Just some personal zoysia reflection

If you are like me you have a yard mixed with Zoysia and other non-Zoysia stuff. It occurred to me while reflecting on the "lawn care" sales folks that when I put down plant food that I only want to put it down on the Zoysia, otherwise it is like providing aid and comfort to the enemy. I certainly don't want to do that. I want the non-zoysia stuff to struggle off and get crowded out even if it does take sometime to do that, feeding it would certainly make it stronger and more of a challenge for the Zoysia to win the battle of the lawn. One of my neighbor feed the her entire yard and the zoysia in one area has actually gotten smaller over the years, the other zoysia areas are denser than mine, but I cannot determine any growth or spreading. I really have a challenge with the entire lawn-care industry, they feed so it grows more and you spend more time either cutting or more money paying someone else to cut your grass. What a nice form of planned obsolescence perpetual income for them and there lawn mowing compodres. Similar to the Plumbers Association supplying silver maples trees (which are sewage tile invasive trees) to the home builders as they are beginning to landscape the suburbs of the 50's, 60's and 70's. They planned ahead for the day when the building boom might slow down and they would need work cleaning out sewage drains and it was very successful.
As Zoysia Lovers we too can plan ahead and look forward to the day when all our grass grows out and not up and driving the lawn mowing industry to it's knees and thus keeping more of our money in our pockets where it belongs or at the very least spending less of our time cutting the grass or both saving money and spending less time cutting. Really sounds and is a win win situation for the Zoysia Lover in all of us.

Spread Some Grandulated Lime

This week I spread some granulated Lime on the areas where I have Zoysia growing. This will be an interesting adventure to see just how much of a difference this will make. We have had several days of rain this week in variating amounts, so it will have certainly made its way down into the soil. I am debating with myself as too when to make the next application. The price is right about $5.00 for 40#s and out of the 40# I still have at least &#s left. I needed to hand broadcast the lime as the power source ran out about half way through the project. So the amount of the application will not be scientific but a visual thing. Anyone else out there ever use Lime on their Zoysia? Drop me a line and let me know how it went.

Red Fox Visits Zoysia Grass in Beavercreek

Red Fox chooses Zoysia Grass in Beavercreek!
Having an infinite number of Lawns This Fox knows
just what he likes and camps out here sunning and
playing and scratching his back. If the Foxes Love
Zoysia -- You Will Too Join Us in the Crusade to Aide
Zoysia in the taking over Our Planet Sign up today
Plant some Today!

Our Neighbor Feeds the Enemy

Our neighbor pays out the ying yang to fertilize and feed the enemy Here are the results green weeds surrounding the tan Zoysia... You know we will win, it is just prolonging the inevitable.

Moving of the ZOYSIA Plugs

The Moving of the Plugs

The long anticipated moving of the zoysia plugs has begun here in Beavercreek, Ohio. I watch and study season to season to determine the best place to move last years massive growth to so that the coming season will bring even closer those not tan with those areas tan. Given this is Ohio ... amazoy is the zoysia that has the most staying power.
I moved the first dozen, this afternoon, they were each about the shovel head square, no need to rush I will pick up the shovel again on Tuesday and move a dozen more...and then again on Wednesday. (or about 36 plugs in all and who knows maybe one for a neighbor or two) Thursday we have rain on it's way so the end of the 'Moving of the Plugs' will conclude. Almost seems like the 12 Days of Christmas with all the excitement.

The Green will Return

It shall return now is the time to move those plugs in Ohio that is

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x184/SILAS1216/F07Hillsidetowrdhouse.jpg

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is a Day of Green
A Day of Celebration for Zoysia Green

A family of grasses native to many parts of the Orient, Zoysias were first introduced to the United States in the early 1900's.
In description, any of several strains of Zoysia sound like excellent all around lawn grasses. They grow slowly and close to the ground, thrive on a wide range of soils, have good shade tolerance, and produce such dense turf that weed invasion is resisted.
In past years Meyer and Emerald and some strains of Matrella have been the
most widely known and available Zoysias used in this country. They must be
propagated vegetatively and rooting and growth is slow. Solid sodding is
recommended, as is an underground irrigation system.
Zoysias grow slowly and require infrequent mowing, but they are so dense
that a good sharp mower with adequate power should be used and cutting
should be on a regular schedule. If "scalped" in mowing and subjected to other
unfavorable treatment, Zoysias are slow to recover.

