have went in together to buy a lot…I hate it. There is nothing better than walking on real grass. This stuff is thick. Yes we do have a nice looking lawn, tho….
LOL…sorry you hate it. We have no neighbors close by and there is no problem with choking the flower beds so far after 5 years. We actually LOVE the way it feels on our feet when we take off our shoes and run on it:)
It sounds great, Debbie. I’ve bugged hubby to give it a try, but the cost has always stopped him. And not sure if he has the patience or energy to go the plug route. I do love your lawn, though, and may need to renew my efforts. 🙂
The grass sounds great, the only reason I would not want you to have it is hunky man will be out mowing less….Bummer!
Carol
Oh he is still out there plenty Carol..with his shirt off:) LOL
Debbie,
That was really informative. And since I bought a house with sod in the front and dirt in the back without a sprinkler system. We have since out in a sprinkler system and Have put down sod in a very small backyard 3 times?? I do have a large slope to deal with beyond the pad with the BBQ . But weeds that’s what grows and mud since we have a Creek behind our house. And then it gets very wet do to the creek I guess and yes at times I can hear baby gaters chirping they sound like birds at night.Please ask Mike if he thinks that tight of glass would grow in a soggy area. I am tired of laying sod and only some taking. And tell him he should be proud your lawn looks great!! Just message me if you can I am crazy busy plus I went to the Cardiologist and would like to tell you the results. Great article and Please Thank Your Husband !! Don’t you hate it when there right!!! Lisa
I will ask him Lisa….catch up later.
This was really interesting Debbie! You guys saved a lot of money and have a gorgeous lawn by being patient!
I have Zoysia sod in Boston. It grows in poor clay soil. I cut it twice a year.
My neighbor has a lawn service cut hers up to 14 times a year! She’s watering it,
fertilizing it and it is just a mix of grasses.
Less work on my Zoysia, I love it. And you can paint it for the off season if you want.
It may take two coats of ‘dye’ to get the right shade of green. I did one coat it looked
a little odd.
Never heard of that option..wow!