El Toro grass is one of the most popular grass for home lawns, cricket grounds, and soccer stadiums.
But how much do you know about El Toro Zoysia seed facts?
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History of El Toro Zoysia
El Toro grass is native to South and East Asia, including Japan and China.
It was introduced to the US in 1986 by Dr. Victor Youngner from the University of California.
Planting Methods
El Toro Zoysia grass can be planted either by seeding or propagation.
For best results, planting should be done in late spring, a week or so after the final frost.
Soil Properties
El Toro is such an easy grass in terms of soil requirements.
Unlike most lawn grasses whose pH requirements is 6.6 to 7.0, a pH of 5.8 to 7.5 is fantastic for El Toro.
Appearance of El Toro Zoysia
This grass has a light green color, with a fantastic coarse texture. It has medium-sized blades.
What’s more, El Toro retains its color the longest during winter, and turns back to green faster than other varieties!
So, you’ll enjoy the view of a more attractive lawn longer than with any other grass.
In terms of density, El Toro grass has a thick growth pattern which makes it easier to withstand frequent foot traffic.
This is the reason you’ll find most football stadiums preferring El Toro Grass.
Growth Rate
According to the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, El Toro is the fastest growing Zoysian grass.
Whichever the planting method, the grass grows and spreads out faster, covering up bare spots quickly.
Mowing Frequency
A report by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources suggests that for the ultimate look, you should mow your El Toro lawn every 7-14 days.
When going away for a 3-weeks’ vacation, it’s a good idea to leave a robotic lawn mower doing its job, otherwise the lawn would be all bushy!
The recommended mowing height is ¾ inch but others choose to keep it 1-2 inches tall.
Thatching Rate
El Toro is a medium thatch producer in the full sun. Thatching is minimal in the shade.
The thatch is usually thick and spongy.
Luckily, you’ll only need to dethatch every 2-3 years.
If you’re in Arizona where there’s so much sun, dethatching every 2 years is fine.
Dethatching during springtime with a vertical mower set at ¼ or ½ inch is the perfect option.
You can always add fertilizer to speed up the recovery of your little haven.
Drought Resistance
In case the grass is not watered for long periods, it’s going to turn brown. Though, not dead.
When it rains next (or if you water it), the lush-green color slowly resumes.
Watering the grass only serves to retain its color.
Pest and Disease Resistance
Because of the dense growth pattern, insects and weeds find it difficult to penetrate El Toro lawns.
So, the grass needs less frequent insecticides/herbicides use (hey, save some dollars!).
El Toro also resists more diseases – especially patch and rust diseases – more than any other Zoysian grass.
Resilience to Extreme Conditions
El Toro grass is the most resilient variety.
It’ll even do well in wet and boggy sections!
Melody Lee, a gardening expert, mentions that El Toro can actually withstand salt spray.
Let me remind you that salt spraying is one of the organic methods of removing unwanted grass. With El Toro, that doesn’t work!
Photo by Christina.