Zenith Zoysia is the result of over 50 years of research searching for a Zoysia with good texture and turf quality that could be propagated from seed. Zenith is in the Japonica family as is Meyer and is similar to Meyer in texture and color. Planted shallow on a newly prepared seedbed and watered frequently. For Southern recommedations Zenith germinates readily producing a stand of seedlings in 10 to 14 days. Like all Zoysias, it grows and spreads slowly and therefore seeding rates of one to three pounds per thousand square feet are recommended.

Give Some People a Pen

In a March 8, 2008 published in the 'Huntsville Times' the author and this is a cut and paste quote, "A: There is nothing quite like this time of year when the large canvas that is our dormant lawn is dotted (or better yet splashed) with color from a host of winter weeds. While in a painting the splashes of color against a blank background are considered artistic, most people are not so happy when they see it in their lawns especially if they have Bermuda or Zoysia grass." I have a question for this author and that is simply: WHERE DOES THIS AUTHOR GET THIS LUDICROUS INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE LIKE OR DISLIKE ABOUT THEIR WINTER ZOYSIA? This author while having some knowledge about Bermuda grass being ugly, knows very little about Zoysia Lovers. Good Day to Him or Her I say GOOD DAY!

Northern Zenith Zoysia Grass

Until recently the most widely used "warm season grasses" were only available as sod. Now One Seed Company produces zoysia grasses that is available as sod and seed.

Most home buyers focus on the ‘house’ itself. The finished (sodded) look in the front of the house is all that may be required by lenders. Many builders seed the back and side yards with quick-germinating, cheap, temporary grasses. These grasses give a quick green cover, but this is only a temporary condition. Why waste your time and money start with the best and stick to it.

The Solution
Finish your back yard with the same turfgrass variety, care and attention that went into the front yard. A completed ‘Lifetime Backyard Lawn’ will do a number of things:

* Control Erosion - Prevent the back yard from washing into your front yard, the neighbor's yard and nearby creeks or streams.
* Eliminate or at least minimize muddy conditions and reduce mud being tracked into the house by kids and pets (what use is a back yard if you and your family cannot enjoy it for play, pets and cookouts)
* Give the landscape a finished look. – Bring the back yard landscape up to front yard standards.
* Completed lawns are cheaper to maintain.
* Simplifies lawn care because having the same grass in the front and back lawn allows for the implementation of a single lawn care maintenance program.

Now - having the same warm season grass in the front and back yard landscape
is both practical and most importantly economical!

Super-Sod is the first turfgrass sod production company to produce for its customers grasses that are available as both sod and seed. Seeding can be less expensive than sodding as part of the solution to a completed and affordable landscape.

Combinations of Super-Sod - Sod and Seed - available today include the following:

* Zenith® Zoysiagrass sod grass and Zenith® Zoysia grass seed

Zenith From Seed

A family of grasses native to many parts of the Orient, Zoysiagrasses were first introduced to the United States more than sixty years ago. Zoysia grasses are maintained from the gulf shores to Chicago.

This dense growing plant until recently was only available for propagation as sod or the ever present plug - often seen in the Sunday Parade magazine. With the development of Zenith, the same quality or better than the standards of the last 50 years can be planted from seed.

Zoysiagrasses are the best adapted selection for the transition zone of the US running along a line from Baltimore to Cincinnati to St. Louis and West. To Infinity and Beyond

And the Snow/Blizzard Covers the Zoysia

You may not be able to see under all this snow Our weather friends say 10-12 inches so far,(they anticipate 2-4" more) there is a healthy patch of Amozoy Zoysia Just Waiting for the a warm April week...

