This experiment was hard to miss. In June we removed 20,000 square feet of turf from the downtown library at the corner of Ellis and Doyle. In its place we planted Zoysia sprigs. Zoysia is a heat and sun loving drought tolerant grass popular in the American Southwest and we thought it might do well in Kelowna’s semi-arid climate.

Immediately following the planting, we received unseasonable rains that washed much of the Zoysia sprigs away. Instead of the thick matt of drought tolerant grass we expected, the site became choked with weeds, which grew in abundance.

In an attempt to “green up” the site as quickly as possible, we seeded it with Eco Lawn, another drought tolerant grass species. But it was too late in the season for a full crop of grass to grow. Don’t despair! The lawn should be fully re-established – and drought tolerant – by spring, 2007.

So what happens with the Zoysia?
Right now there are two types of drought-tolerant grass growing on site: Eco-Lawn, and the surviving Zoysia. Eco-Lawn is green year round, while Zoysia goes brown in winter. The Zoysia also grows in “clumps” that are clearly distinguished from the “regular grass” look of Eco Lawn.

For aesthetic reasons, there should only be one type of grass at the site so in spring, 2007, we intend to remove the remaining Zoysia grass and replant it at the water reservoir in Crawford Estates. We still believe that Zoysia has great potential in Kelowna but, in hindsight, realize that we should have chosen a less public site for the initial experiment. The “holes” left behind at the library by the removal of the Zoysia will be replanted with Eco-Lawn seed.

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