Anyway, after a couple of years my small patch of shadow turf lawn has grown absolutely beautiful. The drought has had a little impact but not much. I have a much larger area that's planted with zoysia (doing moderately well in the shady spots, less so where it gets more sun), and other areas of dirt that are quite shaded.

Has anyone tried taking plugs from your own shadow turf and transplanting them elsewhere in your yard?

When's the best time of year to do it?

And how's the competition between shadow turf and Zoysia? I have an area that overlaps a bit,so far it seems both are strong in that zone with neither being dominant. I vastly prefer the shadow turf, and would love to see it take over.

Thanks

With that said plugs is not the way to go in your case, you want sprigs from the existing areas and would be a good spring time project for you next spring. Way to late right now to start this.

I wasn't planning to do it now, but didn't know when was best. I know ST is related to zoysia, but the texture is incredibly different and grows so thick compared to my zoysia. It's so soft and nice. I love it!

Depends on variety. Some like Diamond and Emerald are extremely soft and silky. Sounds like you might have Z-52 aka Meyers.

What do you mean by sprigs vs plugs?

Zoysia grass is very much like Bermuda as it reproduces by stolons (above ground) and rhizome (below ground) runners.

To make sprigs you simply rake the yard and pull up the stolon runners, and plant them. Rather than me telling you the process, just Google sprigging Bermuda or Zoysia.

To make plugs there are two ways:

1. Take sprigs and plant them in pots.
2. Cut sod, then chop them into 2 x 2 squares and plant them in pots.