theduke – posted 29 May 2005 23:01
We need to make a quick decision on grass. We live in central Texas and have shady areas. Also a black Lab that is always outdoors and kids that can’t wait for grass. We need shade tolerance and wear resistance. We are leaning towards St. Augustine because those lawns look better than the Zoysia lawns and it is less expensive. however, we hear that Zoysia uses less water and you mow it less. Would it be hard to get established with the dog always on it? And if we go with St. Augustine, which kind??? Help!
RLines – posted 31 May 2005 13:56
If you have the time and courage to establish it, check out Palisades Zoysia. What I mean by courage is that it takes some time to establish. Your neighbors might wonder why you spent almost double St. Aug to get what looks like crap when sodded.
Believe me, Palisades Zoysia looks 100% better than St. Aug. It grows vertically and is more dense. It’s blades are medium sized not the fine variety that some Zoysia’s are. I think, when established, it looks like a neater, thicker, straighter St. Aug.
My opinion.
I have both. St. Aug in Front Yard and Zoysia in Back. Zoysia requires more time so if you have a big yard, I would say forget it. You need to dethatch it every once in a while.
Like I said, ONCE ESTABLISHED, you mow it 50% less, it looks better, uses less water, and is generally pleasing to walk on and look at.
theduke – posted 31 May 2005 14:21
Thanks for your reply. We have decided on the St. Augustine. We do have a big yard and we don’t have the time and “courage” to deal with the Zoysia. I have seen some really pretty Zoysia yards; however, not too many in the neighborhood. One reason I think is that we have alot of rock out here and it can’t root as good so it looks sparse in some areas. I think the St. Augustine looks better out here because it can spread more easily and send out runners to fill in those bare spots; thus, the lawns look more full. By the way, what kind of St. Augustine do you have in your front yard? There are so many varieties. And is it growing good in the shade? Thanks!
RLines – posted 31 May 2005 14:37
I have Palmetto St. Augustine in the front. Right now the grass looks great. We are in Houston. Just started some warm weather and got some rain. I have to mow it twice a week. It is thick and bushy.
There are not too many differences in the St. Aug varieties. To me, they all look and behave similar. I was told Palmetto is more drought tolerant…but who knows. St. Aug in general will burn up pretty quick no matter what. It needs lots of water. There is no drought tolerant variety!!
For instant coverage at install, nothing beats St. Aug.
theduke – posted 31 May 2005 14:47
Thanks again! We are going with the Raleigh. After hearing and reading so many different things on all the different varieties, the guy we’re getting the grass from said basically what you did – that there’s not that much difference between them. I do appreciate the input!
QWERTY – posted 22 September 2005 16:49
www.sodsolution.com showed a picture comparing each variety of SA roots and Releigh has very shallow root system while Palmetto has very deep root system which is supposed to help enhance drought tolerance. I don’t like Releigh. I much prefer Palmetto. They definetly look better and feels better to walk on! Probably due to the thickness of stolons. Releigh’s is THICK purple stolons while Palmetto is thin green stolons. Palmetto is GREEN while Releigh is more of blue green. Releigh has quicker establishmentt though.
turfrus – posted 23 September 2005 06:38
I too live in Central Texas, in the same calcareous type soil you live in. IMO, you’re making a big mistake going with Raleigh. I have first-hand experience with it. It needs alot of water, needs iron and N to stay green, hates areas that hold water, and is susceptible to Brown Patch and Take All diseases big time.
Recommend you go with Jamur or Palisades Zoysia, both being widely used around here (Fredericksburg) and looking great. My newly sodded Jamur LOVES shade where it is a DEEP green and very healthy. In full sun, it is very drought tolerant whereby the blades will roll inward and turn greenish gray. Give it a touch of water and it turns back to a fine looking medium green. It is very slow growing and needs infrequent mowing although the seams are growing together very nicely and looking very even and smooth. Milberger’s out of SA said it is the toughest of all the Zoysias, and I tend to believe it after doing alot of research on the matter and sodding it.
turfrus – posted 23 September 2005 06:41
Sheesh, didn’t know you are so bored Q to resurrect a dead thread?
I need to look at these dates before I post. I just wasted a bunch of time on this reply….guy may be in Tim Buk Two by now hehe.
QWERTY – posted 23 September 2005 08:21
I need to look at the date too.
I couldn’t really find any infomation regarding the differences between Jamur and Palisades. El Toro too. I looked at NTEP and they’re pretty similiar to each other.
Palisades seems to have better cold tolerance (i had to use El Toro as a comparision since jamur and palisades werent used in the same study but El Toro was used in both studies). Palisades has the best followed by Toro then Jamur.
Palisades has slightly better green color but Toro was rank ahead of Jamur.
No idea on shade tolerance on Palisades vs Jamur but i know that Palisades tolerates shade a bit better than Toro according to the test.
Palisades tolerates wilting better than Toro but Toro tolerates better than Jamur according to NTEP.
If you have seen different information conflicting with what i’ve mentioned, please post the links and I’ll check them out. I’m planning on getting Palisades for the front yard next spring. I just nuked bermuda lawn last week with Round up and they’re starting to wilt and die. I’m going to plant rye grasses for the winter but they’re easy to get rid of in the spring. Bermuda takes too long to get it going in the spring.
turfrus – posted 23 September 2005 12:17
Like I said in a previous post, what works in Purdue may not work here. I have to rely on the local experts and my eyes. Take NTEP, I completely ignored the results of any locations other than those that had pretty much the same soil profile and clime as I do, which left me with OK and 2 Texas locations.
But, you never know until you try.
Good luck
Tungsten33333 – posted 23 September 2005 21:29
Only one way to know. Plug each variety in your area then drink beers watching them spread out.
Let us know next year!
Jamur is a lot cheaper, that’s for sure. Where did it come from though? Who developed it? I couldn’t seem to find much about it.
turfrus – posted 26 September 2005 12:05
Jamur is grown by Bladerunner Farms out of Poteet, errrrrr, Qwerty. Sold by Milberger and others.