Zoysia
Zoysia grasses are warm season grasses native to China,
Japan and other parts of Southeast Asia. The species was
named to commemorate an 18th century Austrian botanist,
Karl von Zois .In 1911, Zoysia matrella was introduced
into the United States from Manila by a USDA botanist,
C. V. Piper. Because of its origin the grass was
commonly called Manila grass. A highly versatile
species, Zoysia grasses make ideal lawn grasses in some
situations and can be used on golf courses, parks and
athletic fields. They can be grown in all kinds of soils
ranging from sands to clays and both acid and alkaline
in reaction .There are three principal species of Zoysia
grass used for turf: Zoysia japonica, Zoysia matrella,
and Zoysia tenuifolia. These species are differentiated
by texture, cold tolerance and aggressiveness.
Traits
of Zoysia grass
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Dense turf prevents weed invasion.
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Green dense turf in summer when cool-season
grasses are off-peak.
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Moderate to Excellent shade tolerant.
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Good salt tolerance.
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Resists many insects and diseases.
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Heat tolerant.
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Good drought tolerance.
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Excellent wear tolerance.
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Tolerates close mowing.
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Excellent cold tolerance.
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Meyer Z-52 Zoysia ( Zoysia japonica ) was developed
and released cooperatively by the Crops Research
Division, Agriculture Research Service, and the U.S.
Golf Association Green Section in 1951. The
selection upon release was named Meyer in honor of
Frank N. Meyer, a plant explorer for the Department
of Agriculture, who made the first collection of
Zoysia seed in Korea in 1905. Meyer Z-52 has
subsequently been promoted as a grass requiring
minimal mowing, fertilization, and irrigation. It
also is resistant to weed encroachment, disease and
insects. Meyer Z-52 forms a very dense, medium
textured lawn that has outstanding wear tolerance
and cold tolerance. It can be planted in partially
shaded areas as it is fairly shade tolerant. It is
a very popular lawn grass that looks best when mowed
at 1 1/2" or for golf courses can be mowed to 1/2".
Zorro Zoysia
Zorro
Zoysia (Zoysia matrella), after seventeen years of
documented research, has become the current #1
Zoysia in the National turfgrass Evaluation Program!
Zorro is an excellent lawn grass and sports
turf for
golf from the steamy Tropics to deep in the cold of
the Transition Zone. This Fine Textured - Small Leaf
Bladed Zoysia is early to green-up in the Spring and
has great Fall color retention. Zorro Zoysia
tolerates low mowing heights of 3/8" - 1/2" making
this variety excellent for fairways, collars, and
tees. It 's shade tolerance, disease resistance,
excellent density, dark green color, and
adaptability to different mowing heights provides an
exquisitely luxurious lawn or a phenomenal playing
surface for the golfer as it "tees up" the golf
ball.
Bermuda
Bermuda grasses are one of the most commonly used
warm-season turfgrasses.
Bermuda grasses (Cynodon species), also called
wiregrass or devil grass, are planted throughout the
South and into the Transition Zone primarily on golf
courses, athletic fields, tennis courts, bowling
greens and high-quality lawns. They are highly
variable sod-forming perennial with extensive
creeping rhizomes and stolons, to 1.5 feet tall.
Numerous hybrids and cultivars have been developed,
including some that tolerate cooler conditions. It
usually requires full sun and some varieties require
frequent mowing (twice weekly during periods of
rapid growth).
Bermuda grass is native to Africa where it thrives
on fertile soils. Today, most of the Bermuda grasses
used for turf are hybrids of two different Cynodon
species: C. dactylon and C. transvaalensis.
Traits of Bermuda used as turf:
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Excellent drought tolerance
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Excellent wear tolerance
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Tolerates low mowing (extremely low for ultra
dwarf varieties)
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Heat tolerant
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Salt tolerant
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Establishes rapidly
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Usually poor shade tolerance
DS
Super Sports TurfTM,
Premier Bermuda
Super
Sports Turf is a fine textured hybrid Bermuda that is
well suited for use in golf courses, athletic fields,
high quality commercial and residential lawns. It is the
most dense of all Bermudas and recovers from cleat and
golf club divots 50% faster than either Tif Sport or
Tifway Bermuda. Because it establishes so fast, it is
perfect for sprigging and plugging sports fields and
golf courses. One of its redeeming qualities is its
dark, dark green color that lasts until a hard freeze
causes it to go dormant. Even after a hard, cold winter,
Super Sports Turf greens up 3 - 4 weeks before all other
Bermudas. If you are looking for the perfect Bermuda, DS
Super Sports Turf is the one for you.
Hybrid Bermuda grasses
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Tif Green 328 / Tif Way 419:These hybrid Bermuda grasses have a dark green
color, fine textured leaves, and are tough and
durable. They are low growing resilient turfgrass
that are highly tolerant to heat, drought and heavy
traffic. They are ideal for homes with full sun,
pets and children, since they can take abnormal
abuse and recover from the damage. Other
applications are found as the preferred sod for
athletic fields, parks and recreation areas. They
are not shade tolerant at all and look best when
mowed 1" tall. Also available in sprigs for golf
courses.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine grass, Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.)
Kuntze, is a perennial robust grass widely used for
pastures and lawns. St. Augustine grass is a coarse
textured, stoloniferous species that roots at the nodes.
Unlike Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass does not have
rhizomes. In the U.S., St. Augustine grass is found from
the Carolinas to Florida and westward along the Gulf
Coast to Texas and in Southern and Central California.
Because of its lack of winter hardiness, St. Augustine
grass has historically been restricted to areas with
mild winter temperatures but Recently developed strains
have greatly improved winter hardiness and has allowed
the growing area to stretch upward into the Central
Transition Zone. St. Augustine is known to be tolerant
of high summer temperatures, and St. Augustine grass
retains its color at temperatures as much as 10° lower
than those which discolor Bermuda grass.
Majestic St. AugustineTM
Majestic
St. AugustineTM, Stenotaphrum Secundatum is
similar in nature to semi dwarf St. Augustine's with much
shorter blades and closer node spacing than common St.
Augustine. Majestic's lush, dark green color, denser and
lower growing habits make it the most attractive St.
Augustine available. Majestic is extremely shade
tolerant and is well suited to Arkansas's varying soils
and cold climate. Although Majestic St. AugustineTM
goes dormant in the winter months, it still retains 50%
of it's dark green color and is the first grass to green
up after a cold winter. Majestic St. AugustineTM
grown and proven in Arkansas!
Centipede
Centipede is often times called the "lazy man's" grass
because of it's low maintenance requirements. Centipede
is a fairly coarse textured grass with medium green
color. It is leafy in appearance with a low creeping
growth habit influenced by an active aggressive stolen
root system. Centipede can be grown on the poorest of
soils. It needs little fertilizer and mowing and grows
in shade where Zoysia will not. Centipede is basically
problem free as it is resistant to most insects and
diseases. Centipede has been grown on our Searcy,
Arkansas farm for 10 years, therefore it has acclimated
to our weather. If you want a grass that looks like St.
Augustine but won't winter kill, Centipede is for you.
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