Who will win: Zoysia or Bermuda grass?

Protect4u – posted 27 August 2001 09:55

I have a bit of a problem. I have a predominately zoysia front yard, but there is bermuda grass in it also. If I don’t do anything at all, which one will take over the yard?

If it is bermuda, how can I get rid of it without hurting the zoysia?

hrddto – posted 24 September 2001 12:47

I’m curious about this too. I have Meyer Zoysia and bermuda is creeping in. I’ve read that Fusilade will slow down or even stop the bermuda, but this chemical has to be used delicately. A tad too much and you will kill the zoysia too. So far I’ve left this one alone. At least they both go dormant about the same time so you don’t get that “patchy” look in the fall.

Good luck,DavidCharlotte, NC

quote:Originally posted by Protect4u:I have a bit of a problem. I have a predominately zoysia front yard, but there is bermuda grass in it also. If I don’t do anything at all, which one will take over the yard?

If it is bermuda, how can I get rid of it without hurting the zoysia?

highland71 – posted 04 November 2001 15:27

As bermuda is a much more aggressive fast growing creeper it will take over from the slow growing zoysia. Getting rid of the bermuda is next to impossible as the small seeds remain,even after eradication, for years. In addition, the bermuda spreads both above and below ground by shoots and rhizomes respectively. It may be time to sow bermuda as even attempts to remove it will leave gaps in the slow growing zoysia for years.

seed – posted 04 November 2001 21:51

In several separate areas, I have seen zoysiagrass encroach on bermudagrass during several years, taking it over completely in large patches (200-400 square feet). This was in South Florida, and the determining factor may have been the relatively low maintenance, especially, sporadic and inadequate fertilization. What bermudagrass presents in terms of aggressiveness, when well nourished, zoysiagrass counters with persistence under adversity.

If you worry it, you will probably have bermuda; if you turn your back on it, you will have zoysiagrass.

Phil

Dave H – posted 15 January 2002 14:25

quote:Originally posted by hrddto:I’m curious about this too. I have Meyer Zoysia and bermuda is creeping in. I’ve read that Fusilade will slow down or even stop the bermuda, but this chemical has to be used delicately. A tad too much and you will kill the zoysia too. So far I’ve left this one alone. At least they both go dormant about the same time so you don’t get that “patchy” look in the fall.

Good luck,DavidCharlotte, NC

David,

The Fusilade label has the dreaded “Not for use on home lawns” on it in regards to controlling/suppressing bermudagrass in zoysiagrass and tall fescue. So it’s not an option for somebody’s front yard, unfortunately

TextronSaudi – posted 31 January 2002 10:48

I have just returned from a customer with a sod farm here in Saudi. He is growing Tiffway and Tiffgreen (hybrid Bermudas) as well as Z.Tenuifolia.

He has absolutely no problem with ingress of the Bermudas into his Zoysia, as it is so thick once established that it supresses just about anything.

Hope that’s useful

The only problem is how to mow it – regarding which I have posted on this forum if anyone can help (topic – mowing Zoysia?)

[This message has been edited by TextronSaudi (edited 31 January 2002).]

Phil_TxPanhandle – posted 09 April 2002 21:41

quote:Originally posted by seed:In several separate areas, I have seen zoysiagrass encroach on bermudagrass during several years, taking it over completely in large patches (200-400 square feet). This was in South Florida, and the determining factor may have been the relatively low maintenance, especially, sporadic and inadequate fertilization. What bermudagrass presents in terms of aggressiveness, when well nourished, zoysiagrass counters with persistence under adversity.

If you worry it, you will probably have bermuda; if you turn your back on it, you will have zoysiagrass.

Phil

Phil, this Phil agrees. I brought in 60 yards of top soil 4 years ago and plugged Zoysia. Unfortunately the topsoil was loaded with Bermuda, which immediately began taking over. I spent a year battling the Bermuda, then gave up. Now I have a thick Zoysia yard with a little Bermuda around the edges.

guest20040208 – posted 08 February 2004 08:12

My mom & dad put zoysia plugs into a bermuda front yard. Gradually, the zoysia expanded and took over after about 6 years. We also put some of the zoysia in our vacant later, and these gradually expanded about half a foot in radius per year. The lawn was full sun. The lot was partly shaded.

In a few more years, the zoysia became so thick it developed circular brown patches from fungus. We began de-thatching it every 2 years and that seemed to cure it. The zoysia thrived & choked out weeds except for one spot where it never became completely thick. So that area had a few weeds.

Now, I have centipede & don’t like it. So, I’m looking for the best variety of zoysia to put in.

Michael McRae – posted 21 July 2009 21:05

I also have problem with scattered bermuda in my Zoysia Grass. The only think I have found is Acclaim by Bayer. It does not kill the Bermuda; however, it does retard its growth while the zoysia get a better hold.

ezf – posted 03 July 2010 19:23

I live in north Atlanta and planted some empire zoysia plugs in my bermuda lawn about 2 months ago. I do not fertilize them, only water the plugs occasionally when their leaves turning into needles. Now all of them have expanded. The largest one has become 5X5 inches in size from the original 3X3.

ken4255 – posted 06 July 2010 11:25

While spraying for wild violets, I discovered that triclopyr (Ortho poisoon ivy killer, Ortho chickweed and clover killer) will kill bermuda but won’t kill zoysia.

mrmumbels – posted 11 May 2011 17:29

A coctail of fusilade II and turflon ester has been proven in studies to kill bermuda in zosyia with barely any hurt to the zoysia. I have both here to kill off the bermuda creeping in but have yet to really try it because my zoysia is not healthy enough to handle it. I believe one of them is illegal here in FL.

Houndawg – posted 23 January 2012 05:37

The Bermuda is winning in my yard. I’m killing it with Round-Up. Then after it’s gone I’m re-spriging the Yosia back. It’s taking a long time.

Houndawg – posted 23 January 2012 06:13

I thought the Yosia would kill out the Centipede and other stuff out there. It won’t. I started cutting the grass lower, and where there’s small Centipede mixed into the Yosia and weeds, I’m sraying them with vineager. It makes a small yellow spot. But they goes away.