Zoysia – Not shade tolerant

Q: I am considering establishing a grass other than fescue, which has been a constant disappointment. I talked to the salesmen at a local nursery and they assure me that zoysia requires only two hours of sunlight.

A: I hate to argue with a nursery professional but I think two hours of sunlight is far too little. Four to six hours is much better. If fescue has failed, zoysia won’t do any better. The problem is that zoysia grows very slowly. Any holes in the lawn caused by physical damage or lack of sunshine will be slow to fill. The holes are excellent places for weeds to grow. Zoysia does very well in full sunshine. Although it tolerates a bit of shade, the results in your very shady landscape may not be what you expect.