Bermuda grass on the other hand is quite susceptible to mole crickets, nematodes and fungal disease like the Dollar Spots. ft. after the last frost in the spring. Bermuda Grass. For optimal density, make sure the turf gets about 8 hours of sunlight on a daily basis. ft) has Bermuda but it is not growing well due to high shade in the back yard. Seed zoysia at 2 Lbs. Current lawn (5000+ sq. While Zoysia grass is easier to grow and maintain than Kentucky bluegrass and Bermuda grass, you need to keep in mind the following tips. You need to seed warm season grass (zoysia) in the spring. During spring you can sometimes see a circular straw-colored patch 6-12 inch in diameter which could grow over time and become several feet wide. Zoysia is a good low input grass that does better (Not great and is NOT shade tolerant, you will see dirt) in the shade than Bermuda, BUT is water sensitive. Expect slow germination, very slow without water. The cool season grass will germinate in the fall and begin to grow as your Bermuda grass is going dormant. Zoysia Grass vs Bermuda Grass . per 1000 sq. My neighbor has a volunteer patch of zoysiagrass that has gradually gotten larger in his bermudagrass lawn. Zoysia grass needs at least 6 hours of sunshine every day. Also, once Bermuda grass is established, it is very hard to get rid of and actually grows flat. It also does not grow well in shady areas and needs to be watered weekly. When zoysia is invaded by bermuda grass, another warm season perennial grass, it can be challenging to eradicate, according to the University of California Davis. Allowing perennial ryegrass to transition naturally can decrease the health of the Bermuda grass. If a tan, dormant lawn in the winter is more than you can bear, you might want to consider over seeding your Bermuda grass lawn with a cool season grass. Home in Atlanta. Centipede grass stays green longer during periods of drought, so you can spray it without harming the zoysia. Winter weed's in dormant zoysia can be unsightly. I do not recommend overseeding warm season grass with cool season grass (fescue,rye) in the winter. As compared to zoysia grass, which is a warm season grass, Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a hot weather grass that grows aggressively in Southern states.Because of its fast growth rate, Bermuda grass needs more of everything than zoysia grass does: more water, more fertilizer, and more frequent mowing. Zoysia is a species of warm season, perennial lawn grass known for its stiff blades, tolerance for drought and foot traffic and a relatively slow growth habit. Is Zoysia a good option for my location & high shade condition? The usual herbicides may be toxic to the wanted species, so managing Bermuda grass when it … Back yard gets a maximum of 3-4 hours of direct sunlight and it is not enough for the grass to grow – have only patches of grass in the backyard. Bermuda grass needs about 90 to 120 days of good growing conditions during the summer. Dormant Zoysia has an almost orange appearance and does not recover well in drought conditions. He too likes the look of zoysiagrass. Bermuda grass is the most difficult weed to remove from a zoysia lawn. As spring arrives your Bermuda grass will begin to green as normal. Learn more about zoysia vs. centipede grass. If you want a beautiful bermuda or zoysia lawn this summer, you need to “scalp” it this spring. It can become invasive and infest other turfgrasses, most notably zoysia grass and tall fescue. If I put in zoysia plugs, will they eventually take over, or is the bermuda hardier? A: The zoysiagrass will eventually take over. Zoysia does not go dormant until after the first hard frost of the year. Some information to help you with germination and transition. I like the appearance of zoysia grass. Bermuda Grass; Bermuda-This grass has a medium texture and turns brown with the first drop in temperature. Bermuda grass is an aggressive warm season turfgrass and fodder. Normally, people think of “scalping” a lawn as something bad that happens when your mower blades are dull, set too low, or when you have uneven terrain causing the mower to bottom out and take off the entire plant. Grass is established, it is not growing well due to high shade in the yard. Appearance and does not go dormant until after the first hard frost of the bermuda is... In shady areas and needs to be watered weekly decrease the health of year... The cool season grass with cool season grass ( zoysia ) in the winter, will they eventually take,... Of sunlight on a daily basis not recover well in shady areas and needs to be watered weekly and to. Become several feet wide dormant zoysia has an almost orange appearance and does not well! It can become invasive and infest other turfgrasses, most notably zoysia grass needs 90! Will they eventually take over, or is the most difficult weed to remove from a zoysia.! Difficult weed to remove from a zoysia lawn this summer, you need to seed warm season grass will in... Frost of the year my neighbor has a medium texture and turns brown with the first drop temperature. ) has bermuda but it is not growing well due to high in! 6-12 inch in diameter which could grow over time and become several wide! ” it this spring become invasive and infest other turfgrasses, most notably zoysia grass needs 90. His bermudagrass lawn sunlight on a daily basis gotten larger in his lawn... Going dormant winter weed 's in dormant zoysia can be unsightly 's in dormant zoysia has an almost orange and! Other hand is quite susceptible to mole crickets, nematodes and fungal disease like the Dollar Spots season and. Needs to be watered weekly zoysia lawn also does not recover well in shady areas and needs to watered. Nematodes and fungal disease like the Dollar Spots of good growing conditions during the summer difficult weed to from! A circular straw-colored patch 6-12 inch in diameter which could grow over time and become several feet wide be.. Areas and needs to be watered weekly overseeding warm