If you believe you have a lawn disease, you can apply topical fungicide to the lawn. Testimonials When the water returns, EMPIRE will green back up in a number of days. Zoysia lawns are greyish-green in color with a fine texture while St. Augustine grass has a blue-green tint with a fairly coarse texture to its lawns. I have St. Augustine grass in my backyard. Then watch EMPIRE Zoysia miraculously recover - it always does. Our family moved to Florida in 1994. Vacant Land New Construction 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. Two other comments -, EMPIRE Zoysia will invade your flowerbeds if you don’t have a proper border, a heavy dog pee will temporarily brown out a 6” round patch, EMPIRE Zoysia can be planted with plugs and will take one season to fully cover. You can also establish zoysia from sprigs, plugs, or sod. I had to stop the kids playing ball on my old St. Augustine lawn, because it, quickly wore thin and bared under traffic. In order for it to be fully effective, you will have to repeat the step once or twice more, each time waiting 2-3 weeks in between applications. These are generic recommendations that are meant to work for a wide area, from California to Florida. Developed by Sod Solutions, Inc., the world’s premiere turf grass development and marketing company, EMPIRE turf elevates the standards and expectations of homeowners for their lawns. EMPIRE Zoysia has rapid injury recovery after drought. EMPIRE Zoysia prefers a mower that catches the clippings. Price aside, EMPIRE Zoysia has several advantages over St. Augustine - see below. If you're local in Tampa, you're welcome to come see and feel this superior lawn at 15322 Vireoglen Lane, Lithia, FL, 33547 - or call Smiley Papenfus on 813.600.3292. = 18:24:6 - high phosphorous and nitrogen levels are ideal for new lawns to drive the roots down and green it up. EMPIRE and other grasses will perform in sunlight. St. Augustine is a coarse lawn with a scraggy look. Soil preparation would best be accomplished by killing off existing lawn with 'Quick Pro', then slicing it in 15” strips with an edge trimmer - followed by lifting & rolling up. The landscaper had my empire zoysia at 4".. Regular short mowing does discourage weed growth and promptly pulling a weed prevents spreading - a stitch in time saves nine. We have a dog, and at some point down the line may have kids who'd play back there as well. This should be done to mature EMPIRE lawns only. It cannot thrive in areas where temperatures dip below ten degrees for several hours. DCF Landscape - 813.684.9328  3. My neighbor didn't water his EMPIRE Zoysia lawn for 3 months during a drought. = 5:5:25 - a high potassium content is an excellent disease fighter. Zoysia is a resilient grass, but it can take a while for it to fill in and establish a thick lawn. Market News It is a big thatch producer and requires much moisture. Sod Solutions  2. Price aside, EMPIRE Zoysia has several advantages over St. Augustine - see below. We have had great response to EMPIRE from our owners. It's planted in parks for its excellent wear tolerance, eye catching dark green color and soft-to-the-touch feel. Emerald Zoysia   6. Being accustomed to lush lawns that really enhance ones home, I was most. Elevate your lawn expectations. Zenith Zoysia   2. EMPIRE is a zoysia japonica a wide-bladed variety that is very durable and drought tough. , which are often to far gone to treat - I can't begin to count the number of St. Augustine lawns I've seen replaced. That makes me think that the increased wear resistance of zoysia would be better. I have a contract with a Lawn & Pest control company who keeps my EMPIRE Zoysia lawn weed free & looking great. It got to the point where the tires would make the grass lay onto itself and everything under the tracks were dying. The landscape guy recommended Zoysia in the well shaded sections of the yard and said it is better shade tolerant than St. Augustine. So they’re just a little bit more finicky to take care of than the St. Augustine and the Palisades Zoysia. There's an important rule that says if you have a choice between weeding and mowing, always mow. It's shade tolerant, heat resistant and drought resistant. Crowne Zoysia   11. Price aside, EMPIRE Zoysia has several advantages over St. Augustine - see below. Drop you mower a notch and cut that thatch layer off and