Looks like wide open spaces. I would stick with a sodded Bermuda if I was you. Stuff grows fast and seems to be lower maintenance than zoysia. Especially since your yard is bigger than most.

If you did go with a Zoysia, I would go with Meyer/z-52. It seems to do very well in my full sun front yard.

That's my .02!

 

Seeding zoysia is nothing like a cool season. Needs dedicated watering and time.....I'd research, it's a process

Zoysia will look good in the summer ....no 'crop circles' of shame you will inevitability have with Bermuda

Bermuda will fill in faster and but will require more inputs over the life of the yard (for an acceptable look)

 

Just looked and the place I was going to source the zoysia sod (Meyer) also has Ironheart Bermuda. Not sure on how the price compares to the zoysia.

What are the crop circles of shame you're referring too?

The fast spread of Bermuda would certainly be a positive since I'm not going to be able to buy enough sod to cover all of the dirt.

 

Zoysia sod will cost more

Rotary cuts are circles....when a dip in the mower occurs, all the green (top 1/2 " in July) is removed ....looking like, what you see when flying over Kansas and Mizzou.....off color circles

 

@jaygrizzle @jayhawk Has tons of good info. I was saying go for the Bermuda for the factor of it spreading faster in full sun than Bermuda.

He's got Zeon Zoysia and I have Zorro. I chose my Zorro for the backyard for better shade tolerance. I have never heard of Ironheart.

You have to give a little. If you have the money go Zoysia, but if not Bermuda should work I think

 

So the zoysia sod is 50 cents a square foot and the Bermuda is 28 cents. So I can get almost double the amount of sod if I went Bermuda.

Hmm. Any distinct advantages to zoysia over Bermuda that I should know before potentially making a short sided decision?

I'm on a 5 acre lot and don't really have any neighbors too close (and they don't have perfect yards anyway) so I'm not too worried about the invasiveness of the Bermuda.

Only thing would be if there was a lot more cost involved annually in maintaining the Bermuda compared to zoysia.

Since I have so much bare dirt the quick spreading of the Bermuda should actually work in my benefit.

 

What's your plan for watering the sod? Is your lawn size 3k sq ft?

 

Watering is a big deal, good point. Sprigging - or seeding, all heavily reliant on consistent moisture. Sod supplier have sprigs?

 

The lawn size is probably about 2 acres. The part that is currently dirt is maybe half an acre?

I have a well, and was just going to buy two hoses with a timed sprinkler. I'll be working from home for at least the next month so I'll have time to be around the house to water it.

Not sure if they supply sprigs or just the sod. Would it be better to sprig?

 

As big an areas as that, what about hydroseeding and using Hydretain in conjunction?

 

I'd get the irrigation set up first before laying sod.

 

I would second what @ThomasPI recommended.

I didn't grow up with a sprinkler system, thought they were only for super rich homes. We just moved the sprinklers around.

After building and designing my own sprinkler system that $140 investment has saved me countless hours and also given me super accurate water zones

 

Bermuda sod. I think you can keep it watered, but you might consider doing it in "chunks". Say 2000 sq feet at a time, which is about four pallets. But that would certainly increase your delivery cost.

I wouldn't seed.

Sprigging is great, but you'll need more water

 

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately I think an irrigation system is out of question. Will 3 hoses be enough to keep alive just shy of 5,000 sq feet. I will be at home for at least the next month so I will be able to monitor and move hoses all day if necessary.

I've decided to spend $1,500. So after $150 or so for delivery at .28 per sq foot for the Bermuda that puts me at just over 4,800 sq feet of sod in total. I measured yesterday and the bare dirt surrounding the house is around a quarter acre not a half. So I'll have to deal with the other half of the yard at some point, but will just hit the important parts with sod this time around.