Any good Ags able to get their hands on some of this at a lower price range?

Zoysia
Palisades Zoysia
$198.00 $271.50
Palisades was released from Texas A&M and is fast becoming the choice for homeowners and architects who want non-traditional lawn choices.

OR

St. Augustine
Amerishade St. Augustine
$182.25 $256.50
Amerishade is a medium textured, semidwarf St. Augustine and exhibits the best shade tolerance.

I can't, but my in-law's neighbor redid his lawn with zoysia a few years ago, and coupled with his water well...damn it's beautiful. I feel like an old man every time I go over there and gawk over it.

I can't help you with lower price options, but I concur with the comment on Palisades Zoysia. I put it in my backyard 2 summers ago and I love it.

We recently had Palmetto St. Augustine Grass put in our backyard and it looks awesome. It also has great shade tolerance.

Contact Cowboy Trucking aka Cowboy topsoil- best Palisades in Houston

713-932-9825

2 quick questions about Palisades Zoysia:

- If redoing a St. Augustine grass yard, what kind of preparation work needs to be done, with regard to soil base, etc.?
- What is the optimal time of year to install it - and does it need a lot of water initially to help it set in?

Thanks!

How does the Zoysia compare to St. Augustine re: water consumption?

When I did mine a few years back, I took a weed eater to the entire thing to cut as much as I could. Then I hit it with roundup. After a few days I rented a tiller and tilled it up, then laid the sod. Looked fantastic.

It requires much less water than St. Augustine and is also much less disease prone.

Marauder Blue 6 said:

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How does the Zoysia compare to St. Augustine re: water consumption?

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Haven't watered yet this year and it looks great. About the only thing it doesn't seem to kill is stickers - we'll see.

My issue half yard gets over 4 1/2 hours of sun the other half is shaded.
Top pic get a lot of sun all day. Bottom pic is intermittent.

Landscape fabric, blackstar gravel, done.

94chem... can you explain? No grass?

Personally, I'd do synthetic turf way before filling my yard with black star gravel.

With all those shallow roots and no top soil, I don't think any grass is going to grow. I've planted grass in similar sections of our yard and it looks okay for one season, if that. If you till and add top soil to cover the roots, the trees might not like it so much.

Synthetic turf is the answer.

I can't afford Astro turf.

Plan has been bring in some kind of soil dirt 60/40 base, then grass....a shade tolerant grass. Bullrock the areas where water runs. Put in some drains/ maybe some downspouts drains too.

So after several landscape / grass 'experts' I have decided to trim up a lot of branches and trees to attempt at getting more sunlight onto the back yard for some grass. Probably will put Raleigh St Augustine and or Palmetto St Augustine.

After 10 or so estimates I have no idea on how to proceed really. I am trying to address some drainage issues too. I get a lot of water flow/drainage...but it builds up near my back fence and in a corner of my back yard that is shared by the neighbor who has 'dammed' up the fence so the dog will not dig under said fence; causes water to flood up to about mid shin of my leg.

Any ideas? I am trying to get quality work done at a fair price that I will not have to have redone in 2 + years.

AgDaddy ...are you in the Houston area?

These photos are after a lot of limbs were cut away.

You need to read what the Godfather of Gardening, Neil Sperry, says on your situation. Remember he is also an aggie who is a horticulture specialist with multiple degrees. His father taught horticulture at A&M. Attached are a few articles on your situation. Hope you find a solution.

https://neilsperry.com/2018/02/grass-wont-grow-shade/

https://www.calloways.com/plants-flowers-texas/choosing-groundcovers-for-shade/

Yes, we are in the Telge / West Road area.

Is that your neighbors house in the newer pic? No fence between yall?

I was going to say do some sort of planter boxes in the shady spots and grass in the open, but you would need to be very cognizant of what you put next to that house so you don't do damage to their foundation or something. Strange setup, but at least they didn't bulldoze and burn every tree, then plant baby toothpick trees in their place.

Yes, that is the neighbor's house (the brick with moldy siding above it). These are 'garden style' homes. Mine is the same way where to access the other side of my house I have to get permission from my neighbor....like I just did a couple of days ago to do some pest treatment.

I have spoke with my local Horticulture Extension Agent thanks to the information above that led me to get in contact with my local Aggie Expert....this will help lead me to the right track on fixing this back yard.

I have had 8 landscape companies give me bids ranging from $4500 - $8600 for grass installation and water drains (french drains and PVC gutter downspout drains..etc). I am dealing with about 1836-2200 sq ft in the shape of an 'L' around the house/deck.

I want what is done to be sound....I am tired of throwing money around and listening to these guys come over to my yard and just try and sell me something. Now it has been valuable because after these 8 guys it gave me a clearer idea to what is going on in my backyard.

Have you considered getting rid of the deck and either pouring a larger concrete slab or installing a paver patio? You would get a maintenance free patio, and eat up some of the square footage. Next, use the black star gravel around certain borders, like 6 feet out from the deck, and along the neighbor's wall. Add some mulch beds around the trees. Instead of grass, maybe add some shrubs that grow well in filtered light. At the end of this, maybe you could fill in what's left with pine straw mulch.

Anyway, I don't like your odds with grass.

Anybody know where I can get my hands on some St Augustine this weekend? The KR people above said they are underwater so won't have anything until next week.

Give Cowboy Trucking a call:

https://www.cowboytopsoil.com/

Wow.... King Ranch on FM242 took on too much water?

I am still in the phase of 'do I get enough sunlight to put new grass down'. I feel strongly about half the yard that receives a lot of sunlight for more than 4 hours / day. The back half the yard is intermittent sunlight.

I have spoke with my local aggie horticultre agent.....issues is we have received rain every day this week so hard to judge how much sun since limbs were cut down.