If you’re looking for a beautiful and hardy grass variety to transform your lawn, Zoysia grass is an excellent choice. With its dense and lush growth, low-maintenance requirements, and resistance to drought and pests, Zoysia grass has become a popular option for homeowners.
But with several different varieties available, which one should you choose? Let’s explore some of the most popular Zoysia grass varieties – Cavalier, Palisades, Emerald, Meyer, El Toro, and Belair – and discover which one may be best suited for your lawn.
Cavalier Zoysia Grass
Cavalier Zoysia grass is known for its exceptional wear tolerance and quick recovery from damage, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas. This variety has a medium texture and a dark green color that remains throughout the year. Cavalier Zoysia is also highly resistant to insects and diseases, making it a low-maintenance option for many homeowners. While it does well in full sun, it can also tolerate moderate shade. Check out our lawn maintenance service page to learn how we can make your lawn really stand out.
Palisades Zoysia Grass
Palisades Zoysia grass is a versatile and durable variety that can thrive in various soil types and climates. It has a medium-coarse texture and a vibrant green color. Palisades Zoysia boasts excellent cold and drought tolerance, making it a popular choice in regions with unpredictable weather. It performs well in both full sun and moderate shade, making it adaptable to different lawn environments. Get your Zoysia lawn today with our high-quality sod installation service.
Emerald Zoysia Grass
Known for its fine texture and rich dark green color, the Emerald variety of Zoysia grass creates a luxurious and elegant lawn. This variety forms a dense, low-growing turf with excellent resistance to weeds and pests.
Emerald Zoysia is ideal for lawns that receive moderate to high foot traffic and performs best in full sun areas. It requires minimal mowing and watering, making it relatively low-maintenance. Even the lowest maintenance grass types need proper lawn fertilization services. We can help with that!
Meyer Zoysia Grass
The Meyer cultivar of Zoysia grass is a popular choice for those seeking a hardy and attractive lawn. With a medium texture and a beautiful blue-green color, Meyer Zoysia provides excellent tolerance to heat, cold, drought, and shade. It requires less fertilizer and water compared to other grass varieties, making it an environmentally friendly option. Meyer Zoysia is known for its dense growth, which naturally helps suppress weeds. Read one of our other articles titled, “Weed Control for Zoysia Grass, “ to learn how to combat weeds in your Zoysia lawn.
Landry (2010) It has a medium, dark-green color and intermediate leaf texture and shoot density. ‘Meyer’ is slightly less shade tolerant than ‘Emerald.’ It also has the fastest spring greenup and is the most cold tolerant zoysiagrass.
El Toro Zoysia Grass
The El Toro variety is a new and exciting addition to the Zoysia family. This variety combines the best traits of other Zoysia grasses, such as durability, wear tolerance, and aesthetic appeal. With its fine texture and dark green color, El Toro Zoysia creates a visually stunning and resilient lawn. It can handle heavy foot traffic and recovers quickly from damage, making it a popular choice for active households.
Clemson Cooperative Extension (2018) El Toro is a relatively new zoysiagrass that was developed in California and looks like Meyer. It is the fastest growing zoysiagrass, tolerates mowing with a rotary mower and produces less thatch than Meyer. It also has an improved cold tolerance and a better cool-season color. Research shows El Toro has an earlier spring green up and more shade tolerance.
Belair Zoysia Grass
Belair Zoysia grass is known for its exceptional cold tolerance and dark green color. With a medium texture, it creates a dense and vibrant lawn that can withstand heavy foot traffic. Belair Zoysia requires less fertilizer and watering than some other varieties, making it an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option. It performs best in full sun but can tolerate some shade.
Wrapping Up
When choosing the best Zoysia grass variety for your lawn, consider your region’s climate, the amount of sun and shade your lawn receives, and the level of foot traffic it experiences. Each Zoysia variety has its unique characteristics, and selecting the right one will help ensure a healthy and beautiful lawn. Consulting with a professional landscaper or local nursery can provide additional guidance based on your specific needs and preferences.
Remember, regardless of the Zoysia grass variety you choose, maintaining a regular lawn care routine – including proper mowing, watering, and fertilization – will help promote healthy growth and ensure the longevity of your lawn. Enjoy the benefits of a stunning Zoysia grass lawn and take pride in your outdoor oasis.
References:
Clemson Cooperative Extension. (2018, November 15). Zoysiagrass. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/zoysiagrass/
Landry, G. (2010, October). zoysiagrass lawns. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. https://secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/pdf/L%20395_3.PDF