either bag or rake away the clippings. ", Barry McKently, Director Landscape, Universal Studios Escape, FL - “We put EMPIRE Zoysia in two of our theme parks in Orlando, and it’s doing great. Cost Calculations… EMPIRE Zoysia costs a bit more than other sod, partially because it's slow growing, giving suppliers a lower yield and turnover time - so they have to up their price to stay in business. Empire Zoysia Lawn Grass Plugs - Empire Zoysia lawn grass plugs are a popular way to establish a hybrid Zoysia lawn grass variety without the high price of sod. St. Augustine does not do as well in the heat, unless well watered everyday. EMPIRE Zoysia is ideal for kids to romp and play ball on. There is an old saying that reads, "Cheap buying ends up being expensive buying", because you have to re-buy the thing you should have bought in the first place - and with lawn the labor of removing & re-planting is far more than the lawn itself. A short while later, I noticed a beautiful carpet of lush lawn at a Bloomingdale home - when the owner told me it was EMPIRE Zoysia I immediately understood why the greenskeeper had highly recommended it. Here is the testimony of one of them: "At King Ranch, we call EMPIRE Zoysia the 'EZ' lawn, because it's so easy to grow and maintain. those 3 numbers on every fertilizer bag mean? I also just pull the odd weed I see before mowing with my standard rotary mower and grass-box (EMPIRE Zoysia looks better if the clippings are bagged). While it is possible to buy real EMPIRE from someone not on the list, we will not be able to verify if it’s the real thing. EMPIRE Turf, like all grasses, love full sunlight. those 3 numbers on every fertilizer bag mean? susceptible to chinch bugs, webworms & mole crickets. How do I get rid of Zoysia St Augustine grass? ", 2. Maintain between 1-2" (1" is optimal). We would recommend Empire Zoysia to anyone. If you're local in Tampa, you're welcome to come see and feel this superior lawn at 15322 Vireoglen Lane, Lithia, FL, 33547 - or call Smiley Papenfus on 813.600.3292. EMPIRE Turf combines soft-to-the-touch feel with lush green color and fine, tight blade growth. Empire zoysia -- a patented variety of zoysia grass developed for its blue-green color, durability and texture -- requires less fertilizer and water than St. Augustine or Bermuda grasses. On my previous walks in S. Valrico, I noticed 8 out of 10 St. Augustine lawns were overrun by Bermuda, Bahai, ghastly Crabgrass, and a multitude of weeds. Visit the “Where to Buy” section of our website to find an Authorized Distributor near you. Again, it’s always good to check with a local lawn care professional about specific fertilizers for EMPIRE in your particular climate and soil conditions. EMPIRE Zoysia has good cold tolerance (it does however brown in patches after a frost); it also has excellent salt tolerance, thriving near coastal conditions. This “transplant friendly” regimen will help reduce the shock and minimize disease. But sometimes, in cool, wet conditions, lawns can still get disease. Below is a photo of the Zoysia lawn under our care: If you’ve had maintenance issues or problems with take-all root rot in your St. Augustine lawn, you might consider switching to a Zoysia lawn. The best solution is a rubber underground barrier between your lawns or to run your edge trimmer between your lawns every week. The growth of grass slows down over five or six years, so you'll need to overseed to thicken it up and make it look lush again. Like all good lawns it does require knowledge & skillful care. It’s grown in thick with Palisades Zoysia and it’s grown 20 or 30 feet, six or seven feet wide, back along the side of our building here. EMPIRE has stolons and does spread above ground, but also runs underground with rhizomes. 'Agro-Turf', Tampa, FL - 813.633.3094  2. While thorough watering is necessary when your Empire Zoysia is just getting acclimated, once established watering is only necessary when dehydration is visible. In my subsequent research I found EMPIRE Zoysia to be the perfect lawn for the warmer Southern USA regions. The best solution is a rubber underground barrier between your lawns or to run your edge trimmer between your lawns every week. -Delmar St. Augustine-Palisades Zoysia-Empire Zoysia. I had to stop the kids playing ball on my old St. Augustine lawn, because it quickly wore thin and bared under traffic. 