All About EMPIRE Zoysia Sod

EMPIRE Zoysia is a revolutionary medium-bladed, darkish inexperienced zoysiagrass. Typically sought out for its low upkeep, smooth texture and lovely aesthetic, EMPIRE is the right selection for southern dwelling lawns. EMPIRE options high-quality turfgrass traits that makes it splendid for dwelling lawns. These embrace its glorious put on tolerance, making it good for teenagers and pets to run round on, lowered mowing and chemical functions and its resistance to chinch bugs—an issue that quite a lot of St. Augustine lawns have. EMPIRE additionally survives throughout prolonged durations of drought, permitting the water provide to close off with out hazard of completely damaging the garden.

The Historical past of EMPIRE Zoysia

EMPIRE Zoysia began in Brazil with breeder Roberto Gurgel who was working with Ito Grass on the time. Gurgel was engaged on breeding a turfgrass selection that will current a wonderful texture, density and gradual progress habits. Gurgel observed a rough zoysia that was a pure cross breed. In different phrases, it was not crossed in a lab—it was crossed by nature. Gurgel picked it up and started rising it. He started to look at that it was a really powerful, illness resistant and put on tolerant selection that saved surpassing all the opposite varieties the group was engaged on. It simply had a really coarse look—which was not one thing the group was in search of on the time.

Tobey Wagner got here from Sod Options to have a look at the grasses Ito Grass was engaged on and noticed the variability Gurgel began rising. Wagner was immediately and after studying extra about it, he determined that it was the grass he was in search of.

Information About EMPIRE Zoysia

EMPIRE Zoysia is a superior performer amongst heat season grass that may be present in each residential and business landscapes all through the southern two-thirds of the US. EMPIRE thrives in demanding, tropical climates but additionally reveals glorious chilly hardiness. EMPIRE grows nicely in sand, sandy loam, clay or a lot. Anticipate EMPIRE to retain fall coloration longer than many different grasses that go dormant. EMIRE may also be among the many first to inexperienced up within the spring, permitting you to get extra inexperienced out of your garden. Though EMPIRE is a sturdy, versatile grass, it’s best to nonetheless contemplate your individual distinctive native rising situations earlier than buying and putting in it. Click on the infographic under to enlarge it.

EMPIRE Zoysia Traits and Traits

As beforehand said, EMPIRE is generally identified for its excellent put on tolerance, illness resistance, smooth texture and drought tolerance. Its put on tolerance and drought tolerance are largely resulting from EMPIRE’s powerful runners, rhizomes and deep roots that present glorious sod energy. This grass grows in all kinds of soil and local weather situations whereas performing nicely in sandy and clay sort soils all through the southern U.S.

EMPIRE has carried out nicely in subject and home-owner websites, and reveals average shade tolerance that’s typical of most zoysias. EMPIRE Turf is the primary zoysia to exhibit improved tolerance to brown patch as in comparison with Meyer Zoysia in side-by-side plantings. Moreover, EMPIRE is extremely tolerant of most herbicides making it simpler to manage weeds throughout manufacturing and for the tip person.

Lastly, EMPIRE is a blue-green turfgrass that has a wider blade than most different zoysias (barely broader than Meyer Zoysia).

EMPIRE Zoysia Institution

EMPIRE might be put in and established with using sod, plugs or stolons; nonetheless, sod might be essentially the most splendid choice for sod set up in your yard. EMPIRE grass plugs are additionally different good choices when a full sod set up challenge just isn’t sensible.

We suggest testing the Lawnifi® New Garden Starter Field if you’re at present putting in EMPIRE Zoysia because it offers your EMPIRE garden with the vitamins it wants throughout institution. For a full checklist of set up directions, go to our How you can Correctly Set up Sod web page.

EMPIRE Zoysia Upkeep

EMPIRE upkeep differs by every season of the 12 months, nonetheless, it ought to typically be mowed between 1–2 inches in top. You’ll mow much less within the fall and winter months, so depart your EMPIRE garden barely larger than regular presently. It’s going to encourage deeper root progress for winter. Do that by adjusting the mower top settings up one notch.

Your EMPIRE may also want about one inch of water per week together with rainfall. As a result of this grass performs so nicely within the shade, watch out to not overwater it. Shade and oversaturated soil creates splendid environments for illness outbreaks. Learn our weblog on tips on how to conduct an irrigation audit to maintain this from occurring.

EMPIRE Zoysia Fertilization

Fertilizing your established EMPIRE Zoysia garden is essential in order that your lawns will get the vitamins it wants. Sod College recommends Lawnifi’s Fertilizer Program with seasonal bins for spring, summer time and fall. Lawnifi additionally provides a granular formulation, Lawnifi Basis, for many who desire conventional fertilizers. You’ll be able to be taught extra about Lawnifi in our Why Use Lawnifi Fertilizer? article.

EMPIRE Zoysia Insect and Illness Management

EMPIRE, like most turfgrasses, is susceptible to white grub worms, so be sure you apply a broad-spectrum insecticide like Scotts GrubEx or Dylox 6.2 Granular Insecticide for those who discover insect injury. Zoysia grass on the whole will also be prone to bugs like searching billbugs, mole crickets and sod webworms. Fortuitously, EMPIRE is proof against chinch bugs, making it an awesome various to St. Augustine grass.

You probably have had a fungus or ailments in your EMPIRE prior to now, be ready to deal with your garden with a systemic fungicide to stop future outbreaks—particularly within the spring and fall as soil temperatures begin to regulate. Because of this, it is strongly recommended you apply a fungicide at a preventive charge to maintain illness from occurring equivalent to Heritage G Granular Fungicide. Learn product labels earlier than utility.

EMPIRE Zoysia Weed Management

As with most turfgrasses, it’s good to use a pre-emergent herbicide within the spring and fall to assist suppress weeds. Prompt pre-emergents embrace Prodiamine, and Dimension 2EW. Study extra about pre-emergents in our spring and fall weed management articles.

In case you are noticing weeds in your EMPIRE garden, begin by figuring out the weed you’re seeing and apply a post-emergent herbicide labeled to deal with that weed. Learn product labels earlier than utility. Try a few of our favourite herbicides for EMPIRE under.

For extra info on upkeep pointers or to learn extra about seasonal upkeep suggestions for spring, summer time or fall, check out our EMPIRE Zoysia Home-owner Upkeep Information.

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