In the process of converting my yard to zoysia.

wutamess · 11:06 PM

I'm sick of the high expensive water bills, weed killers & every 3 month fertilizing only to have the summer heat disregard all of my work and kill it anyways.

I bought $150 worth of Meyers/Z-52 sod from the Grass Pad in Lee's Summit $2.79/18"x24" slab. (50 pieces).

I researched this extensively and talked it over with my dad(He's against it) etc. There's pros & cons but the pros significantly outweight the cons so much, it's simply a no-brainer.

Pros:
Cuts down water bills (less watering. In fact, you can damage it by overwatering it).
Chokes out weeds.
Loves full sun (My yard is full sun).
Doesn't require as much fertilizing.
High traffic tolerance.
Very disease resistant.
Excellent drought tolerance.
Less mowing.
Grows by expanding rather than upright.

Cons:
Spreads to neighbors yard (already got their ok a couple of weeks ago).
Turns brown at first frost and doesn't get green until temps are consistently in 80's.
Slow growth (to repair itself).

If those are it, I figure... My yard goes dormant in the winter anyways & also dies (for the season) when it's hot and/or a drought. Only time I get to reap the benefits is for a couple spring months.

This way I know the brutal K.C. summer will finally be appreciated by my lawn. Also, I've known people that spray their yard green for the winter months during times of dormancy. (I wouldn't be oppossed to that option).

Back to the sod...
I started out using a sod plugger. Got bored with that really quick... Ended up hacking up 16-30 sections out of each piece of sod and just diggin up the soil and planting the pieces like the #5 on a die (singular for dice) within a sqaure foot.

Planted the pieces about 6" apart so it'll spread this fall and'll probably be fully meshed by next summer.

I started Friday night and probably will end up finishing tomorrow after work. Every inch of my body is sore as hell... I've been covered in mud & rained on, as well as other things. I couldn't have picked a better weekend all this rain has been a Godsend. Says we got about 8 inches in the last 2 days.

Wondering if any of you all have made the change or have any pointers or anything.

Pics of my yard at its finest to come.

wutamess · 08-27-2006, 10:40 PM

Hammock Parties · 08-27-2006, 10:42 PM

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SPchief · 08-27-2006, 10:44 PM

Why are you leaving spaces inbetween the sod pieces? As far as I can remember about Zoisia(sp?)
is that it grows together

08-27-2006, 10:45 PM

My old man did it when I was a kid. He had a patch of grass that took really well. I don't know what happened to the rest of it. Best of luck. I really hope it works for you.

|Zach| · 08-27-2006, 10:47 PM

**OnTheWarpath15** · 08-27-2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (Zach)

This is a hybrid. This is a cross, ah, of Bluegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Featherbed Bent, and Northern California Sensemilia. The amazing stuff about this is, that you can play 36 holes on it in the afternoon, take it home and just get stoned to the bejeezus-belt that night on this stuff. [/Spackler]

wutamess · 08-27-2006, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPchief

Why are you leaving spaces inbetween the sod pieces? As far as I can remember about Zoisia(sp?)
is that it grows together

Because I didn't want to sod the entire yard (more expensive)
I wanted to space it enough to where it'll grow together itself.

SPchief · 08-27-2006, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutamess

Because I didn't want to sod the entire yard (more expensive)
I wanted to space it enough to where it'll grow together itself.

Cool, was just wondering why. It should look good in the summertime next year. You just have to get used to not having green grass for a good portion of the year.

Remember to water alot the next few weeks.

patteeu · 08-27-2006, 11:27 PM

My dad did it when I was young. He didn't do it like you are doing though, he just planted a patch in the center of the backyard and waited for it to spread from there. Your way is more work, but it sounds like a good plan to get it to cover the lawn faster.

It took several years for his patch to spread throughout the yard, but after it did it made for a pretty nice, weed free area. It's not as soft as some grasses, but if you don't mind that, it seems like a good way to go.

blueballs · 08-27-2006, 11:29 PM

how you going to christen it with out you
and the wife getting caught by the neighbors?

wutamess · 08-27-2006, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueballs

how you going to christen it with out you and the wife getting caught by the neighbors?

Haven't figured that one out yet.

blueballs · 08-27-2006, 11:34 PM

too much work for sex
not to be involved
somehow

08-27-2006, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

It took several years for his patch to spread throughout the yard,

Which is the way I remember it. Plus I remember much trepedation and whining about it coupled with phone calls to whomever sold him the plugs and them sending several more boxes of comp plugs. I'm not saying you're likely to be disappointed, I'm just saying that you may wish to brace yourself.

wutamess · 08-27-2006, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Which is the way I remember it. Plus I remember much trepedation and whining about it coupled with phone calls to whomever sold him the plugs and them sending several more boxes of comp plugs. I'm not saying you're likely to be disappointed, I'm just saying that you may wish to brace yourself.