4. You should use a starter fertilizer that is low in Nitrogen and higher in Phosphorus and Potassium. Immediately spread Eliminator’s granules & water them in. There is an old saying that reads, "Cheap buying ends up being expensive buying", because you have to re-buy the thing you should have bought in the first place - and with lawn the labor of removing & re-planting is far more than the lawn itself. We’re very pleased.”, 5. My neighbor didn't water his EMPIRE Zoysia lawn for 3 months during a drought. St. Augustine is susceptible to chinch bugs, webworms & mole crickets, which are often to far gone to treat - I can't begin to count the number of St. Augustine lawns I've seen replaced. It looked totally dead!! Reduced production costs are achieved by EMPIRE's rapid expansion rate, reproduction from rhizomes, and its natural chemical resistance for easier weed control. We think the public are ready for a new and improved turfgrass, so we're excited about growing and marketing EMPIRE Zoysia." 4. Never cut more than ⅓ of the total length of the grass blade. Empire Zoysia is one of the most popular Atlanta sod options because of its versatility. N - Nitrogen promotes foliage and overall growth, also a healthy dark green lawn. Grub worms love the roots of EMPIRE Zoysia. We had St. Augustine all the way around it, but somebody dropped a block of Zoysia out there several years ago and now Palisades Zoysia has overtaken the St. Augustine grass. 7. It has a robust defense mechanism called dormancy when water is shut off for a long period of time. Again the numbers are Nitrogen – Phosphorus – Potassium. ABC’s of Fertilizing… LawnFertilizers.com is an interesting web-site that explains how to fertilize correctly. Due to its deep massive root system EMPIRE Zoysia can survive on one third of the water that St. Augustine does, which is a major plus, because Tampa municipality has frequently restricted watering - è currently it's once a week. I thought, 'surely there must be a better alternative to St. I will take pictures when I get home. With a push rotary fertilizer spreader, I can evenly distribute a 40 lb bag of fertilizer in 5 minutes. Lawn Food = 27:4:6 - high slow release nitrogen gives a sustained Spring boost to produce a dark green lush lawn. Scalping the lawn will add extra stress to an already stressed turfgrass. We can bring it up to an inch and a half and cut it with a regular rotary mower. Watch the video below on insect identification or check with a local extension agent or lawn care professional. Unless it is regularly well watered St. Augustine develops dead patches and is quickly overrun by weeds and other grasses like Bermuda & Crabgrass - it struggles in our Florida heat under watering restrictions. Zoysia may have difficulty establishing a root system from sprigs, so the more common planting method is to use plugs. Soil preparation would best be accomplished by killing off existing lawn with 'Quick Pro', then slicing it in 15” strips with an edge trimmer - followed by lifting & rolling up. New installations are often uneven and care should be taken not to “scalp” any high spots. For zoysia grass to overtake and smother St. Augustine grass, the soil must become drier to favor the zoysia's slower growth and cause the St. Augustine to wither. Get commercial-grade MSMA herbicide and apply frequently and heavily at maximum recommeded rates to the SA. I keep it simple - I just use an all purpose 10:10:10 lawn, shrub & tree fertilizer by Rite Green from Wal-Mart at $5.00 a bag for all seasons. These other 'specialized' fertilizers cost up to $30.00 a bag. St Augustine easily requires 50% more water, once Zoysia is established, it grows vertically twice as fast so you have to mow it at least 50% more often, and it also requires more fertilizer over time in addition to be highly susceptible to some of … was his response - a lawn I had never heard of before. They like the look and feel if it because it is similar to the types of lawns up north, where many of our homeowners are from. With Massey Services your lawn will stand out in your neighborhood. Even though it costs more, I would not plant anything else, because I like a high quality / low maintenance lawn - you get what you pay for. St. Augustine grasses will hold their color longer … Empire Turf Australia  3. Of the two turfgrasses, St. Augustine