Replacing St. Augustine with Empire Zoysia
vivona – posted 29 September 2010 15:32
I live in Central Florida. After eight years of fighting chinch bug, drought and brown patch damage with Floratam, I would like to replace my entire lawn with Empire Zoysia. I made this decision based on recommendations from several sod installers and from what I have read here and elsewhere online.
I took several soil samples and put them in jars with water and did the shake and settle test and found that my soil is 85 percent sand, 15 percent silt and has no measurable clay. My installer recommends sand-grown sod.
Will sand-grown Empire Zoysia grow in my sandy soil, or do I need to add something first? Cost is a consideration since replacing the top 4 inches with topsoil would almost cost what I am already paying for the sod removal and replacement. I do have an irrigation system.
Any other sod installation and establishment tips would also be appreciated.
mrmumbels – posted 29 September 2010 19:11
I layed empire 3-4 years ago on my sandy soil and have had root problems ever since. 2 days after a rain storm my lawn dries up and goes dormant until night time or I water it.
I’d recommend topsoil.
Your lawn won’t die of drought because empire is imposible to kill but it’ll be dry and look like crap.
vivona – posted 30 September 2010 10:40
Thanks for the input. However, adding 4″ of topsoil, or a topsoil/compost mix, would easily double the cost of replacing the lawn. In my case that would add $3,500 to the cost. So, I would need some definite measurable way to determine that topsoil would definitely make the difference between a successful or unsuccessful installation.
I contacted a local sod farm and asked if sand-based Empire Zoysia sod would do okay in soil that is 85% sand and they replied that it would do fine, but they recommended that I add Milgornite to the soil before sod installation. I don’t know if sod farms have long-term experience with sod since they grow, cut and sell it before it gets old.
I would like to hear from more homeowners and their experience with Empire in sandy soil, particularly in the Central Florida area. I also would like to hear more about my range of alternatives in cost-effective treatments of the soil before sod installation.
ken4255 – posted 30 September 2010 11:35
I’m in the Atlanta area. I don’t think you’re going to get a large number of responses from people that have your exact situation. Perhaps you can save some money by not ripping up your current grass — instead, just kill it off and lay topsoil on top of it. What size area are you trying to resod? You said an extra $3500 would double the cost, so that sounds like about 7000 square feet (assuming $250 per pallet). It seems like that’s expensive. I think I paid $300 for 14 yards of topsoil, delivered, and you can get a bobcat guy around here for $500. We don’t have issues with the soil drying out too quickly here — it’s all Georgia clay.
vivona – posted 30 September 2010 14:02
Thanks for the comments. I am replacing the entire lawn at 5,000 square feet. The cost to Roundup and remove the existing lawn, rake out debris and provide and lay new Empire Zoysia is 70 cents per sq.ft., or $3,500. That is a fair price based on several bids. While I would attempt doing a small area myself, replacing the entire lawn is something I will hire out.
The last time I replaced part of my lawn, the contractor killed off the grass, scalped it with a mower and laid the sod on the dead grass. The new grass only lasted a year because the roots, and water, had problems making it down through the mat of dead grass. That is why I am removing everything this time.
The going rate for removing 4 inches of existing soil and replacing it with a topsoil/compost mix is 70 cents per sq.ft. That comes to about $55 per cubic yard. I don’t want to just add the new soil over the existing soil because that would raise my lawn grade by 4 inches.
I guess I was hoping that with Central Florida soil being so sandy there would be others that participate on this forum that have had experience with Empire Zoysia in Central Florida.
Do keep the comments coming. They are all good ideas even if they may not be something I end up doing.
mrmumbels – posted 30 September 2010 21:02
Why remove the old lawn? Till it in and it’ll give you a little top soil.
If you’d like to come see my lawn you’ll realize what I’m telling you. Don’t waste your money.
If you get the black muck grown empire it’ll do great for a year living in the 2 inches of muck it came with. the next year you’ll see what I mean.
In my back lawn I put down Ultimate Flora Zoysia which is supposed to be more drought tolerant. It also lasts 2 days without rain then it’s dried out. No roots again because the sand holds no moisture.
awin4me – posted 04 October 2010 22:40
Vivona,
I live in Central Florida (Sumter County). I have empire and I couldn’t be happier.
For install this is what I did:1. Sod cutter to remove the old sod after spraying.2. Raked it all out with a garden rake3. Tested soil added a tad of lime for mine based on pH.4. Installed Empire (freshly cut from sod farm)5. I did a checker board pattern as the pieces are uniform.6. If you see a bad piece take it out, it will grow in but you’ll be looking at that spot for months.7. Water water water, keep it moist for 2 weeks or until rooted in. To test simply try to pull a piece up.8. After rooting, time to gently mow it, do not mow it high, do a gentle mow, long straight lines no harsh turns with the wheels of the riding mower.9. Fertilize with a starter fertilizer after a month of it being rooted in.10. Typically their is some weeds along the seems due to the initial watering. Broad leaf killer will work on those types and Sedgehammer for blade weeds (please be careful with blade weed killers!!!!! extreme caution should be used with these on empire
That’s all I can think off. I know some people love to mow this stuff at 2″, but not me. If you have a bagger I’d use it. Or if you mulch it make sure you really have good blades. Do not leave cut grass on top of sod, your only hurting growth.
I see this sod performing well in this area, it is growing in popularity. The Villages changed from St. Augustine to Empire for most of their new lots.
Good luck and keep us updated on how it is going.
Oh I would wait to install until a warm month. Why risk your investment in fall/winter. I had mine installed in April
I almost forgot Do Not over water. Floratan /Seville all strains of St. Augustine are suseptible to fungus from over…
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