If so, how did it turn out?

 

My grandparents had Zoysia in their yard. It was beautiful. People used to ask if it was real. Only thing I didn't like was that it FELT like a fake lawn. Very hard and prickly. Guess that doesn't matter if you don't plan to sit or lie on it though.

 

I just plugged with zeon zoysia. It supposed to be much softer and more shade tolerant that other varieties. Just hoping the plugs take and all the work wasn't for nothing.

 

Subscribed. I'd be interested to see progress pics as I need to re-do our back yard after having a new septic system installed. If the plugs work out as advertised, that would be a much cheaper option than sod.

What was on the ground before and what prep work did you do?

--Ferdi

 

ill have to put some pictures in. the current grass is fescue. i didnt kill the lawn. i plugged on 6" centers, and will allow zoysia to take over fescue. fescue gets very week this time of year

 

Plug, no. Sod, yes. Zoysia requires more vigilant upkeep than I prefer, but can look amazing if you put the effort into it.

 

Helped my parents plug zoysia when I was a kid. I hated every minute of it lol, and the results were only fair. Still a lot of dirt a few months later.

 

I didn't kill the fescue because if I was going to kill the lawn, then I would have just laid sod. Plus, if the plugs don't take, then I still have grass. My board exam pushed me into growing season here and I'm busy during the entire month of June. I needed an option that allowed me to get grass in the ground.

I used the proplugger from proplugger.com. It works awesome.

Work wise, if you have a small area, then just sod the entire thing. Zoysia is twice as expensive as bermuda. If you have a large area and don't mind waiting a few seasons for the grass to grow in, then plug on 12" centers.

 

Grass, what's that? My back yard will not grow grass for ****. Too many big oaks blocking the sun, and too many rocks/thin soil. Whole thing turns into a mud bog when it rains. Wonder if Zoysia would work?

 

i can't keep my grass below 6 inches tall. i hate mowing.

 

Have always had good luck with bermuda plugs in SoCal. But they do like some heat and sun to really take off

 

No it doesn't. My zoysia is upkeep free aside from mowing. I have my whole front yard plugged, and about 50% of my back yard plugged. In the 90 degree summers here in MD I only need to water once a week to keep it looking great and it simply crowds out every other weed, grass, etc. Not to mention bugs don't seem as interested to try and live in it.

Only downside aside from the initial plugging is it browns up in the fall and winter. I don't give a crap what my lawn looks like when nobody will be spending time on it. I like to have people over for cornhole, horseshoes and cookouts in the summer and zoysia rules.

Plugging at 6 inches will take 2-3 years to fill out but it's worth it.

I buy my zoysia locally in plastic sheets that are already cut. I have done the internet order and cut them by hand but that takes twice as long on labor so it wasn't worth it for me so I pay the premium for pre-cut.

Soil in MD really sucks. It's all clay and sand and zoysia seems to like it. I couldn't get **** else to grow without being overcome by weeds and needing serious watering in the summer so zoysia was it.

 

Plenty of that here

Everyone else here with summer grass has it turn brown. Personally, I don't think the uniform brown lawn looks bad. It's a summer grass and everyone expects it. Some people paint theirs green. 2-3 years is fine with me. If I end up with a nice zoysia lawn for the $350 I have invested, then yay for me.

I looked at the plugs this morning and they are still green. Good sign. I'm watering daily, and will continue to do so for the next two weeks. Then I'll dial it back a bit.

 

I grow dandelions... My front lawn has basically no grass left at all. Easily 1000's of them.

They are resistant to just about anything.

My neighbours don't like me too much though.

 

Dandelions must be fantastic, by the time you get bored with a color, a new color comes in!!! First they're green, then they're yellow, then they're white, then repeat!

 

And no matter what you do... you can't kill them and keep the grass.

 

Pour concrete and have a bonus size driveway?

 

Insert super mario brothers *I got a shroom, bitch* sound here!!