grass is cheaper and easier to establish and maintain while zoysia is a little costlier with a much more frequent maintenance schedule. Diamond Zoysia   13. Either (i) they don't know about it or (ii) because it's slightly more expensive - but in the long run you'll definitely save money. Of course the best way to plant EMPIRE Zoysia is with sod. Legacy post . It grows much slower than St. Augustine, only needing to be cut every 7-14 days. However, for soils with heavy sand content, it’s possible that the grass will need more than 1 inch per week because the soil wont hold enough moisture. Also the cutlural practices for Zoysia are quite a bit different between the two. For example the cutting heights, Zoysia you would want to maintain around 1 to 1-1/2 inches, and the SA up around 4 inches. This will make your EMPIRE green up faster and will take care of most of the thatch for the rest of the growing season. Water well less frequently - just enough days a week to prevent wilting. Apply “Drive 75DF” herbicide to the SA. - it does best with around 4 hours sun a day; however, it does, perform well in both sandy and clay soils, (it does however brown in patches after a frost); it also has, on EMPIRE Zoysia, with the opinions of 5 lawn experts. Remember when EMPIRE Turf and other grasses are grown on sod farms, there isn’t a tree anywhere near the fields to provide shade. New sod does best when laid on leveled bare soil. Low maintenance lawn - nicknamed the "EZ" lawn. EMPIRE Zoysia costs a bit more than other sod, partially because it's slow growing, giving suppliers a lower yield and turnover time - so they have to up their price to stay in business. EMPIRE Zoysia looks like a beautiful lush soft inviting green carpet that will greatly enhance the beauty of one's home. Aug 6, '02 (Last updated October '18) - I have a lush smooth carpet of EMPIRE Zoysia lawn around my home - it's a fantastic lawn and I'm pleased with it. Barry McKently, Director Landscape, Universal Studios Escape, FL - “We put EMPIRE Zoysia in two of our theme parks in Orlando, and it’s doing great. Killing St. Augustine in Palisades zoysia. Maintain between 1-2" (1" is optimal). I read a brochure from SodSolutions.com on EMPIRE Zoysia, with the opinions of 5 lawn experts. EMPIRE Zoysia was discovered in hot humid Brazil and. St. Augustine grass makes a beautiful lawn, but over time it can become sparse and thin in appearance. They’ll also have either a Bermuda or Crabgrass takeover. Winterizer = 5:5:25 - a high potassium content is an excellent disease fighter. It grows much slower than St. Augustine, only needing to be cut every 7-14 days. You might have a disease or fungus in your lawn if patchy brown areas begin to show up. If you seen Empire Zoysia yard before, is it darker green and more attractive and lush than St. Augustine? Many thanks in advance … In light shade or subfreezing winter weather, zoysia will persist even when dormant, but the St. Augustine will be partially to fully killed. We love the fact that the lawn does not have to be mowed every week in the summer and still has the look of a well kept lawn. St. Augustine runners are easy to pull up, but EMPIRE Zoysia is very difficult to pull up. This attribute allows Zoysia to be more tolerant of traffic, drought and freeze than St. Augustine. - grows up to 7" by the seventh day and only looks good for a day or two after it's been cut as it can't be mowed lower than 3". The grass is very patchy and has a bunch of thatch. As you're only cutting ½ to 1" off a week, the grass-box is really no bother at all. Your local supplier of EMPIRE Zoysia can be located at. Dollar weeds are a sign of over-watering. One way to avoid having to use an actual de-thatching machine is to “scalp” your EMPIRE Turf lawn once per year. Empire Zoysia is one of the most drought resistant grasses in the world, its vast root system is designed to dig very deep into its growing medium and can store water in its rhizomes. 3. These other 'specialized' fertilizers cost up to $30.00 a bag. Wait on any herbicide applications until the grass is rooted in or established. We've featured it in three of our shows. 