I saw an ad for Amazoy (Zoysia) grass in the last Parade magazine,
and was wondering if anyone can attest to its claims so far as not
requiring much watering of cutting, and its ability to stay green in
hot/cold extremes. I am considering this in the northern CA region.

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On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 23:39:33 +0000, Ablang wrote:

I saw an ad for Amazoy (Zoysia) grass in the last Parade magazine,
and was wondering if anyone can attest to its claims so far as not
requiring much watering of cutting, and its ability to stay green in
hot/cold extremes. I am considering this in the northern CA region.


Minimize your lawn by putting in perennial beds consisting of ornamental
grasses, perennials and some surprises. "Gardening with Grasses" by Piet
Oudolf is a good starting point.

"Ablang" wrote in message
...
I saw an ad for Amazoy (Zoysia) grass in the last Parade
magazine,
and was wondering if anyone can attest to its claims so far as
not
requiring much watering of cutting, and its ability to stay
green in
hot/cold extremes. I am considering this in the northern CA
region.


Your best recommendation for grasses in your area will be from
your County Agricultural Extension Agent. Find him in the local
government section of your phone book. The County agent probably
has done considerable testing of various grasses -- most likely
including Zoysia and other wundergrass.

I would take those advertising claims very cautiously. Parade
isn't one of the worlds most well-known lawn-and-garden
magazines.

Ablang wrote:
I saw an ad for Amazoy (Zoysia) grass in the last Parade magazine,
and was wondering if anyone can attest to its claims so far as not
requiring much watering of cutting, and its ability to stay green in
hot/cold extremes. I am considering this in the northern CA region.

I mentioned it to the landscaper once and he said it's essentially
crabgrass. Which doesn't tell you if it needs water or stays green, but
should give you an idea of its agressiveness...

Ablang wrote:
I saw an ad for Amazoy (Zoysia) grass in the last Parade magazine,
and was wondering if anyone can attest to its claims so far as not
requiring much watering of cutting, and its ability to stay green in
hot/cold extremes. I am considering this in the northern CA region.

I mentioned it to the landscaper once and he said it's essentially
crabgrass. Which doesn't tell you if it needs water or stays green, but
should give you an idea of its agressiveness...

I heard that it grows fine, but it goes dormant and turns brown for
part of the season every year and most folks don't like that.

Janice


On Mon, 2 Feb 2004 20:44:23 -0500, "Jim Lewis"
wrote:


"Ablang" wrote in message
...
I saw an ad for Amazoy (Zoysia) grass in the last Parade
magazine,
and was wondering if anyone can attest to its claims so far as
not
requiring much watering of cutting, and its ability to stay
green in
hot/cold extremes. I am considering this in the northern CA
region.


Your best recommendation for grasses in your area will be from
your County Agricultural Extension Agent. Find him in the local
government section of your phone book. The County agent probably
has done considerable testing of various grasses -- most likely
including Zoysia and other wundergrass.

I would take those advertising claims very cautiously. Parade
isn't one of the worlds most well-known lawn-and-garden
magazines.

Chelsea Christenson wrote:

I mentioned it to the landscaper once and he said it's essentially
crabgrass. Which doesn't tell you if it needs water or stays green, but
should give you an idea of its agressiveness...

Crabgrass is an annual. Zoysia is a perennial.

Zoysia grass (Zoysia species) is often touted as a miracle grass, and
while many of the claims of its virtues are true, there are also
drawbacks. Three species available: Japanese lawn grass ( Z. japonica ),
Manila grass ( Z. matrella ), and Korean grass ( Z. tenuifolia ). Korean
grass is more a ground cover than lawn grass. It's wiry but
fine-textured and creates interesting mounds as it grows. Only Japanese
lawngrass is available as seed. While tough and resilient once
established, it is notorious for its poor germination, short green
season, and long dormant season. The newest varieties 'Zen 300' and
'Zenith', improve upon all three traits. Hulled and treated seed
germinate in 2 weeks and can make a lawn in 2 months. The color of
Japanese lawngrass is similar to bluegrass, but blades are much stiffer.
Vegetative selections of Japanese lawngrass include 'Meyer' and 'El
Toro'. Manila grass has stiff and flat leaves with a fine texture and
deep green color. It makes a high quality lawn in tropical areas, but is
planted from sprigs, plugs, or sod only. Other zoysias to plant in the
same way include 'Cashmere', 'De Anza', 'Emerald', and 'Victoria'.

This came from:
http://www.gardenplace.com/content/c...tor/seeds.html

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Janice wrote in message . ..
I heard that it grows fine, but it goes dormant and turns brown for
part of the season every year and most folks don't like that.

Janice

In some areas, folks dye it green during this time.

Zoysia will spread, and it will form one of the thickest, densest
lawns you ever want to see. Very nice for sitting and lying on, like
a plush carpet. Keeps out most weeds, once established, it grows so
densely.

ymmv.....
Linda H.

"Chelsea Christenson" wrote in message
...
Ablang wrote:
I saw an ad for Amazoy (Zoysia) grass in the last Parade magazine,
and was wondering if anyone can attest to its claims so far as not
requiring much watering of cutting, and its ability to stay green in
hot/cold extremes. I am considering this in the northern CA region.

I mentioned it to the landscaper once and he said it's essentially
crabgrass. Which doesn't tell you if it needs water or stays green, but
should give you an idea of its agressiveness...

Your landscaper is an idiot. Crabgrass is an annual and is propagated by
seed. Zoysia is perennial and is vegetatively propagated and is in no way
realted, even remotely, to crabgrass.

(Tallgrass) wrote:

In some areas, folks dye it green during this time.

Have you considered astroturf or painted ashpalt. They hold up better.

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(Tallgrass) wrote:

In some areas, folks dye it green during this time.

