Welcome to the forum, @ericfrommo! You are definitely well into the transition zone so you may want to check in the Cool Season Lawns thread for input as well. I think zoysia would work just fine for you though. Zenith is going to be the only cultivar that can be established by seed. Zeon is a hybrid so you will have to either sod, plug, or sprig it. I'd look into Meyers as well since I know it is relatively cold hardy. Check to see which variety the golf courses have and what is available at the sod farms in your area. You can put down zoysia sod or plugs anytime of year but sprigging and seeding will have to wait until the weather warms up next spring. I'd recommend waiting until spring anyway since your KBG is probably coming into its prime right now going into fall.

 

Thank you for the reply and info! Where would I order the plugs at if i wanted zeon plugs. Is there a place online you recommend? I checked locally and looks like all are just KBG and Fescue. Regarding zenith, you are saying i can just put down seed? Would you recommend low cut the KBG in spring, maybe even aerate to put the holes in the yard and then throw down the zenith?

 

Do you have sewer service as well? If so, you can usually save a lot of money on water by having a dedicated irrigation meter installed. The per 1k gallons rate for water is higher on the irrigation meter but you do not pay the sewer charges which typically are 2/3 to 3/4 of your water bill.

 

have any of you switched your yards over to something like zoysia since it handles heat and drought way better and less water?

I’m also in transition zone & moved into our house with mainly bluegrass & a little Bermuda mixed in. I’ve slowly converted it to Bermuda the past 4 summers. It’s now easily 80% Bermuda & 20% bluegrass. The front lawn, I pulled plugs & runners from existing Bermuda & transplanted it to spread & take over the front. The back lawn, I kill off small sections each year & I plant sections of Yukon Bermuda. It’s great having a nice green lawn in the summer while most others get burnt up around me. And, I have no irrigation.

 

I’m also in the transition zone. Most of my lawn is kbg/tttf but I also have a couple small zoysia patches (one innovation and one zeon).

I have planted plugs of each and I would not recommend it unless you are fine not having a full lawn for at least a year. I’m dealing with partial shade so it may be different in full sun, but it has taken two seasons for my plugs to fully grow in at ~9” spacing. If I were converting my cool season turf, I would go with Bermuda if there is enough sun.

For me I have noticed that the zeon requires much less water. But I doubt you’re saving enough on water to overcome costs of sodding.