taiwan grass vs. manila grass

[shanti]

I have heard so much about "carpet grass" - some say that Taiwan grass is better than Manila grass, and vice versa and some say that they both the same thing! and now I am even more confused.

Can someone, preferably with personal experience in these matters, give me the low down on this grass issue and whether it is difficult to take care of the carpet grass and anything else I need to know about it.

thanks a million, in advance

[kwchang]

My opinion of carpet grass is that they require a lot of personal and menial attention. Under our tropical conditions, almost anything grows and the successful ones are usually the ugly weeds. Carpet grass, to me, is like a fine cultured pedigree that has no defenses whatsoever against being colonized by weeds, especially at the early stages where the coverage by the carpet grass is insufficient to allow foreign grass seeds from dropping in their midsts and sprouting.

I have in my garden a variety of a broad leafed grass not much different to the hardy cow-grass. This is known as pearl grass. It does not grow long, gives a quick cover and the best thing is we had not mowed it ever since it was planted in 2003 and I believe it would never need mowing at all for eternity. Pearl grass will however grow taller under shade so it may not be so nice if you have a lot of trees in your garden.

[cpleong]

Hi Shanti,
Both types of grass are of the same family. But interestingly, they behave differently to sunlight.

Link for Manila Grass
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Poaceae/Zoysia_matrella.html
What I like about it :
Slow rate of growth - don't have to cut so many times.
When in full sunlight, they don't grow tall. (I plant this in my garden since 2006, and up till today, i've never mowed the lawn, as they remain as short as 2cm tall. Very nice to step on.
But in the shade, they can grow quite "tall".

If you have plants in your garden planted in the ground, do make sure that both types of grass does not "choke" the plant, as they compete for food and water. Therefore, it is important that you trim and leave at least a foot's space between these grasses and your plant for management. By "management", I mean, you can trim the grass as they creep into the defined space between your grass and plant.

Taiwan grass - lots of link from google.
Fast growing - pay more for gardener to trim.
Even in the sun, they can grow quite long, quite fast and creates a fluffy bundle on the ground. Sometimes, because of the "thick" and uneven bundles, you then need to mow the lawn to make your lawn look "even". (with Manila grass, this does not happen).


So, I'd say that depending on where you want to plant (sun or no sun spot), and whether you prefer thick grass or thin layer of grass; or even proximity to plants, or you plan to plant taiwan grass to semi-cover tiles-on-ground or railway sleepers, then you need to choose the right grass.

u can learn more about your grasses, if you go www.allaboutlawns.com.

Good luck.

[Rocky19]

go with cow grass or pearl grass as kw chang mentioned. The taiwan grass etc needs lots of maintenance and you will find lots of weeds and lalang growing in these type of fancy grass unlike cow grass.

[ngwk68]

i prefer cow grass...easy to maintain. Pearl grass will get some "burning spot" on the leaf if too much sunlight. :eek:

[La Vida Loca]

Even my cow grass has been invaded by weeds, what more the very cultured and refined Taiwan grass :D

[besitai2007]

The Taiwan Grass that members of this thread refer to is Zoysia matrella, a grass with underground rhizomes (underground stems) that tend to spread every where. Because of its speed of growth you would probably need to spend a lot of time trimming it. It has a tendency to hump up along edges of drains or borders of your garden and if you are not a deligent gardener, it will become unsightly. If you plant other border plants near the grass, like your Alternanthera or Ixora Sunkist the rhizomes will overwhelm your plants. It appears to be intolerant of shade and you may see thin growth underneath a thick shrub or tree that you grow or even in shaded areas of your house. People love these "carpet" grasses because their smaller and finer leaves produce an even and fine surface.

The broadleaf grass that kwchang mentions is probably Axonopus compressus, and is also called carpet grass. It is a hardy grass that is used to protect slopes by highway contractors. You recognize it by the slightly constricted portion on the upper third of the leaf and the inflorescence (tiny flowerslah) looks like your thumb, forefinger and middle finger held upright. This is an easy grass to grow but the spreading creeping stems need to be controlled. The grass also loves moist conditions. If you see it growing flush and green, it means that your ground is quite wet and probably loaded with a lot of nutrients for it (such as animal droppings or effluent runoff). Because of its coarse leaves it produces a coarse look on your lawn.

The term "carpet grass" is a general term that people use to refer to these grasses as they form a "carpet" over the ground. They all serve the same purpose to cover exposed soil surfaces. Choice of type depends on whether you want to hire a gardener to maintain your grass or not. In golf courses, some of these Zoysia species may be used but they have people to maintain them. The Axonopus will not be ideal as a putting surface as they are too coarse. "Cow grass" normally refers to another grass similar to the Axonopus but the broad leaves have no constiction along their length and the inflorescence consists of two branches like the two horns of a cow - hence "cow grass". This grows usually on very poor soil. Won't bother you with the scientific namelah.

[JaSLyn]

Hi Shanti,
Both types of grass are of the same family. But interestingly, they behave differently to sunlight.

Link for Manila Grass
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Poaceae/Zoysia_matrella.html
What I like about it :
Slow rate of growth - don't have to cut so many times.
When in full sunlight, they don't grow tall. (I plant this in my garden since 2006, and up till today, i've never mowed the lawn, as they remain as short as 2cm tall. Very nice to step on.
But in the shade, they can grow quite "tall".

If you have plants in your garden planted in the ground, do make sure that both types of grass does not "choke" the plant, as they compete for food and water. Therefore, it is important that you trim and leave at least a foot's space between these grasses and your plant for management. By "management", I mean, you can trim the grass as they creep into the defined space between your grass and plant.

Taiwan grass - lots of link from google.
Fast growing - pay more for gardener to trim.
Even in the sun, they can grow quite long, quite fast and creates a fluffy bundle on the ground. Sometimes, because of the "thick" and uneven bundles, you then need to mow the lawn to make your lawn look "even". (with Manila grass, this does not happen).


So, I'd say that depending on where you want to plant (sun or no sun spot), and whether you prefer thick grass or thin layer of grass; or even proximity to plants, or you plan to plant taiwan grass to semi-cover tiles-on-ground or railway sleepers, then you need to choose the right grass.

u can learn more about your grasses, if you go www.allaboutlawns.com.

Good luck.

Hi, I am specially register to ask you something~ hehe~

I am interested in the pretty of manila grass... However, in the market there are normally carpet grass, pearl grass or bermuda grass...
May I know where can I buy the seed or the plant of manila grass?