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Message
Home & Garden Experts - Help Converting Fescue/Rye Lawn to Zoysia
Posted on 2/24/21 at 11:05 am
Posted on 2/24/21 at 11:05 am
Gentlemen,
I live on the NC/SC border. When I bought our home it had a fairly healthy fescue/rye hybrid lawn that is a bit susceptible to heat and broadleaf weeds. It is also not the best grass variety for outdoor activities as it struggles with traffic wear and is not necessarily that pleasant to stand or sit on.
I've done some research online and found that if you install a small area (10ft x 10ft) of Zoysia plugs into your existing lawn, that it will eventually take over the entire yard (over a couple of seasons). I've also read that it is much more resistant to weeds, patches, and wear.
Plugs are also much more affordable than seed and sod. Seed is also the most difficult to grow and requires bare soil.
As an FYI - I do all of our yardwork/landscaping cause I'm a poor. This seems like an affordable option for transitioning the yard over time.
Anyone done something similar with Zoysia, St. Aug. or Bermuda (three warm climante grasses)? Any good online resources and/or suppliers? Also, anyone have a zoysia variety that really tickles their pickle?
TL/DR - have less than ideal lawn that I want to transition into a Zoysia lawn using plugs without stripping the yard.
Thanks in advance - Mr. Bo
I live on the NC/SC border. When I bought our home it had a fairly healthy fescue/rye hybrid lawn that is a bit susceptible to heat and broadleaf weeds. It is also not the best grass variety for outdoor activities as it struggles with traffic wear and is not necessarily that pleasant to stand or sit on.
I've done some research online and found that if you install a small area (10ft x 10ft) of Zoysia plugs into your existing lawn, that it will eventually take over the entire yard (over a couple of seasons). I've also read that it is much more resistant to weeds, patches, and wear.
Plugs are also much more affordable than seed and sod. Seed is also the most difficult to grow and requires bare soil.
As an FYI - I do all of our yardwork/landscaping cause I'm a poor. This seems like an affordable option for transitioning the yard over time.
Anyone done something similar with Zoysia, St. Aug. or Bermuda (three warm climante grasses)? Any good online resources and/or suppliers? Also, anyone have a zoysia variety that really tickles their pickle?
TL/DR - have less than ideal lawn that I want to transition into a Zoysia lawn using plugs without stripping the yard.
Thanks in advance - Mr. Bo
5
Posted on 2/24/21 at 11:14 am to mr bojangles
following. I like this idea
Posted on 2/24/21 at 11:36 am to mr bojangles
How big is your lawn you’re trying to convert?
I have a large yard that I’m trying to get to a decent lawn grass. I initially sodded around the house with Palisades Zoysia. I wanted to cost effectively expand that area, so I prepped the soil in the area. Instead of buying plugs, I bought 2 pallets of sod (~900 sqft), and cut them into “plugs” to cover about 2500 sqft. You get way more “lawn” with a pallet of sod compared to buying plugs.
I did this last May. It took a while to recover/start to grow and weed control between the “plugs” was a pain. However, by the end of the season the lateral growth had really taken off. There was no other grass to crowd out (except some weeds). I think by the middle of the season it should be fairly full. One thing that’s required is some leveling material. I initially leveled after the sod install, but will have to do it again this spring.
Once you have a nice, healthy patch of zoysia, you can use a plugger to take plugs from your own lawn. It’s just a very slow, and tedious method, at least here in the south. Maybe the fescue/rye takeover will be a little easier.
I have a large yard that I’m trying to get to a decent lawn grass. I initially sodded around the house with Palisades Zoysia. I wanted to cost effectively expand that area, so I prepped the soil in the area. Instead of buying plugs, I bought 2 pallets of sod (~900 sqft), and cut them into “plugs” to cover about 2500 sqft. You get way more “lawn” with a pallet of sod compared to buying plugs.
I did this last May. It took a while to recover/start to grow and weed control between the “plugs” was a pain. However, by the end of the season the lateral growth had really taken off. There was no other grass to crowd out (except some weeds). I think by the middle of the season it should be fairly full. One thing that’s required is some leveling material. I initially leveled after the sod install, but will have to do it again this spring.
Once you have a nice, healthy patch of zoysia, you can use a plugger to take plugs from your own lawn. It’s just a very slow, and tedious method, at least here in the south. Maybe the fescue/rye takeover will be a little easier.
Posted on 2/24/21 at 12:02 pm to LSUtigerME
quote:
How big is your lawn you’re trying to convert?
I have a 1/3 acre lot with about around 8,500 sq ft of yard. How was installing the sod? I may try establishing a 10x10 foot patch of sod and then use it for plugs like you did. Seems like a viable option.
Posted on 2/24/21 at 2:12 pm to mr bojangles
I've done this at our house. I'm in Greensboro. We had a mix of grass that wasn't performing well and had it's fair share of weeds mixed in.
Several years ago, I plugged it with zoysia that we ordered online. I didn't cover the whole yard all that great with the plugs, but over the last several years, it has about taken over most of the yard. The plugs seemed to have taken a couple of years to really get going, but they finally started to spread and come together finally.
We're talking about doing the plugs again this year to finish off some spots.
One word of advice...
When you get the tray of plugs, they are a bit separated. I favor keeping the plugs together and using them that way. Rather than doing a small single puny plug, do it in plugs of 4 or even 6. The single plugs don't seem to survive as easy and take longer to establish than doing larger plugs...
Several years ago, I plugged it with zoysia that we ordered online. I didn't cover the whole yard all that great with the plugs, but over the last several years, it has about taken over most of the yard. The plugs seemed to have taken a couple of years to really get going, but they finally started to spread and come together finally.
We're talking about doing the plugs again this year to finish off some spots.
One word of advice...
When you get the tray of plugs, they are a bit separated. I favor keeping the plugs together and using them that way. Rather than doing a small single puny plug, do it in plugs of 4 or even 6. The single plugs don't seem to survive as easy and take longer to establish than doing larger plugs...
Posted on 2/24/21 at 2:19 pm to LSUtigerME
When is it safe to mow after you plant the plugs or lay down sod?
Posted on 2/24/21 at 3:08 pm to mr bojangles
El Toro is a fast spreading zoysia that usually is easy to find. Plugs work for sure but it will take time. A couple years at least. You can always plug what you can and any time you have the opportunity to add more plugs you can.
Posted on 2/24/21 at 3:18 pm to mr bojangles
First thing I would do is a soil test to see the health of your lawn. Plugs isn't a bad idea but it can become costly over time. Seed is cheaper in the long run but timing is key. If you were to use seed, then now is the time to throw down. A good guy to follow is "The lawn care nut". He caters to the DIY folks. I place a link below for the soil test. Also, if you going to use plugs, ensure that you fertilizer it to help the roots and growth.
MySoil-Soil Test Kit | Grow The... LINK
MySoil-Soil Test Kit | Grow The... LINK
This post was edited on 2/24/21 at 3:43 pm
Posted on 2/24/21 at 3:19 pm to ronk
Zoysia will definitely take over. I have fescue/bermuda here in KC. My neighbors zoysia across the street somehow spread into my yard several years ago. Since then it has taken over the entire front yard. I like the fescue better here as it stays green almost year round.
Posted on 2/24/21 at 3:22 pm to SaDaTayMoses
SaDaTayMoses- wait until the roots are established. Wait maybe a month or 6 weeks. Make sure to water and to use fertilizer. Don't put down a herbicide because that can stop the growth.
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