Lawn Experts Comith Part 2

The "Lawn Experts" Comith Well I was not at home dog gone it. They did leave a report and at first I was really disappointed, then the inevitable phone call from the salesman. I didn't think the report through as well as I should have but, take a moment and learn from it yourself... Let's dissect the report shall we... under Grass types Tall Fescue and Zoysia no surprises here, under Turf Density Thin and Bare Spots Shade Front and Back both marked for Light...Thatch 1"-2" Soil type Fair as apposed to Sandy Loam it just keeps getting better and better.our Mowing is Too Short and I have Dull Blades That we underwatering because we have Drought Stress He took time to indicate that we have Chickweed Not Clover and Dandelion but not Thistle. That we have Spotted Spurge That we have crabgrass and Grubs but no Moles/Voles or Moss. Here's the thing that we have than this report makes no mention of SNOW ... At least an inch of SNOW sitting over the yard and the Bare Spots well only if they were referring to where there wasn't any snow like our concrete driveway, and the Thatch they referred to in this report 1"-2" somehow they got confused and thought that meant SNOW. Our soil condition fair you have got to be kidding me they just guessed based on what the general community is like our yard was a fill in from a gravel pit dig two inches below the SNOW and you find SAND! My Mowing Too Short maybe they could determine that by kicking some of the snow away (a great bloy to distress the non-Zoysia stuff...remember not to aid the enemy) Drought Stress give me a break, you want Drought Stress go to the Carolina's or Georgia. The Clover mixed in with the Zoysia is embarrassing never a mention probable too much SNOW to see it! Dandelions under snow in their dreams! Crabgrass a guess at best Grubs in our neighborhood if you don't have MOLES you don't have grubs period. One thing about a yard inspection is that when there is snow on the ground you leave footprints as to where you have or in this case haven't been. There were footprints cutting the corner of the yard about twelve steps to get to the driveway where they actually stepped in the yard. They did NOTHING oh I shouldn't say NOTHING ... LYING REALLY IS NOT THE SAME AS NOTHING.
Next week the phone conversation...

How to deal with the "lawn expert" calls i.e. sales people

How to deal with the "lawn expert" calls i.e. sales people

I have just started to enjoy these calls, for the longest time our number was unpublished and unlisted due basically to an industry where calls at home were extremely unproductive and basically an invasion of my family time since I was working for an employer that didn't allow paper to leave the office, home calls were simply a waste of time. Here is how the call goes...
Hello Mister Keeeger?
Well that is almost close (you got the Mister right)...
Asking for the correct pronunciation -Pronunciation provided
We would like to provide you a free lawn care evaluation We would come out and provide you this information and just leave at or on your front door without any obligation.
OK
I just need to confirm some information....what color is your house?
Then they go into a little clarification of what they hope will be a selling point
"Mister Keeeger what is your biggest concern with your lawn? " {and you noticed it correctly the pronunciation was the same when they started the call} So now I am mildly annoyed so I counter attack...with my own clarification business it goes like this...
"What do you mean concern?"
"Do you like have problems with weeds? or insects or grubs? (last time I checked a grub was an insect but I let this slide)
"What would you change or improve about your lawn if you could?"
"I wish the whole yard was brown now"
"Did you say brown?"
"Yes brown"
{So actually I meant a light yellow brown...as I am writing this in January in Ohio we are in the dormant phase}
OK Mister Keeeeger, they will be out to leave your free estimate soon here, if you have any question you can call our 800 number ...-...-.... or contact your local Sxxxxt'x dealer"
"OK good bye"
I loved the I want more brown grass part it just confused the heck out of this sales type. I really can't wait for the estimator sales person to visit later this month... I have a plan just waiting for them... next week and depending on their arrival.


"Boy you do have quite a bit of tan grass" "What kind of grass is that?"
"Sure do would you like to see pictures"
I just hope that there isn't snow on the ground hiding it all if there is I think I will hide and pretend that I'm not at home.

My Concerns over the Articles Running in

My concerns over the Article running on the right column is that they are written by a multitude of individuals that are paid to write what the general public wants to read. Not to be snobbish just that often time the general public will accept anything that comes to them in the media and sometime they just are not very discerning.

Zoysia Lovers: Friday's are a Lose Format Day in Zoysia Land USA

Zoysia Lovers: Friday's are a Lose Format Day in Zoysia Land USA

Zoysia Lovers: Friday's are a Lose Format Day in Zoysia Land USA

Zoysia Lovers: Friday's are a Lose Format Day in Zoysia Land USA

Wealth of Zoysia News Coming

Let me start to organize this information in a manner that is the easiest manner to our readers.It appears that there is a major difference in the way northern growers handle-maintain -propagate in contrast to the way southern growers handle-maintain-propagate and even a difference to western growers and growers from around the planet.
{Remember our goal is to take over the planet.}
The Advice and Direction that is applicable in the North would or could be disadvantageous in the South or West.
I think we all understand that but until now we have had to scour the resources to get to the best advice for our region.

Let us start this journey together!

