Episode:#11 11/11/06
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane

When it comes to designing a garden, a lawn plays an important part. The trouble with lawns generally is they are considered high water users and high maintenance. That was until a new type of turf grass was launched in Australia and it is called the rather unusual name of Zoysia grass (Zoysia japonica ?SS500?).

It is a fine leaf grass that is incredibly drought tolerant with a water requirement about 60% that of normal home grass varieties. It is so tough and strong that it out competes invasive weeds easily and it has a beautiful emerald green colour that doesn?t fade in winter

That other problem of mowing regularly is that it is also less of a burden in maintaining the lawn when you use Empire. The interesting thing about it is it requires about a third of mowing a regular lawn needs. To put that in perspective during summer you should be mowing every second week with most grass varieties. With empire every 6 weeks will leave you with a beautiful lawn.

It doesn?t matter if you live in the tropics or the coldest south the grass is proven to perform in all climatic conditions. It also performs in all soil types so it doesn?t matter if you have heavy clay or deep gutless sand as this is one turf that adapts to all.

With the finer leaf grasses like couch a common maintenance issue is de-thatching and this is where the dead grass leaves build up leaving the lawn spongy to walk on and making dry pockets that reveal themselves as patches. You need a special mowing machine with vertical blades that cut into the old lawn to remove the dead material and bring the lawn back to some semblance of looking good. With grasses like couch this has to be done every two years and that means even more expense if you want perfect lawn

Another great benefit of this grass is because of its incredible strength it requires less spraying for pests and diseases than normal turf grass varieties. This means less chemicals, cost and hard yakka.

As we study grass varieties from around the world and see there potential in our climate we realize there are better alternatives than some of the old fashioned grasses we have used. Plant selection is making gardens more beautiful and easier to care for.

Lawns are no difference and it won?t be long before all Australian homes choose this grass with the funny name of Empire Zoysia as their first choice.

Empire is available from a range of growers and for more information on where it is stocked in your area visit www.empireturf.com.au

Or for your nearest grower call 1300 30 LAWN (5296).

Ozbreed Pty Ltd
P.O Box 1011, Richmond 2753
Ph: 02 4578 0866
Fax: 02 45780855
info@ozbreed.com.au
www.ozbreed.com.au