Compadre Zoysia - AVAILABLE NOW

Still considering a zoysia lawn in 2018?  

There is certainly still time to sow your new lawn even in temperate areas of Australia.  But it means getting activity underway quite soon, to allow the 8-10 weeks normally required to develop a respectable turfed area.  It is not the ideal time to sow [lack of seed has been an issue], but is acceptable in the near term. 

And in areas from Sydney north and anywhere across northern Australia sowing is still possible even into April. There is always a chance of cooler nights from later in April, which can slow development of the turf, but hey.........getting it started means a jump start after the drier  and cooler weather, when........surprise surprise root development is still strong, to a pick up in above ground development once warmer and longer days make a difference to leaf growth from around August / September depending on location.

Seed is now readily available from us, and we can supply in small and larger amounts to match your area. If your soil temperature is above 20C........zoysia seed should germinate and grow, establishing what is probably the best turf type in much of Australia.

Send us an email for information and advice on all zoysia turf issues. Send email to:  office@abovecapricorn.com.au 

We have over 30 years professional involvement with zoysia seed and turf research and development and pioneered use of zoysia seed in Australia from the mid 1970s.  Our experience here and overseas on zoysia can help you!
 

Compadre zoysia - sown by seed in suburban Melbourne

Zoysia sown from seed in Townsville - despite water restrictions

  

Growing Zoysia from Seed in Melbourne

Australians generally are conditioned to having a green turf area in the winter months.  In many other parts of the world you may have a green lawn in the warmer months, but a dry and brown barren area in winter, or possibly the opposite with a green area in the cool winter and dry and brown in warmer summer weather.

It is often possible in most parts of Australia with careful choice of turf species as well as a suitable variety, to have green turf year round.  But there are compromises as often either winter or summer is a bit of a stress time.

There are exceptions with turf adapted to altitude in the tropics often able to handle the winter and summer satisfactorily in Australia, or at least in much of the country, for example - kikuyu grass used as a turf, as well as some varieties of couch eg wintergreen, with both coping with both cool and hot weather.

While zoysia is a great turf from spring through autumn, it may not be ideal where there are cold winters.  It usually turns a lovely straw colour.  It is possible to oversow a winter active grass such as rye or fescue to meet your needs if a green turf is absolutely needed. but leaving it natural is also okay.  It is a relatively short period of several months, and often the weather is not ideal for being outside anyway.

In large cities there are often areas with varying conditions - and cities do tend to be a little warmer than nearby areas outside of the urban conditions, so picking areas where zoysia may remain green or discolour is not always easy.

In late 2014 a modest area was sown to Compadre zoysia in suburban Melbourne.

It did wonderfully well, and by late summer it was thriving.  Come winter........it went a golden straw colour, and is now - springtime in 2015 - rapidly regreening and is expected to once again thrive in the warmer months providing a low maintenance but very functional turf area with low mowing requirements.

Compadre Zoysia turf in Melbourne - Sown late 2014 - photo from 2 March 2015

Sown late 2014, photo in mid October 2015 about 1 year from sowing after 1st winter 

This is exactly what the zoysia areas in China and Korea where the grass is naturalised, do each year -   green up in the warm months yet go dormant in winter.  It works very well.  Summer in both areas is very hot and humid, while winters are cold to very cold.

So remember that zoysia - think Compadre as more suitable, but Zenith is okay too - will be able to grow in Melbourne, but may not be green in winter.  Also remember that winter 2014 was cold, and not all winters are that cold.

[ photo credit - G Speers, Melbourne]