Help Identifying my Lawn

[ftslawn]

Hello All!
I have a new home and I'm trying to identify what type of lawn I have. It doesn't green till much later than most of my neighbors, but it's a nice turf when it does. I live in North East PA. If anyone can identify what type of lawn it is I would GREATLY appreciate it! Also any tips for care are welcomed. I have an area that I would like to plant with grass and I want it to match what is currently established. I have searched these forums and have tried some of the turf ID websites. But of the two I tried, each gave a different ID. I just took these pics last night so this is how my Lawn looks right now.

http://www.zeister.com/grass/grass01.jpg
http://www.zeister.com/grass/grass02.jpg
http://www.zeister.com/grass/grass03.jpg
http://www.zeister.com/grass/grass04.jpg
http://www.zeister.com/grass/grass05.jpg
http://www.zeister.com/grass/grass06.jpg
http://www.zeister.com/grass/grass07.jpg
http://www.zeister.com/grass/grass08.jpg
http://www.zeister.com/grass/grass09.jpg

Thanks in advance!

[Marcos]

You have a zoysia grass lawn, my friend! :waving:

[ftslawn]

Wow that was fast. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!

Any tips on how to establish a new section of Zoysia? There is a large section that was covered with weed-mat & mulch and had a Swingset for the previous owner.

Thanks Again!!!

[Marcos]

Hello All!
I have a new home and I'm trying to identify what type of lawn I have. It doesn't green till much later than most of my neighbors, but it's a nice turf when it does. I live in North East PA. If anyone can identify what type of lawn it is I would GREATLY appreciate it! Also any tips for care are welcomed. I have an area that I would like to plant with grass and I want it to match what is currently established. I have searched these forums and have tried some of the turf ID websites. But of the two I tried, each gave a different ID. I just took these pics last night so this is how my Lawn looks right now.



Zoysia doesn't green up 'till later in the spring in Ohio & PA because it's really a southern transition zone grass, meaning it's more suitible for areas like Tennessee, northern Georgia, etc.
But that doesn't mean it won't necessary grow up here, it just means it won't act the same up here.

If you want to plant new areas with zoysia, just forget the idea of "zoysia seed" this far north.
Just go to an inconspicuous corner of your lawn (behind bush or somewhere like that) with a sod cutter or sharp spade, and start cutting out little 6" x 6" sections of zoysia sod to transplant in amongst whatever kinds of cool-season turf you have around other parts of the lawn.
You will be in essence "infecting" these cool season patches to be eventually taken over by zoysia! You can do this right now if you want to, as the brown zoysia you see now begins to come out of dormancy.

Don't bother trying to plant zoysia in shady areas around here, it simply won't work.
Just keep planting bluegrass (or whatever you have now) in the shade.

Maintenance of zoysia in northern lawns:
Should never need water unless under the most adverse drought conditions.
Requires less mowing than other northern grass species, but dense turf will dull blades quickly, so keep them sharp!
No need for excessive amounts of high N fertilizer, either. That will just increase the liklihood of thatch buildup.
Consider an early fall application of approx 1/3 inch of compost throughout the lawn instead, after the lawn has been mowed relatively short (so you can better see what you're doing).


One winter...I think 1977ish... virtually every zoysia lawn was wiped out for a time here in southern Ohio because it had gotten down to -25 F
That in itself wasn't the main problem.
The main problem was that there wasn't a blanket of snow on top of the zoysia to insulate it against that kind of frigid cold night. :cry:
Most of 'em came back on their on over a period of time, though, but not without accumulating masses & masses of NASTY THATCH as a result of that dieback!

[ftslawn]

Marcos,
I can't thank you enough for all of the helpful info! I wish there was someway to pay u back. I hate to abuse your kindness, but I have a few more questions if you can help. As I mentioned I have taken up the weed-mat and want to plant grass in it's place. 90% of the area receives a lot of sunlight so it's not really all that shady. What would be my best be in terms of getting some grass to grow? Should I try a bluegrass? Is it best that I get some other type of grass started, then in a few years do the Zoysia transplant? Could you recommend a good source for grass seed? What about those "mulch mix" starters that have the green material and seed mixed in?
Sorry, I know that was like 10 questions. Again I can't thank you enough for sharing you knowledge with me.

-Best Regards

[Marcos]

Marcos,
I can't thank you enough for all of the helpful info! I wish there was someway to pay u back. I hate to abuse your kindness, but I have a few more questions if you can help. As I mentioned I have taken up the weed-mat and want to plant grass in it's place. 90% of the area receives a lot of sunlight so it's not really all that shady. What would be my best be in terms of getting some grass to grow? Should I try a bluegrass? Is it best that I get some other type of grass started, then in a few years do the Zoysia transplant? Could you recommend a good source for grass seed? What about those "mulch mix" starters that have the green material and seed mixed in?
Sorry, I know that was like 10 questions. Again I can't thank you enough for sharing you knowledge with me.

-Best Regards

Don't waste any time in doing the zoysia transplant if it's a sunny area.

Rake the soil so it's a nice loose seed bed.
Put the 6" x 6" patches of zoysia sod directly into this prepared seed bed, JUST AT A NATURAL SOIL LEVEL, maybe 3' to 4' apart, or however *close you feel you need them.
*(Zoysia spreads mainly with the use of above-ground stolons: those little "fingers" you see creeping over your sidewalk or wherever. So the closer you put them, the faster they'll grow together.)

Buy a bag of whatever perennial seed that'll match what you already have in adjacent non-zoysia areas, and sow it directly into the entire prepared soil area (including directly OVER the sod pieces) then straw the entire area, fertilize & water lightly & frequently until germinated.

If you want to buy grass seed/mulch kits that's fine, but they're grossly overpriced in my opinion.
Plus...the grass you're planting is doomed to be encroached upon by the zoysia anyway in a few years!

A STRONG WORD OF ADVICE TO YOU......
Not everyone everywhere shares the same opinion about zoysia that you expressed in your initial post on this thread.
Even in northern climes, zoysia is a spreading grass, so much so that it'll travel under sidewalks, across driveways and into neighbor's yards and even their landscape beds over a period of years.
Yes, Roundup sprays will keep it in check in the landscape; but this won't help you when you're getting lectured by Mr. Next Door Neighbor ten years from now about how your grass has begun to take over his lawn!
Please keep this in mind, and carefully scope your neighbors out for any feedback they may have now.

And as far as thanking me, you can just forward the check to......................:laugh: :waving:

[betmr]

I can't help but notice that your close up pictures are of the green grass, what do you want, the green stuff or the brown stuff?