Question: I saw an ad in the Sunday paper for a grass called zoysia. How well will it do here?

Answer: Zoysias are attractive grasses that are intermediate in many respects (texture and shade tolerance, for two examples) to St. Augustine and bermuda. However, the Sunday supplement ads that have been running every spring for decades overstate its virtues. If you do decide you want to consider zoysia, buy a type that is recommended for your part of Texas, not some variety from the East Coast where those ads usually originate. Your local sod dealer will have types adapted to your area, but ask him to refer you to a yard where you can see it before you buy it. Varieties Palisades and Jamar have done well in Texas lawns.