Well I have to keep it well watered for 6 weeks.

I really don't think I'll have a problem with it. These were big sheets of sod I had to cut them down to do what I'm trying to do. If not, I probably won't be calling them to replace it when a sheet only costs $3.

Now the water bill for the summer is going to go through the roof. Can we do a collective rain dance?

BTW: There's plugs & sprigs.
WTF is a sprig?

08-27-2006, 10:35 PM
wutamess MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lee's Summit Casino cash: $5231637	In the process of converting my yard to zoysia. I'm sick of the high expensive water bills, weed killers & every 3 month fertilizing only to have the summer heat disregard all of my work and kill it anyways. I bought $150 worth of Meyers/Z-52 sod from the Grass Pad in Lee's Summit $2.79/18"x24" slab. (50 pieces). I researched this extensively and talked it over with my dad(He's against it) etc. There's pros & cons but the pros significantly outweight the cons so much, it's simply a no-brainer. Pros: Cuts down water bills (less watering. In fact, you can damage it by overwatering it). Chokes out weeds. Loves full sun (My yard is full sun). Doesn't require as much fertilizing. High traffic tolerance. Very disease resistant. Excellent drought tolerance. Less mowing. Grows by expanding rather than upright. Cons: Spreads to neighbors yard (already got their ok a couple of weeks ago). Turns brown at first frost and doesn't get green until temps are consistently in 80's. Slow growth (to repair itself). If those are it, I figure... My yard goes dormant in the winter anyways & also dies (for the season) when it's hot and/or a drought. Only time I get to reap the benefits is for a couple spring months. This way I know the brutal K.C. summer will finally be appreciated by my lawn. Also, I've known people that spray their yard green for the winter months during times of dormancy. (I wouldn't be oppossed to that option). Back to the sod... I started out using a sod plugger. Got bored with that really quick... Ended up hacking up 16-30 sections out of each piece of sod and just diggin up the soil and planting the pieces like the #5 on a die (singular for dice) within a sqaure foot. Planted the pieces about 6" apart so it'll spread this fall and'll probably be fully meshed by next summer. I started Friday night and probably will end up finishing tomorrow after work. Every inch of my body is sore as hell... I've been covered in mud & rained on, as well as other things. I couldn't have picked a better weekend all this rain has been a Godsend. Says we got about 8 inches in the last 2 days. Wondering if any of you all have made the change or have any pointers or anything. Pics of my yard at its finest to come. Last edited by wutamess; 08-27-2006 at 11:06 PM..
Posts: 8,282

08-27-2006, 10:40 PM	#2
wutamess MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lee's Summit Casino cash: $5231637	Last edited by wutamess; 08-27-2006 at 10:52 PM..
Posts: 8,282

08-27-2006, 10:42 PM	#3
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4290478	Use imageshack to host. http://www.imageshack.us/ __________________ Chiefs game films
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08-27-2006, 10:44 PM	#4
SPchief In Search of a Life Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $1512905	Why are you leaving spaces inbetween the sod pieces? As far as I can remember about Zoisia(sp?) is that it grows together __________________ http://give.somo.org/site/TR/Plunge/...nal&fr_id=1244 ^^^^^^^^^^ Click here to help with a special cause. Please help me out
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08-27-2006, 10:47 PM	#6
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5166768
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08-27-2006, 10:45 PM	#5
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	My old man did it when I was a kid. He had a patch of grass that took really well. I don't know what happened to the rest of it. Best of luck. I really hope it works for you.
Posts: n/a

08-27-2006, 11:27 PM	#10
patteeu The 23rd Pillar Join Date: Sep 2002 Casino cash: $10019237	My dad did it when I was young. He didn't do it like you are doing though, he just planted a patch in the center of the backyard and waited for it to spread from there. Your way is more work, but it sounds like a good plan to get it to cover the lawn faster. It took several years for his patch to spread throughout the yard, but after it did it made for a pretty nice, weed free area. It's not as soft as some grasses, but if you don't mind that, it seems like a good way to go.
Posts: 110,871

08-27-2006, 11:29 PM	#11
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	how you going to christen it with out you and the wife getting caught by the neighbors?
Posts: 14,233

08-27-2006, 11:34 PM	#13
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	too much work for sex not to be involved somehow
Posts: 14,233