coa132435 – posted 26 June 2004 17:30
I made a mistake when leveling my backyard with River Sand on top of the old grass (centipede, soil is clay) when following local advices, I did the leveling due to drainage problems. Now I am tired to pull weeds as I can not apply herbicide due to I reseeded (for the second time first failed due to hevay, heavy rain) my entire lawn (8500 sq-ft). A this point I am giving up and I will resod my entire back yard. I live in Southern Louisiana, it rains like there is no tomorrow, it is also humid and hot. I think my two options are Tifblair Centipede or Empire zoysia. Tifblair because last year frost killed part of my common centipede and I want something to last, Empire Zoysia because I found some bermuda, after I applied the riversand, and I think Empire Zoysia will be more resistant to the bermuda than Centipede. Anyway couple of questions:Is still a good time to resod with Empire Zoysia (planning to do it on Aug 1st). I already started the application of Round-up to the remaining Centipede, weeds and bermuda grass?
Will the riversand (layer above the clay soil) be a problem for Empire Zoysia?
It rains so heavy here that soil becomes so saturaded after the first or second day of rain that standing water common at for a day. Will this be a problem for the EmpireZoysia? I can get the empire zoysia locally but not the Tifblair Centipede, nearest growers for Tifbalir are 7 hours away in Georgia.
If you can post here your comments or send me a e-mail with pictures of your Empire Zoysia yard will be really appreciated. I am desperated!!!
Thanks,
coa132435@yahoo.com
Alex_in_FL – posted 27 June 2004 07:44
Here are my 2 cents worth:
Okay to plant in August. Make sure you kill the bermuda before you sod. Spray with round up or similar, then spray again in a week or two.
Assuming the sand is only an inch or two deep it should not pose a problem. Zoysia sinks deep roots. If you are concerned you might want to core the area and let the cores fall on top and mix with the sand.
Consider mixing some fertilizer with the soil before you put down the sod. Also, I think (personal thought not sure of science) you should water the area the day before you install the sod.
Flooding (a day or so) will not kill the zoysia. Zoysia will turn brown with first frost. Zoysia is a great grass.
One suggestion. The day before you put out the zoysia, put down some grub killer. This might help incase any billbugs come with the sod.
Good luck!!!
cboothe – posted 27 June 2004 19:14
I sodded my yard with Empire Zoysia last August and haven’t had any major problems (I’m in Central Florida). My soil is just about 100% sand so I don’t think that should be a problem either. I can’t comment on standing water as that hasn’t been an issue for me. My overall experience has been that it is a forgiving grass. I don’t know when you usually get your first freeze, but that may be a consideration. I had a spot where the roots were slower to “take” (due to some watering issues) and that area did take longer to recover from last winter’s freeze damage (but it did recover). I’ve got one small spot in my yard that I flat out killed last Fall by not watering in Dursban (that I had applied to an ant hill). That area still hasn’t completely grown in. Crabgrass isn’t a problem. Chinch bugs aren’t a problem. Very few weeds seem to be able to pop through it. The ones that do don’t seem to be able to get very well rooted. All in all, I’m happy with it. To me, it has been much easier to maintain than St. Augustine (what I had previously) and it looks much better too.
craig – posted 28 June 2004 06:48
I sodded my yard with Empire on October 31st 2003. I live in south east FL below the frost line. My yard is entirely sand. The grass is doing great, except where I accidentally hit it with Round-up, but those area are recovering nicely.
My only concern is that it is growing in so thick, that Im having trouble pushing my real mower through it.
coa132435 – posted 29 June 2004 18:41
What is the ideal pH for Empire Zoysia?