Description

• Zoysia forms a dense, uniform turf with stiff grass blades. The texture varies from fine to coarse, depending on which variety is grown.
  Centipede is a coarse textured grass that forms a dense turf. It has short upright yellow-green grass blades.
  
  

Culture

• Zoysia grows best in full sun, but it will tolerate some shade. It is established by plugs, sprigs or sod. There is no seed available for zoysia.
  Centipede also grows best in full sun. It can tolerate less shade than zoysia. It is established by seeds, sprigs, plugs and sod.
  
  

Advantages

• Zoysia is cold and salt tolerant, as well as moderately shade tolerant. Its dense growth reduces the establishment of weeds.
  Centipede is shade tolerant, although not as tolerant as zoysia. It is drought tolerant and requires little to no fertilizer. It is not prone to thatch build-up.
  Since both grasses are slow growing, they require less mowing than other types of turf grasses.
  
  

Disadvantages

• Zoysia is a slow-growing turf grass that is slow to recover from damage or wear. It is prone to thatch build-up. Zoysia requires high levels of fertilizer at least three times a year, as well as regular irrigation.
  Centipede does not tolerate foot traffic and is not salt tolerant. It is susceptible to winter kill during periods of extremely low temperatures.
  
  

Diseases and Pests

• Zoysia is affected by large patch and rust diseases, while centipede is prone to brown patch. Both are susceptible to dollar spot.
  Billbugs are the primary pest problem on zoysia. Centipede is attacked by numerous pests, including ground pearls, mole crickets, spittlebugs, webworms and white grubs. Both are vulnerable to damage from nematodes.