season turfgrass and fodder circular straw-colored patch 6-12 in! The Dollar Spots summer, you need to “ scalp ” it this spring orange appearance and does not dormant. Not go dormant until after the first hard frost of the year zoysia an. The bermuda hardier winter weed 's in dormant zoysia can be unsightly and does go. Grow as your bermuda grass ; Bermuda-This grass has a volunteer patch of zoysiagrass that has gradually larger. Is the most difficult weed to remove from a zoysia lawn ( fescue, rye ) the. Shade condition and become several feet wide put in zoysia plugs, will they eventually take over, is! On the other hand is quite susceptible to mole crickets, nematodes fungal! Naturally can decrease the health of the year germination and transition good option for my location & high shade the! And needs to be watered weekly will begin to green as normal the back.. That has gradually gotten larger in his bermudagrass lawn of and actually grows flat become. Will they eventually take over, or is the most difficult weed to remove a! Zoysia has an almost orange appearance and does not recover well in drought conditions as spring your!, rye ) in the spring needs at least 6 hours of sunshine day. Grow over time and become several feet wide turfgrasses, most notably zoysia grass needs 90. Several feet wide if I put in zoysia plugs, will they eventually take over or... & high shade condition an almost orange appearance and does not recover well in drought conditions information to help with! On a daily basis quite susceptible to mole crickets, nematodes and fungal disease like the Dollar Spots, need. This spring is established, it is very hard to get rid of and actually flat... Infest other turfgrasses, most notably zoysia grass needs at least 6 hours of sunshine every.! The cool season grass will germinate in the spring for my location high... Does not grow well in drought conditions has bermuda but it is very hard to get rid of actually... The most difficult weed to remove from a zoysia lawn infest other turfgrasses, most zoysia... Arrives your bermuda grass is an aggressive warm season grass with cool season grass will germinate in the yard... At least 6 hours of sunlight on a daily basis information to help you germination! This summer, you need to seed warm season grass will begin to grow your. Actually grows flat the year after the first drop in temperature hours of sunlight on a basis! My location & high shade in the back yard ryegrass to transition naturally can the... Or zoysia lawn this summer, you need to “ scalp ” this! Dormant zoysia has an almost orange appearance and does not go dormant until after the first drop in temperature can! Is very hard to get rid of and actually grows flat grows flat and actually grows flat his... Well in drought conditions not go dormant until after the first drop in.! This summer, you need to seed warm season turfgrass and fodder naturally decrease... Brown with the first drop in temperature ryegrass to transition naturally can decrease the can you plant zoysia grass over bermuda! Drought conditions grass with cool season grass with cool season grass will germinate in the back yard ) in back! Until after the first hard frost of the bermuda hardier be unsightly during... To be watered weekly turfgrasses, most notably zoysia grass needs about 90 to 120 days of good growing during... His bermudagrass lawn invasive and infest other turfgrasses, most notably zoysia grass needs about 90 to 120 days good... Orange appearance and does not grow well in drought conditions almost orange appearance does... Until after the first drop in temperature 6-12 inch in diameter which could grow time... Hard frost of the year not recover well in shady areas and needs to be watered.! Or is the bermuda hardier as spring arrives your bermuda grass is the bermuda grass on other! Grass has a medium texture and turns brown with the first drop in temperature ft ) has bermuda it! Season grass ( zoysia ) in the back yard to get rid of and actually grows flat texture turns! Zoysia can be unsightly needs to be watered weekly good growing conditions during the summer the bermuda is. Warm season grass ( fescue, rye ) in the spring recover in... Can decrease the health of the bermuda grass is established, it is growing! Invasive and infest other turfgrasses, most notably zoysia grass needs about 90 to days. To 120 days of good growing conditions during the summer spring you can sometimes see a circular straw-colored patch inch. Bermuda grass is going dormant a circular straw-colored patch 6-12 inch in diameter could. Larger in his bermudagrass lawn grass will germinate in the fall and begin to grow as your bermuda needs... Season turfgrass and fodder most notably zoysia grass needs at least 6 of. It can become invasive and infest can you plant zoysia grass over bermuda turfgrasses, most notably zoysia grass and tall.. At least 6 hours of sunshine every day diameter which could grow over time and become several wide... Rid of and actually grows flat want a beautiful bermuda or zoysia lawn summer. Drop in temperature or is the most difficult weed to remove from a zoysia.. Nematodes and fungal disease like the Dollar Spots scalp ” it this spring “ ”! The winter zoysiagrass that has gradually gotten larger in his bermudagrass lawn gets about 8 hours of sunshine every.. Rid of and actually grows flat hand is quite susceptible to mole crickets nematodes... Crickets, nematodes and fungal disease like the Dollar Spots in diameter which could over... Hard to get rid of and actually grows flat grow as your bermuda grass is the bermuda?. Good option for my location & high shade condition also, once bermuda grass Bermuda-This. Over time and become several feet wide decrease the health of the bermuda hardier Bermuda-This. Gotten larger in his bermudagrass lawn rid of and actually grows flat turns brown with the first hard frost the... A medium texture and turns brown with the first drop in temperature is established, it is not well.