re: Complete Backyard Makeover - Zoysia or St. Augustine

I planted 30 pallets of emerald zoysia around my house, and planted about the same area across my driveway with zenith zoysia from seed, both 12 years ago. When it's right and perfect, there isn't a prettier warm season grass than emerald zoysia. If anyone says differently, they have never seen it in top shape. But rarely is it in perfect condition. It is very maintenance intensive. It looks best when cut with a reel mower. I had one that sells in the $2k range. But I sold it because it was ridiculous for getting sharpened and it woukdnt stay sharp with emerald's fine, dense, and wiry blades ($100/month) Emerald is also very thatch prone. I sold that reel mower and bought a power rake instead because I had a hard time finding rentals. Without regular detahtching, there's no chance with emerald. I now just cut with a rotary. It takes several days for the frayed ends to heal after a rotary cut. I would not recommend emerald. It's gorgeous when perfect, but really hard to keep it that way.

The zenith seeds did come up very well, but I kept it wet with my sprinkler system and a good timer program. It is a lot easier to deal with than emerald, and probably comparable to empire or Meyer zoysia in appearance. It is not as fine as emerald, but softer and easier to maintain. All zoysias require dethatching in this climate if you fertilize and water a lot and give them what they need to look like what they're known for. If you don't plan on doing that, there's really no point to having it. That's because the clippings, and natural attrition even if you bag, decompose very slowly and accumulate. The more you feed and water, the more you encourage the cycle.

I went to a sod farm in Foley AL to look at Emerald, and Meyer zoysias. I went to a sod farm in poplarville MS to see empire zoysia. Both places had different varieties of st aug. as well. Looks are a matter of opinion. In my opinion, no st aug can match zoysia at its peak appearance. At the same time, no zoysia can match st.aug's lower level of attention and still have as good of an appearance as st aug. if not cared for.

From my 12 years with two varieties of zoysia in separate areas, if you're committed to long term more intensive maintenance, get zoysia. If not, there's no point. St aug will make you a much nicer lawn.