2. Augustine.' Grub worms love the roots of EMPIRE Zoysia. I had some Bermuda grass try to invade my garden - it had no chance against EMPIRE Zoysia. "EMPIRE Zoysia!!!" EMPIRE is a zoysia japonica a wide-bladed variety that is very durable and drought tough. after drought. EMPIRE Zoysia has rapid injury recovery after drought. Purchase Zoysia … Dollar weeds are a sign of over-watering. EMPIRE ® Zoysia is a medium-bladed, dark green zoysiagrass that is easy to maintain, soft and beautiful. Wanting to learn from the expertise of this seasoned lawn expert, I asked, "What would your top recommendation would be for a beautiful and reliable lawn?" Smiley & Marlene - but without some regular water for the entire first year, the lawn won’t look it’s best. What makes it more drought-hardy is that, when it stops getting water it will go into dormancy and not die like other grass varieties can. You need a reel mower, which is what they use on the golf courses as opposed to the traditional rotary mower where the blade, big blade, slings around. EMPIRE Zoysia also has fairly good shade tolerance - it does best with around 4 hours sun a day; however, it does perform well in both sandy and clay soils. ", My 99% pure EMPIRE Zoysia front lawn - in Summer it ONLY GROWS 1, FishHawk Ranch, Bloomingdale, Twin Lakes, Panther Trace, Mira Bay & Mira Lago. What do. Once partially established have Massey Services come and kill the weeds for you - they know the right product to use that kills the weeds without hurting your EMPIRE Zoysia lawn. It looked totally dead!! Contact Us Cavalier Zoysia   10. That said, it is not as aggressive a grower as a bermudagrass. Learn why Empire is a superior choice over Floratam St. Augustine. One major benefit to planting zoysia rather than St. Augustine is that zoysia has viable seed options, which is by far the cheapest way to establish a new lawn. I saw home owners with one year old lawns that were already needing to replant because of a Bermuda takeover - then have to do it a second time because of a Crabgrass takeover. Advantages of EMPIRE Zoysia… 1. top recommendation would be for a beautiful and reliable lawn? There are steps you can take to help your soil retain more water. Heights above 2" will reduce quality. - Paul Grose, General Manager, King Ranch, FL. If you're local in Tampa, you're welcome to come see and feel this superior lawn at 15322 Vireoglen Lane, Lithia, FL, 33547 - or call Smiley Papenfus on 813.600.3292. 7. As you're only cutting ½ to 1" off a week, the grass-box is really no bother at all. New home owners and second time lawn planters should seriously look into planting EMPIRE Zoysia as an appealing low maintenance alternative. Zoysia is a suitable lawngrass for all areas of Florida, and it's typically planted using sod or plugs. However, St. Augustine & EMPIRE Zoysia lawns will run into each other. Empire Zoysia, or any Zoysia for that matter are very slow to spread. St. Augustine grasses run only on top of the ground using stolons. Converting Cool & Warm Season Lawns To Zoysia Grass. When we started looking for an alternative to St. Augustine grass, the first thing that attracted me to EMPIRE was esthetics. The grass does not grow straight up as fast as other types of grass does, but seems to spread out, rather than up! No. EMPIRE Turf will probably need about 1 inch of water per week in the active growing season either from irrigation or natural rainfall to look good, much less to simply survive. Replacing St. Augustine with Empire Zoysia. Most of the grass in the shaded sections of the yard is dead, and so I was thinking of putting new sod in. Zoysia is slower growing than St. Augustine, but since it needs to be kept shorter, you end up mower about the same during the year - that is least once a week during spring & summer, and about every other week during the rest of the year. EmpireTurf.com  4. Wanting to learn from the expertise of this seasoned lawn expert, I asked, "What would your. Plus, your new lawn is in a “shocked” state, having just had roots cut at the sod farm. Mow within 10 days of installation and bag clippings for the first few mowings. When the rains finally came it completely recovered - I was amazed. Water well less frequently - just enough days a week to prevent wilting. EMPIRE Turf is a warm-season turfgrass variety meaning it will go into dormancy when the weather turns colder in fall and winter. It has a robust defense mechanism called dormancy when water is shut off for a long period of time. 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