Types of Zoysia Grass in South Carolina

Zoysia grass is a warm-season turfgrass found throughout South Carolina. Preferring warmer temperatures between 80 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, zoysia grass grows the most during late spring, summer and early fall. Like other warm-season grasses, during the cooler winter months zoysia grass turns brown and goes into dormancy. Zoysia grasses are generally slower growing than other warm-season grasses, although many varieties of zoysia have specifically improved this attribute. Common zoysia grass (Zoysia japonica) forms a dense turfgrass with coarse leaves and has a greater cold tolerance than other warm-season grasses.

Meyer

Meyer grass has medium-textured leaves and is cold tolerant. Faster spreading than regular zoysia grass, Meyer grass is commonly referred to as "Z-52" or "super" grass in South Carolina.

Belaire

Belaire grass has a light green color and is cold tolerant. Compared to Meyer grass, Belaire grass has a coarser leaf texture and spreads more quickly. This variety of zoysia grass is highly susceptible to brown-patch disease.

Emerald

Emerald grass has a dark green foliage and fine leaf texture. More shade-tolerant than Meyer grass, Emerald grass is one of the most attractive and high maintenance varieties of zoysia. This grass variety lacks cold tolerance and is prone to excessive thatch buildup.

El Toro

El Toro grass is a newer variety of zoysia that was developed in California and has a similar appearance to Meyer grass. The fastest growing zoysia variety, El Toro is tolerant of mowing to a low height, and is not prone to thatch buildup.

Zenith

Zenith grass tolerates moderate shade, has dark green foliage and forms a medium density turfgrass. This zoysia variety is commonly planted by seed and should be sowed at a rate of 1 to 2 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.

List Of Types Of Grass

Few outdoor surfaces are as inviting as turfgrass. In order to enjoy turfgrass in your yard, it’s necessary to familiarize yourself with the various types of grass. Knowing if a certain turfgrass requires warm or cool weather and if it tolerates drought will enable you to choose the ideal lawn grass. How much foot traffic grass can take is another important consideration. Such transitional areas tend to be those states located down the middle of the country. This lawn grass has peak growth during cool weather. Some of the most common cool-season grasses include the following in this grass names list. This means it can stand up to foot traffic and is drought resistant. This grass is one of the easiest cool-season grasses to grow from seed. Fine fescue is widely used throughout northern and central U.S. states, including transition zones. This grass slows down growth in the hot summer months. Perennial ryegrass is widely used throughout the United States for permanent and temporary lawns. As their name suggests, warm-season grasses grow best in warm weather. Winter dormancy for warm-season grasses lasts three to five months. Bermudagrass also stands up to high heat and is tolerant of heavy foot traffic. It isn’t as cold tolerant as the other warm-season grasses. This makes it a good choice if you want to quickly seed a lawn. It can be invasive, but its invasiveness enables the grass to endure heavy use. Zoysia is a versatile lawn grass that tolerates high heat, drought and foot traffic. This grass features a broad, medium-green blade and tends to form a thick lawn. Though St. Augustine lawn grass prefers full sun, it has a high tolerance for shade. This grass grows by stolons that creep along the ground. It still grows wild on the western prairies of the United States. Buffalo grass tolerates high heat and drought well. Most buffalo grass varieties won't tolerate a lot of rain, however. Some kinds of grass, such as Bermuda grass, require regular feeding, while other kinds of grass can get by on less fertilizer. Mowing is another issue to consider.