Dr. Clint Waltz at UGA said the research is ongoing about the late green up problem on some Emerald Zoysia lawns that were installed within the last 6 or 7 years but it has been definitively determined that the late green up types are genetically different than the original Emerald Zoysia. This is a case of “walks like a duck, looks like a duck, but isn’t a duck!”.
UGA is in the process of determining where this genetically different Emerald is originating. At this time the best bet for ensuring that you don’t get the late green up Emerald is to wait to do any installation until late April or early May and use only Emerald that originates with the Patten Seed Company. Patten Seed is the only licensed Emerald grower in the state at this time. The reason this is important is that their Emerald zoysia has tested as genetically pure and true to the original NTEP certified Emerald zoysia.
If you already have a late green up type of Emerald, there is, unfortunately, nothing to remedy the problem short of replacing the sod. The late green up type of Emerald does not fully green up until mid to late summer.
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