ae 
Zoysia is not an evergreen. It turns gray brown with the first severe freeze, 
usually a few weeks after Bermudagrass has lost its color. It recovers its green 
a few weeks before Bermudagrass’ recovers in the springe Some people object to 
the winter appearance of Zoysia, although this is usually the result of the un= 
kempt appearance of uncut Zoysia that has been allowed to enter the winter period 
unprepared. If the Zoysia is kept mowed and not allowed to grow long just be= 
fore freezing weather sets in, it does not offend the sense of the fitness of 
things of a great many of us who are rather particular about the appearance of 
lawns. But for those who insist upon the winter green in their lawns, Ryecrrass 
or Bluegrass can be seeded on top of the Zoysia for the winter. Zoysia when 
mature is not so hospitable to this sceding as is Bermudagrass, although a cutte 
ing just before the sceding is helpful. One should never expect to have so 
thick a winter lawn on top of Zoysia as upon Bermudagrass. And it should never 
be necessary to warm anyone against tearing up the Zoysia lawn to plant the Rye» 
prasse The winter grass does delay the’ spring recovery of the Zoysia. We do 
not discourase Winter grass over Zoysia, but for ourselves we prefer to take the 
wintcr period df rest for our lawns as a rest period from lawn care for ourselves. 
Finally, a word of advice regarding the grass to choose for a Southern homes 
If it is your home and you want an utterly carefree outdoor area, pave the area 
with concrete or asphalt. That will cost less than ten times the cost of a good 
lawn, and it should last thirty to fifty years. But if you want a lawn, choose 
the grass that will give you the gréatest satisfaction. If that consists in an 
immediate covering for a sunny area, choose Bermudagrass with winter Ryegrass, 
--the summer lawn to be remade every third or fourth year, and the winter lawn 
to be sown in September of every year. If Bermudagrass involves too mech work 
in mowing and remaking, and you don't care what your lawn looks like in winter, 
try Centipedesrasse If you have much shade and still don!t want trouble of 
establishing a Zoysia lawn, try St. Ausustinecrass. Carpetgrass misht be tried 
as a sort of desperate economy movee But if you want a lawn of which you can 
be proud at any season of the year or from any point of vicw, and one which you 
are willing to earn, and if you have the patience and humility required by 
Nature of all to whom her greatest rewards are given,--try Zoysiae 
"That, Which grows rapidly, dies quickly. 
That, which matures slowly, endures," 
REPRINT FROM JANUARY 1951 ISSUE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE COURTESY 
NORDAN'S GRASS FARM 
"Growers of Better Sod for Better Lawns" 
Abbeville, Alabama 
