Cape Fear Turf Farm offers several warm season grasses for a variety of commerical, residential and recreational uses. Please call us at (910) 669-2293 for a no-cost, no-obligation price quote and free consultation in selecting the right grass for your application. Samples of all our grass varieties are available for viewing at our office location.
JaMur Zoysiagrass - Now Available!
If there were ever a single turfgrass cultivar that every homeowner, landscape professional, and sod producer should be considering, JaMur Zoysiagrass is the one. In fact, JaMur is considered by many to be the most versatile of all of the warm-season turfgrass varieties.
This attractive and extremely functional zoysiagrass developed from selections collected by world-renowned USDA research geneticist Jack Murray is taking the landscape industry by storm. This is due to JaMur's minimal water usage and fertilization requirements, not to mention the fact that lawn maintenance just doesn't get much easier.
JaMur is similar in appearance to a dwarf variety of St. Augustine, without the insect problems associated with those varieties, while providing excellent shade tolerance capabilities. In addition, JaMur is considered a much-improved replacement for other zoysiagrass cultivars, including El Toro, Meyer, Palisades, Empire and Crown. Its attractive blue-green color is the ideal choice for high visibility and high traffic residential and commercial applications, as well as an excellent golf course rough and bunker face selection.
• Extraordinary drought tolerance • Low maintenance & fertility requirements • Extremely compact turf • Superior rate of spread • Attractive blue-green color
[click on image for a printable PDF copy of the chart]
JaMur Zoysia
St. Augustine
Bermuda
Bermuda grass is categorized as a warm season grass because it is actively growing when temperatures are warmer. Bermuda requires mowing every 4-5 days at a height of ½” to 1” to grow properly. Bermuda can be grown in light clay but will do best in sandy soil. There are many varieties of common and hybrid Bermudas available. As a rule the improved varieties of common Bermuda can be established from seed. Hybrids need to be plugged or sodded.
Bermuda has fair drought and disease tolerance with some varieties performing better than others. Bermuda requires direct sunlight most of the day. If Bermuda tries to grow in partial shade it tends to be very thin and not very attractive with increased weed pressure. If you have partial shade in the lawn, try to find an alternative to using Bermuda. The lawn will have a much better overall appearance. Bermuda will turn brown and go dormant following the first frost of the fall and turns green when temperature reaches 60 degrees Farinheidt. Many people prefer fescue in order to have a green lawn all year.
Contrary to belief, Bermuda can receive drought, disease, insect and winter damage like all turf types. If damage occurs and is not severe the turf will fill back in with proper care and time. If damage is severe, seed or sod will be needed to repair damage.
Establishing Bermuda from seed can take years unlike fescue that can be established from seed in a few months. Establishing Bermuda from seed requires that it be done in the late spring as there is no chance of frost and ground temperatures continue to rise.
Centipede
Centipede grass is categorized as a warm season grass because it actively grows when temperatures are warmer. Centipede requires less mowing than other turf types at 1½” - 2”. Centipede should be grown on sandy soil but not on the coast and should never be grown on clay soil. Success with Centipede in the Triangle is hit or miss. Areas south and east of the triangle will have more success with centipede. Centipede can tolerate light shade but will thrive in full sun. Seed, plugs or sod can establish centipede. Centipede is not the hardiest when it comes to drought tolerance and can receive disease damage.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine is a warm season turf commonly grown in the Gulf Coast and far south regions. Mowing height should be 2-3". The variety Raleigh St. Augustine can grow in the triangle eastward. However, it commonly receives winter damage. Using St. Augustine in the triangle should not be an option when better performing warm season turf is available.
Zoysia
Zoysia grass is categorized as a warm season grass because it too is actively growing when temperatures are warmer. Zoysia requires mowing regularly at ¾” to 1”. Some of the newer varierties of Zoysia are more drought tolerant and can be maintained at 1½” - 2”. Zoysia can grow in loam, light sand and light clay. As a rule, Zoysia is established with plugs or sod. There is seed available. However, it is not an established practice often used in the Transitional Zone. Certain varieties of Zoysia have fair drought and disease resistance. For best results Zoysia should be grown in full sun. Certain varieties of Zoysia can be used in partial shade with nice results. It is recommended to use Zoysia in full sun like Bermuda. In the Transitional Zone, Zoysia will turn a golden brown and go dormant, as does all warm season turf. Zoysia tends to have a nice golden color when dormant. Again, contrary to belief, Zoysia can receive drought, disease and winter damage. In fact, some varieties can receive leaf spot damage as easy as some varieties of fescue.
If Zoysia is damaged it can fill back in like Bermuda. However, if the damage is severe the lawn will need sod of the same variety.
For more information about the benefits of sod, visit the North Carolina Sod Producers Association website at http://www.ncsod.org/aboutsod.html.
Reprinted from the WPTF - Weekend Gardener Guide 2004. This should be used as a guideline only. There are many other factors to consider before selecting the proper type of turf for your lawn. For best results seek the guidance of a qualified agronomist.
