Changing Bermuda to Zoysia

Idiot Newbie – posted 08 May 2004 20:19

Hey guys, I’m glad I found the site, looks like a great source of info.

I bought a new home recently and I have bermuda in the front. The sides and back were winter rye and its starting to turn brown. I’ve decided to plant Zenith Zoysia on the sides and back and was wondering if it will blend ok with the Bermuda? Will people be able to tell real easy that its a different grass?

Also, I have looked at both and think Zoysia is a prettier grass than Bermuda, is there anyway to easily change my front to Zoysia?

BTW – I’m in Birmingham, Alabama and have some large very old trees so I do have shade which was one reason for picking Zoysia

Thanks for any help!!!Stephen

ted – posted 08 May 2004 20:57

yeah, you’ll be able to tell the difference. zoysia is not necessarily an easier grass to maintain- lots of specialty mowing, and verticutting needed to make it perform well. lots of great zoysia lawns in Atlanta, if you’re over that way- good to use as a reference point. if you change over, make sure you use Roundup first on the Bermuda, then sod the Zoysia after removing the Bermuda. make sure you soil test to see the individual prescription for the Zoysia as well. Zoysia has a completely different maintenance program than the bermuda.

Alex_in_FL – posted 10 June 2004 20:06

You’ll notice from my posts that I am a huge zoysia fan. I even have it here in FL growing nicely where everyone (including some Univ of FL professors) said it wouldn’t grow.

If you decide to change then spray it with roundup like Ted said. However, I recommend waiting a week or two and then spraying again. Bermuda is hard to kill. It is also hard to get out of zoysia. An extra two weeks to make sure the bermuda is really dead is two weeks well spent!

Good luck.

Alex