Are you planning to get Zoysia grass for your lawn? Then two popular choices are- El Toro and Emerald. Each cultivar has its own traits. You should learn the differences to make an informed decision.
Development And Origin
El Toro, bred in California, is ideal for adaptability and a good growth rate. It adapts well to various climates. Choose it without hesitation if you are in the southeastern United States.
Since zoysiagrass has desirable “minimum maintenance” characteristics, a breeding program under the direction of the late Dr. Victor B. Youngner and implemented by Mr. Stanley Spaulding, was undertaken at the University of California, Riverside to improve characteristics which limited its usefulness. The breeding program included introduction of new germplasm from foreign sources, selection within inbred lines and hybridization between selected inbreds. “El Toro” zoysiagrass resulted from this breeding work.
https://turfgrass.ucr.edu/sites/default/files/2023-08/ctc38_12.pdf
Emerald was bred by mixing the cultivars Zoysia tenuifolia and Zoysia japonica. It has good cold tolerance and a fine texture. It was introduced by the USDA and Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station back in the 1950s.
Texture And Looks
El Toro features a medium leaf blade with a dark green hue during the growth stage. In the dormant phase, it turns warm brown. You get a dense turf with a coarse texture.
Emerald has a fine, soft texture with an enticing emerald green color. The dense growth resembles a carpet, adding to the aesthetic appeal.
Maintenance And Growth Needs
El Toro grows faster than most Zoysia varieties. It needs frequent mowing during the growing season. The thatch production is quite low.
Emerald grows slowly, and you can mow once a week or so. However, watch out for thatch accumulation as the growth is dense.
Sunlight And Shade Tolerance
El Toro grows well in medium shade and will grow well in partial sunlight.
Emerald needs a good amount of sunlight daily. It can tolerate little shading but needs plenty of sunlight.
Heat And Drought Resistance
El Toro is drought-tolerant and can sustain without enough water. While drought will make it turn brown, it recovers fast with irrigation.
Thanks to its deep root systems, Emerald exhibits good drought tolerance. It copes well with temperature fluctuations and irregular watering. However, extended drought may take a toll on it.
Wear Tolerance and Revival
El Toro has good resistance to wear, and the recovery rate is decent. Choose it for lawns with moderate foot traffic.
Emerald has excellent wear resistance thanks to its dense growth. The slower growth rate ensures slower damage recovery.
Pest Resistance
El Toro is known for great disease and pest resistance, so you need not use many chemical treatments.
Emerald resists diseases and pests well, but the thatch development can be an issue, more so when over-fertilized.
Climate And Soil Adaptability
Soil adaptability is a strength of El Toro, and it copes with acidic clay and partially sandy soils. It gels well with different climates.
Emerald needs well-drained soils and warm, humid environments to thrive. It grows well in places in the southeastern and southern United States.
Aesthetic Appeal
El Toro suits residential and commercial landscapes owing to its medium-textured, robust look.
Emerald grows into a lush green, fine-textured lawn, making it an aesthetic grass variant.
Summing It Up
Both Emerald and El Toro come with respective benefits. Choose El Toro to create a drought-tolerant, fast-establishing lawn with modest maintenance needs. Emerald is right if you need a lush, fine-textured lawn with full marks in the aesthetics department. However, be ready for regular care and maintenance when you choose it.
So, think of your overall lawn needs, maintenance capabilities, and aesthetic requirement before choosing between these two Zoysia varieties.
