Empire Zoysia 1.5" with Tru-cut

[Florida Gardener]

Originally Posted by greendoctor

Which is why the mowing prices I get are not comparable to the lower 48. Apples to oranges are being compared. $50 a cut sounds in line with what I see for lawns under 2,500 sq ft.

Is that for reel mowing or rotary? I actually made a mistake. A weekly $25 lawn gets cut 2x/mo in the winter, so it's really a $33 lawn on a monthly basis.

[Duekster]

Originally Posted by diamondlandscaping

It's the cost of maintenance which costs more to run them. I double the cost if I have to use my reel. So a $25 lawn is now a $50 lawn. If I have to cut twice a week b/c it needs to be kept at <1", it is just a $50 lawn 2x/week.

Like I said before, you CAN cut empire with a SHARP rotary, but it should be kept at 1.5-2". Most 21" mowers will leave a sloppy cut at 1.5", so that may not be acceptable.

Unless the homeowner is really picky, St. Augustine should not need to be cut more than 1x/week, and this is coming from someone who lives in rainland in the summer. Floratam should be kept at 4"+, so if you are cutting lower than that, you are doing a major disservice. Dwarf varieties can be cut shorter, but again, no need for 2x/week. If it does really need that, there is too much water(from the system on top of rain) and nitrogen being put down. Which is usually from a dumb homeowner.

So you charge more for a reel cut per cut and get twice the cuts. Sweet!

Do you treat too? I am considering a monthly rate where we cut once but also treat and use Primo. I will have to try hard because I do not see this as being normal plan where I live. I think it would be a good improvement.

Say I mow at 1.5" / 2 = 0.75 If I use primo and it grows just under 1/8" I could cut it every 7 days with little problem.

[Florida Gardener]

Originally Posted by Duekster

So you charge more for a reel cut per cut and get twice the cuts. Sweet!

Do you treat too? I am considering a monthly rate where we cut once but also treat and use Primo. I will have to try hard because I do not see this as being normal plan where I live. I think it would be a good improvement.

Say I mow at 1.5" / 2 = 0.75 If I use primo and it grows just under 1/8" I could cut it every 7 days with little problem.

I don't cut any 2x/week, because they are maintained at 1"+.

[Duekster]

Originally Posted by diamondlandscaping

I don't cut any 2x/week, because they are maintained at 1"+.

How fast does Zoysia grow?, clearly not as fast a bermuda.

[cgaengineer]

Originally Posted by Duekster

There is also the fallacy that short grass uses more water. Bigger blade uses more water. I have that beat into my head in Irrigation Audit school. I know it is not what most of us are taught. Water frequency has more to do with root depth. Primo directs plant energy to the roots.

I like to rely more on XXtra Iron and nitrogen fixing biologicals for color. I feed on the bottom end of the nitrogen recommendations of 3 pounds per year.

Disclaimer, I am more experianced with Bermuda not Zoysia so I am comparing notes and hoping to learn something.

I am so glad someone else agrees about grass height and water usage/drought resistance...I'm tired of hearing "cut it taller so it can take the heat" good god almighty, it's Bermuda not fescue...it loves heat...but it likes food an water too.
Posted via Mobile Device

[cgaengineer]

The more green leaves the larger the water demand...it also looks like trash.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Florida Gardener]

Originally Posted by Duekster

How fast does Zoysia grow?, clearly not as fast a bermuda.

Depends on cultivar. Empire grows faster than a Diamond Zoysia lawn I maintain.

[Duekster]

Originally Posted by cgaengineer

I am so glad someone else agrees about grass height and water usage/drought resistance...I'm tired of hearing "cut it taller so it can take the heat" good god almighty, it's Bermuda not fescue...it loves heat...but it likes food an water too.
Posted via Mobile Device

Others will say taller grass shades the soil and reduces weed seed germination. Not sure that is actually offset by a dense turf.

[Duekster]

Originally Posted by diamondlandscaping

Depends on cultivar. Empire grows faster than a Diamond Zoysia lawn I maintain.

Same could be said for Bermuda as well.

[Florida Gardener]

Originally Posted by Duekster

Others will say taller grass shades the soil and reduces weed seed germination. Not sure that is actually offset by a dense turf.

For zoysia and bermuda, yes. For St. Augustine, ESPECIALLY Floratam, not the case. Floratam just doesn't get that dense enough to choke out weeds. It needs to be cut higher, and as a result, reduces the amount of weed germination.