Seed zoysia at 2 Lbs. Allowing perennial ryegrass to transition naturally can decrease the health of the Bermuda grass. Normally, people think of “scalping” a lawn as something bad that happens when your mower blades are dull, set too low, or when you have uneven terrain causing the mower to bottom out and take off the entire plant. Bermuda grass on the other hand is quite susceptible to mole crickets, nematodes and fungal disease like the Dollar Spots. Also, once Bermuda grass is established, it is very hard to get rid of and actually grows flat. Back yard gets a maximum of 3-4 hours of direct sunlight and it is not enough for the grass to grow – have only patches of grass in the backyard. The usual herbicides may be toxic to the wanted species, so managing Bermuda grass when it … When zoysia is invaded by bermuda grass, another warm season perennial grass, it can be challenging to eradicate, according to the University of California Davis. ft. after the last frost in the spring. Zoysia grass needs at least 6 hours of sunshine every day. Zoysia Grass vs Bermuda Grass . Bermuda grass needs about 90 to 120 days of good growing conditions during the summer. Bermuda Grass; Bermuda-This grass has a medium texture and turns brown with the first drop in temperature. ft) has Bermuda but it is not growing well due to high shade in the back yard. Expect slow germination, very slow without water. You need to seed warm season grass (zoysia) in the spring. If I put in zoysia plugs, will they eventually take over, or is the bermuda hardier? For optimal density, make sure the turf gets about 8 hours of sunlight on a daily basis. Learn more about zoysia vs. centipede grass. Zoysia is a species of warm season, perennial lawn grass known for its stiff blades, tolerance for drought and foot traffic and a relatively slow growth habit. It can become invasive and infest other turfgrasses, most notably zoysia grass and tall fescue. As compared to zoysia grass, which is a warm season grass, Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a hot weather grass that grows aggressively in Southern states.Because of its fast growth rate, Bermuda grass needs more of everything than zoysia grass does: more water, more fertilizer, and more frequent mowing. He too likes the look of zoysiagrass. If a tan, dormant lawn in the winter is more than you can bear, you might want to consider over seeding your Bermuda grass lawn with a cool season grass. I like the appearance of zoysia grass. Is Zoysia a good option for my location & high shade condition? Bermuda grass is an aggressive warm season turfgrass and fodder. The cool season grass will germinate in the fall and begin to grow as your Bermuda grass is going dormant. A: The zoysiagrass will eventually take over. My neighbor has a volunteer patch of zoysiagrass that has gradually gotten larger in his bermudagrass lawn. During spring you can sometimes see a circular straw-colored patch 6-12 inch in diameter which could grow over time and become several feet wide. Zoysia is a good low input grass that does better (Not great and is NOT shade tolerant, you will see dirt) in the shade than Bermuda, BUT is water sensitive. Current lawn (5000+ sq. Home in Atlanta. per 1000 sq. Bermuda Grass. While Zoysia grass is easier to grow and maintain than Kentucky bluegrass and Bermuda grass, you need to keep in mind the following tips. Zoysia does not go dormant until after the first hard frost of the year. Some information to help you with germination and transition. Winter weed's in dormant zoysia can be unsightly. Dormant Zoysia has an almost orange appearance and does not recover well in drought conditions. It also does not grow well in shady areas and needs to be watered weekly. If you want a beautiful bermuda or zoysia lawn this summer, you need to “scalp” it this spring. 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