_______________________________________________________

NEXT 5 WAYS FOR ZOYSIA TO TAKE OVER THE PLANET

Here we go the other 5 Ways to Take Over the Planet with Zoysia

1. Go to your local garden center and mix in some zoysia seed with the other seeds labeled grass
2. Only fertilize the portion of your yard that is covered with Zoysia use weed killer like weed-b-gone on the other grasses
3. After natural disasters like flooding, mudslides, wildfires, get out there with your Zoysia seed bags and plugs
4. Join our petition to convert the Commonwealth of Kentucky from the bluegrass state to Kentucky-"The Perfect Grass State"
5. Join our membership page to become a part of the conspiracy to cover the globe with Zoysia
   

If you have other suggestions please share them on the blog
Have you ever considered joining our conspiracy to cover the globe with Zoysia?

Zoysia Hall of Famers

Zoysia Hall of Famers

As a collective family of Zoysia Lovers we need to recognize those that continue to dedicate themselves to the advancement of Zoysia. Congratulations, Aaron, all but it be somewhat belated, certainly not any less heart felt.

Horticulture Specialist Receives National Turfgrass Award

Aaron J. Patton, a University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture turfgrass scientist who helps golf course managers reduce use of water and fertilizer, has received a prestigious national award, the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation announced recently.

Patton was presented the 2007 Musser Award of Excellence, which carries a stipend of $20,000, at the Golf Industry Show in Anaheim, Calif.

Patton, 29, conducts research and extension programs as a turfgrass specialist in the UA System's statewide Division of Agriculture and teaches in the horticulture department of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the university.

The award is based on Patton's doctoral degree research at Purdue University, which focused on the development and use of zoysiagrass. His dissertation, "Characterizing the Growth and Cold Hardiness of Zoysia spp.," expanded existing understanding of the use of zoysiagrass for golf courses. His current work in Arkansas involves developing techniques that reduce the need for inputs, such as water and plant nutrients, without compromising turf quality.

"Aaron has demonstrated a sincere commitment to conducting cutting-edge research while also supporting professionals in his area and educating our next generation of golf course superintendents. That's the same spirit that Professor Musser exemplified for decades at Penn State," said Frank Dobie, president of the Musser Foundation Board.

The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation is dedicated to fostering turfgrass management as a learned profession. Named in memory of turfgrass scientist H. Burton Musser, the foundation seeks to advance the profession of turfgrass management.

March Madness is Upon US

Friday's are a Lose Format Day in Zoysia Land USA

At least one day a week I am going to let the rise and fall of the Zoysia manifesto take a break, the Zoysia will not actually take a break obviously.
Officially Spring begins in about 20 days, what a thrill the daily snow fall turns into semi-daily then a few weeks later it is a weekly ice event. And then finally, just like it started back at the end of growing season the Zoysia Resting season will covert to the Zoysia Growing Season. I am working on a new calendar and looking for suggestions so make sure you either make suggestions now or watch for the surveys

Zoysia Manifesto

Zoysia Lovers Creed

Promise Yourself to Be So Strong That No weeds can Grow Amongst Your Zoysia Yard

To Talk Health, Happiness, and the Blessings of Zoysia to Everyone You Meet

To Wear a Cheerful Continence at All Times and Give Every Living Person You Meet
a Plug of Your Emerald Zoysia Grass

To Cheerfully Mix Zoysia seed into any non-Zoysia seed you may come across

My Favorite 1 of 5 Plug Tricks

When you live in a plug only part of the country, like Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland ... you live in the plug only, due to limited sunlight we have a limited growing season. Distributing plugs around your yard can become expensive and given the size of you yard those plug can easily get lost or loss a battle with your lawn mower.
1. Here is what I have done, take a large plug, shovel circle size of your current Zoysia, move this large plug to it's new home then roto-till the current spot where you don't have Zoysia growing, then plant winter wheat where you just removed the large plug from, winter wheat will grow during the down season for Zoysia and into the next growing season, summer then it will die off with mowing. It will also keep the weeds away,and more importantly wouldn't compete with next years Zoysia growth. This works in OH

History and Varieties of ZOYSIA Grasses Part 1

History and Varieties of Zoysia Grasses

History

Zoysia is a genus of eight species of creeping grasses native to southeastern and eastern Asia (north to China and Japan) and Australasia. These species, commonly called Zoysia or Zoysiagrass or even Zoysialovers.com , are found in coastal areas or grasslands. The genus is named after the Austrian botanist Karl von Zois. Here is the biological breakdown from Kingdom to Genus

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Liliopsida
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Zoysia Wild.

This genus was first introduced to the United Sates in the early 1900's .