Have you considered astroturf or painted ashpalt. They hold up better.

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On Tue, 03 Feb 2004 16:51:42 -0500, Chelsea Christenson
wrote:

Ablang wrote:
I saw an ad for Amazoy (Zoysia) grass in the last Parade magazine,
and was wondering if anyone can attest to its claims so far as not
requiring much watering of cutting, and its ability to stay green in
hot/cold extremes. I am considering this in the northern CA region.

I mentioned it to the landscaper once and he said it's essentially
crabgrass. Which doesn't tell you if it needs water or stays green, but
should give you an idea of its agressiveness...

Zoysia was in widespread use in the New Jersey suburbs (Zone 6) thirty
and forty years ago. It was planted as plugs and spread from the plugs
into older lawn grasses, eventually replacing most of the old lawn. It
was stiffer than fescues, definitely not comfortable for bare feet or
as a play surface. It did need watering, but even with that, it turned
brown in August and remained brown until the middle of May. I see only
rare patches of it these days; I believe most homeowners dug it up and
replaced it with more ordinary lawn grasses which do stay green all
year.

On Tue, 03 Feb 2004 16:51:42 -0500, Chelsea Christenson
wrote:

Ablang wrote:
I saw an ad for Amazoy (Zoysia) grass in the last Parade magazine,
and was wondering if anyone can attest to its claims so far as not
requiring much watering of cutting, and its ability to stay green in
hot/cold extremes. I am considering this in the northern CA region.

I mentioned it to the landscaper once and he said it's essentially
crabgrass. Which doesn't tell you if it needs water or stays green, but
should give you an idea of its agressiveness...

Zoysia was in widespread use in the New Jersey suburbs (Zone 6) thirty
and forty years ago. It was planted as plugs and spread from the plugs
into older lawn grasses, eventually replacing most of the old lawn. It
was stiffer than fescues, definitely not comfortable for bare feet or
as a play surface. It did need watering, but even with that, it turned
brown in August and remained brown until the middle of May. I see only
rare patches of it these days; I believe most homeowners dug it up and
replaced it with more ordinary lawn grasses which do stay green all
year.

"Ev Dugan" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 03 Feb 2004 16:51:42 -0500, Chelsea Christenson
wrote:

Ablang wrote:
I saw an ad for Amazoy (Zoysia) grass in the last Parade magazine,
and was wondering if anyone can attest to its claims so far as not
requiring much watering of cutting, and its ability to stay green in
hot/cold extremes. I am considering this in the northern CA region.

I mentioned it to the landscaper once and he said it's essentially
crabgrass. Which doesn't tell you if it needs water or stays green, but
should give you an idea of its agressiveness...

Zoysia was in widespread use in the New Jersey suburbs (Zone 6) thirty
and forty years ago. It was planted as plugs and spread from the plugs
into older lawn grasses, eventually replacing most of the old lawn. It
was stiffer than fescues, definitely not comfortable for bare feet or
as a play surface. It did need watering, but even with that, it turned
brown in August and remained brown until the middle of May. I see only
rare patches of it these days; I believe most homeowners dug it up and
replaced it with more ordinary lawn grasses which do stay green all
year.

I remember zoysia being very trendy in the 1960s. My parents replaced their
lawn with it by inserting plugs. Eventually it spread into a very dense
lawn. They were in zone 6. The lawn was ugly about 6 months out of the
year because it went dormant. While weeds weren't a problem, it had insect
problems (grubs I believe) and patches of it died. As I recall, it was hard
to mow. Eventually they had it removed and replaced with a conventional
fescue mix. It might be OK in warm areas, but I don't think it makes sense
where it get cold enough for it to go dormant.

I am in a life and death struggle with what I have been told is a Kikuyu
grass invasion here in Los Angeles county. I treated it with Roundup and
then after arduous dethatching reseeded it with annual rye to await the hot
months. The stuff actually poisons the ground where it is densest and the
seeds won't take. Now I see it resprouting from the roots, something I was
told to expect. When it takes off again I plan to apply Roundup again but
just don't know where I am going in this battle.\


"Stephen M. Henning" wrote in message
news
Chelsea Christenson wrote:

I mentioned it to the landscaper once and he said it's essentially
crabgrass. Which doesn't tell you if it needs water or stays green, but
should give you an idea of its agressiveness...

Crabgrass is an annual. Zoysia is a perennial.

Zoysia grass (Zoysia species) is often touted as a miracle grass, and
while many of the claims of its virtues are true, there are also
drawbacks. Three species available: Japanese lawn grass ( Z. japonica ),
Manila grass ( Z. matrella ), and Korean grass ( Z. tenuifolia ). Korean
grass is more a ground cover than lawn grass. It's wiry but
fine-textured and creates interesting mounds as it grows. Only Japanese
lawngrass is available as seed. While tough and resilient once
established, it is notorious for its poor germination, short green
season, and long dormant season. The newest varieties 'Zen 300' and
'Zenith', improve upon all three traits. Hulled and treated seed
germinate in 2 weeks and can make a lawn in 2 months. The color of
Japanese lawngrass is similar to bluegrass, but blades are much stiffer.
Vegetative selections of Japanese lawngrass include 'Meyer' and 'El
Toro'. Manila grass has stiff and flat leaves with a fine texture and
deep green color. It makes a high quality lawn in tropical areas, but is
planted from sprigs, plugs, or sod only. Other zoysias to plant in the
same way include 'Cashmere', 'De Anza', 'Emerald', and 'Victoria'.

This came from:
http://www.gardenplace.com/content/c...tor/seeds.html

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Visit my Rhododendron and Azalea web pages at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/rhody.html
Also visit the Rhododendron and Azalea Bookstore at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/rhodybooks.html
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman