Zoysia Grass

Q

I've been reading a lot about Zoysia grass lately, can you tell me what it is, how it differs from other lawns and whether it's as good as what it's being made out to be?

A

Zoysia grass is a sensational lawn, but lets be clear from the outset, there is no such thing as a perfect lawn, nor a lawn which everyone will like equally, so before buying Zoysia or any other lawn type for that matter, be sure you are buying a lawn that you like, and one which is suitable for your region and your individual needs.

Zoysia is best known for being one of the most resilient and low maintenance lawns available. It is slower growing so needs far less lawn mowing than other grasses, is highly resistant to all weeds, pests such as sod webworm, and is far less prone to lawn diseases. Zoysia also requires very little fertiliser to remain in peak condition.

All the above factors combined mean Zoysia will be one of the lowest cost lawns to own, requiring the least amount of effort to keep looking great than almost any other lawn type that I can possibly think of.

Zoysia can be kept with a longer leaf and look great, or it can be kept at low heights and still look great, or can be neglected and never suffer the problems of weeds and overgrowth that other lawn types will experience.

Zoysia is still rather new in Australia so it's still being familiarised by homeowners in the country, but it's reputation and popularity rapidly grows by the day.

The three main considerations in choosing a new Zoysia lawn will be:

Climate - Zoysia prefers all the warmer regions, easily growing and loving the environment all the way from Cape York down to Sydney, and across to Perth. Zoysia doesn't like the colder weather.

Heavy Use Areas - The slow growth of Zoysia compared to other grasses means it requires far less lawn mowing, but also means it will repair itself from damage at a slower rate than some other grasses. So if your lawn gets heavily damaged regularly then Zoysia may not be the best grass. However, if your lawn receives moderate wear, then Zoysia is proven to be far more resilient to damage than other grasses, meaning it will be far less likely to become damaged in the first place, so Zoysia may still be a great lawn for your home.

Personal Preference - like all lawn types, be sure to check out Zoysia before you buy it to ensure you like the look and feel of this grass. Personally, it's my favourite grass! Not just for it's easy care properties, but for it's look and feel too.