Those eight species were:

1. Zoysia japonica

2. Zoysia macrantha

3. Zoysia macrostachya

4. Zoysia Natrella (syn. Z. tenuifolia)

5. Zoysia minima

6. Zoysia pauciflora

7. Zoysia pungens

8. Zoysia seslerioides

9. Zoysia sinica

The 2002 National Zoysiagrass test has 20 entries that they are evaluating and I have seen reports of at least one that has been in use for at least 10 years and is not included in this testing. (That being BK-7) Having 20 entries does not mean that you can choose amongst the 20 for your yard or greens, just currently 8 of these listed are available for commercial use. The really great news for Zoysialovers.com is that these fine growers and suppliers are working diligently to bring all of us the very best and most profitable Zoysia to market.

Those 8 varieties, that are commercially available are: Meyer, Emerald, Himeno, Zenith, Compadre (Companion), GN-Z, Zorro, and Chinese.

I regret to inform you that this "National Test" lacks the Great State of Ohio and Indiana that would make the people in some states like Ohio and Indiana benefit from the fullness of all their massive research.

Dealing With Mixture of Zoysia and other stuff

If you are like me you have a yard mixed with Zoysia and other non-Zoysia stuff. It occurred to me while reflecting on the "lawn care" sales folks that when I put down plant food that I only want to put it down on the Zoysia, otherwise it is like providing aid and comfort to the enemy. I certainly don't want to do that. I want the non-Zoysia stuff to struggle off and get crowded out even if it does take sometime to do that, feeding it would certainly make it stronger and more of a challenge for the Zoysia to win the battle of the lawn. One of my neighbor feed the her entire yard and the Zoysia in one area has actually gotten smaller over the years, the other Zoysia areas are denser than mine, but I cannot determine any growth or spreading. I really have a challenge with the entire lawn-care industry, they feed so it grows more and you spend more time either cutting or more money paying someone else to cut your grass. What a nice form of planned obsolescence perpetual income for them and there lawn mowing compodres. Similar to the Plumbers Association supplying silver maples trees (which are sewage tile invasive trees) to the home builders as they are beginning to landscape the suburbs of the 50's, 60's and 70's. They planned ahead for the day when the building boom might slow down and they would need work cleaning out sewage drains and it was very successful.
As Zoysia Lovers we too can plan ahead and look forward to the day when all our grass grows out and not up and driving the lawn mowing industry to it's knees and thus keeping more of our money in our pockets where it belongs or at the very least spending less of our time cutting the grass or both saving money and spending less time cutting. Really sounds and is a win win situation for the Zoysia Lover in all of us.

Celebrate If the Zoysia's Not Growing You Are Not Mowing

If Zoysia's not growing- Then You're not mowing.

Have you ever considered all the advantages of Zoysia grass Lite brown that dormant color that lets you know that the Zoysia growing season is over. What a mixed blessing, at that time it tells you just how much the Z has taken over the area then you start to realize that the Z has gone dormant and that is sad. One year I knew a frost was coming so I spread sheets out over the area to keep it warmer, the weather man had predicted that the frost was going to be heavy the weather was going to turn to Indian summer almost immediately. Which it did and I got a whole 3 days of extra growing season. Best laid plans of mice and men so they say. I had considered using smokers like they do for the fruit trees in FL and CA, I just could not justify the cost for an extra three days besides I may have had to mow an extra time.
Then when Zoysia is tan I am not mowing, lots of leaves to deal with but growing grass is not a concern. If it's not growing you're not mowing! When it is growing you're not mowing as much. One of my life's passion is to have my entire yard covered with Zoysia by the time I turn 55. Thereby, reducing the number of times the grass needs mowing down to once a month, in Ohio that would be once in late May late June late July early Sept late Oct that looks like five (5) mows to me so the going rate to cut half an acre in this area is about $35 a cut or $175 for 5 cuts now the guy next door with out Zoysia cuts twice in April, August, November and then four times in May, June, July, September, October, for 22 times at $35 or $770. Looks like I have an extra 595 greenbacks in my pocket.

10 Ways for Zoysia to take over the Planet

10 Ways for Zoysia to take over the Planet---
HERE ARE THE FIRST 5

1. Act like you are part of a road crew and plant plugs or spread Zoysia seed along the side of your local highways
2. Plant plugs or seed around permanent structures like fire hydrants or street signs
3. Plant some in you neighbors yard while they are away on vacation or sleeping
4. In the late summer cut the non-Zoysia grass very short giving the Zoysia a greater advantage in the lawn war
5. Look for places where they have recently seeded and covered with straw and add Zoysia seed into the straw