Compadre Zoysia - Choice For High Profile Area in Central Palmerston, NT

As part of the beautification of the central area of Palmerston, the Palmerston City Council has used Compadre zoysia, sown from seed, as a key component of the landscape plan. Seed sowing offered a much lower cost than using turf sod, although slower, yet allowed satisfactory development over about 16 - 20 weeks of an area that will be used for many years. The area links the public bus terminal and many of the current office buildings at the northern part of the central business area, including the Council offices, Goyder building and Post Office.

Both sides of the pedestrian pathway are sown, with trees along the road verge.

The site was prepared and sown in mid 2010, on a reasonably shallow laterite site that had modest topsoil applied.

Although germination and establishment were slower than expected, the cooler conditions of the mid dry season impacted on this with growth quickly improving from September. Slow establishment is common in the Dry season, with almost any turf grass.

The site suffered due to prior rural use of the area, and numerous plants of the pasture species of stylo also established. Several rounds of herbicide sprays to control these weeds, along with sedges that appeared in the very wet conditions of the 2010/ 2011 wet season, were needed to develop a satisfactory turf surface.

Importantly for the Council, it does seem that reduced mowing frequency [about half of normal frequency] is practically possible with Compadre zoysia, achieving a great appearance at reduced mowing cost.

Mowing costs are a major component of long term turf maintenance on commercial areas, and less frequent mowing can reduce overall costs of the area. The aesthetics are superb.........even if it was raining when the photos were taken in mid March 2011!

There have been some initial additional costs with weed control, but they are not huge and mowing less often will recover these costs very quickly.

The area has been established only about 8-9 months, and with the shorter dense turf cover, it does look impressive.

Zoysia Compadre Turf at Darwin Waterfront - Early 2011 Update

The Darwin Waterfront Project used Compadre zoysia as the turf grass of choice, and it was sown from seed in late 2009. Conditions after sowing were not ideal, in fact definitely difficult, with very heavy tropical strom rain and problems with soil movement that required significant intervention by the contractor. Despite the problems, the area was sown and the Compardre zoysia grew satisfactorily after some repair work following the storm damage. Now, about 16 months later the area is fantastic.
The sown turf has very few weeds, is lush and green, and well used. Mowing frequency has been reduced to a lower level, turf density is very high and the grass provides great lateral density such that it is impossible to see any ground.

A great turf area has been achieved primarily through mowing and allowing the Compadre zoysia to develop its thick carpet of turf.



Especially important, has been the excellent growth in shady areas where ground cover is really no different to open sunny locations. Compadre zoysia is recognised as an excellent shade tolerant grass. It is soft, non itchy and usually well patronised by those using the swimming lagoon and wave pool.

Right now, that is not too many...........the rain has been keeping patrons away, especially tourists who are usually very regular users of the area!


The photos are from early March 2011, after about 3 months of very heavy wet season rain this wet season. There has been no problem with erosion and the grass is ...........well, great

This is a high profile site and Compadre zoysia has shown it can be a very acceptable and desirable turf lawn in the region.

Try it at your site by contacting us at office@abovecapricorn.com.au .

Compadre Seeded Zoysia - Excellent Performance in Tough Tropical Conditions

Compadre zoysia was the recent choice by a Darwin landscape architecture firm for a tough assignment.........the surrounds to a large major roundabout in Darwin.

This area is at the entrance to the new Waterfront precinct, and will be a prominently noted feature as one drives into the area.
The earlier post showed the area after about 8 weeks. There had been issues about over-irrigation, and weeds were a significant issue which the contractor was unable to adequately manage. Our company provided asistance in managing and eliminating the weeds, and correcting the irrigation timing and volumes that have helped rescue the site.

The areas have also been mowed regularly, but probably not as low as desirable partly due to the type of larger mower used, and partly due to surface irregularities. A number of sections of the area were damaged by heavy vehicles overriding the curb and damaging the turf.

Over the past month as the weather warmed, and irrigaton has been reduced [ yes- reduced, now relying almost entirely on rainfall] the turf has responded vigorously.

The photos are at approximately 16 weeks after establishment, which was slow, as when established it was still cool at night. There has been little change in turf quality over the past 4 weeks, but the weeds are now very much reduced......regular mowing is very useful to beat the weeds.

It looks terrific! If Compadre can do as well as this in a difficult site, with poor subgrades and a shallow topsoil, it CAN do it for your site - home, oval, open space. And at a lower cost than sod.



REMEMBER - seed is currently in very short supply until mid 2009. A modest quantity is still available through Above Capricorn Technologies..........send us an e-mail for a price.

Compadre zoysia - the new name for zoysia, variety Companion

The holder of the PVR for Companion zoysia has changed the variety name for this outstanding seed sown zoysia line. The material will now be called cv Compadre.

Same stuff, new name........same great turf.

The variety has done very well in tropical Australia, and is also used in the SW and SE of the US as well in many other tropical areas - Asia and especially S America.

Just remember............Compadre...........your close friend, a great companion lawn on your property!

From www.seedquest.com

Patten Seed Company's hybrid zoysiagrass 'Companion' renamed 'Compadre'
Lakeland, GeorgiaJuly 21, 2006
What once was your “Companion” zoysiagrass lawn just became your “Compadre™” lawn. Patten Seed Company, owners of the brand, has announced that the improved hybrid zoysiagrass formerly known as “Companion,” will henceforth be known as Compadre in all marketing and product descriptions.

“Recent investigation by our trademark attorneys revealed that the name ‘Companion’ had been used in commerce prior to our use. That made it necessary for us to change the name,” explained Ben Copeland, president of Patten Seed Company. “We believe ‘Compadre’ keeps the same general meaning and reflects the intent the breeder of this selection. ‘Compadre’ is a variety that was intended to be paired with a cool season grass like tall fescue to create a year round green lawn”

Compadre is a two parent cross of Zoysia japonica selections made by the late Jack Murray at the USDA turfgrass station in Beltsville, MD. It is similar to Meyer zoysia (also a Zoysia japonica) in color, texture and density.

Seed Research of Oregon has been successfully marketing Companion zoysiagrass around the world on an exclusive basis since 2000. The company will continue to market Compadre and to build on the momentum Companion sales have enjoyed worldwide.

According to Copeland, Compadre is ideal for use on golf courses, residential and commercial landscapes, roadsides and other sites that require low maintenance. It will flourish from the northern transition zone of the US south and in similar climates around the world.

“Compadre is a rugged performer, making it one of the more environmentally friendly turf grasses because it requires fewer pesticide applications as well as less water and nutrition than cool season grasses grown in the same climates,” added Copeland.


Peter H