Winter Park · Oviedo · Winter Springs · Maitland
Trinity Zoysia in Central Florida: A Very Fine, Shade-Tolerant Zoysia for High-End Lawns
What Trinity is, how much shade it really handles, how low it has to be cut, and whether it belongs on your lawn, from a turfgrass-certified owner who checks the site before recommending a cultivar.
★★★★★
Call (407) 687-3322
Trinity is quoted per property after a site visit. Ask us whether it fits your yard.
Trinity is a very fine-textured Zoysia matrella developed by Bladerunner Farms. UF/IFAS groups it with Cashmere, Diamond and Taccoa Green as extremely shade tolerant, best mowed around a quarter inch, and recommended for golf courses or very high-end landscapes. It has limited availability in Florida, so Yard Works quotes it per property after a site visit.
What Is Trinity Zoysia?
Trinity is a Zoysia matrella (manilagrass) cultivar from Bladerunner Farms, the Texas breeder that also released Zeon and Geo. It was first known as a golf turf: it has been planted on tees and short-course greens.
The University of Florida’s zoysiagrass guide places Trinity with Cashmere, Diamond and Taccoa Green, four cultivars it describes as very similar in appearance, very fine in texture and extremely shade tolerant. UF/IFAS adds that Trinity is a more recently available cultivar that “has exhibited good adaptability through Florida.”
In plain terms, Trinity is the finest-bladed end of the zoysia family, a lawn that reads more like a golf surface than a typical yard.
How Much Shade Can Trinity Zoysia Take?
More than most lawn grasses. But no turf grows in deep shade.
UF/IFAS calls the Trinity group extremely shade tolerant, the strongest shade language in its Florida zoysia guide. By comparison, it describes Zeon, Geo and Zorro as having good shade tolerance.
Shade tolerance is not the same as no sun. Under a dense live-oak canopy, every turfgrass eventually thins. What we look at on a site visit is how many hours of direct and filtered light the lawn actually gets, where the tree roots compete for water, and whether raising the canopy or converting the deepest spots to mulch beds is the better answer.
If your lawn is thinning under trees, start there: which grasses suit Zone 9b yards and how we match a cultivar to the light you actually have.
How Low Should Trinity Zoysia Be Mowed?
UF/IFAS reports the Trinity group performs at heights from putting-green level up to 0.5 inch, with an optimal cut of about 0.25 inch. That is far lower than most home lawns are cut.
At that height a rotary mower is the wrong tool. Trinity needs a reel mower with a sharp, adjusted bedknife and frequent cutting in the growing season so no more than one third of the blade comes off at once. A level surface matters too: a reel follows every bump, which is why top dressing and leveling go hand in hand with fine zoysia.
If you do not want a lawn that is reel-cut every few days in summer, a coarser zoysia or a St. Augustine will make you happier.
Trinity vs. Zeon vs. CitraZoy vs. Empire
How the four zoysias we talk with Central Florida homeowners about most compare, based on UF/IFAS descriptions and our mowing program.
| Trinity | Zeon | CitraZoy | Empire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Z. matrella | Z. matrella | Hybrid, released by UF in 2019 | Z. japonica |
| Texture (UF/IFAS) | Very fine | Fine | Medium-fine | Coarse |
| Shade (UF/IFAS) | Extremely shade tolerant | Good shade tolerance | Not rated for shade in the guide | More shade tolerant than Meyer |
| Typical cut | About 0.25–0.5 in (UF/IFAS) | About 0.75 in | About 1.0 in | About 1.75 to 2.5 in |
| Watch for | Limited availability; demanding low cut | Dollar spot and large patch | Leaf spot; large patch not observed (UF/IFAS) | Large patch |
| Installed price | Quoted on site | Quoted on site | $2.15 per sq ft | $2.15 per sq ft |
See every option in our zoysia cultivar library, including Geo and Palisades.
Is Trinity the Right Grass for Your Lawn?
Trinity rewards a specific kind of owner and property. Here is the honest version.
A strong fit when
You want the finest, most golf-like zoysia surface available.
Part of the lawn sits in filtered light where coarser zoysias have thinned.
You are committed to frequent reel mowing and a level surface.
Probably not when
You want a low-maintenance lawn on a weekly or biweekly rotary mow.
The shade is deep enough that no turf will hold. A bed is the better design.
You need sod quickly. Availability in Florida is limited.
Trinity is newer to Central Florida home lawns than CitraZoy or Empire. When it is the right call, we confirm availability, prepare the soil properly and plan the mowing program before a single pallet arrives. Read how we prepare soil for sod.
How Do You Care for a Trinity Lawn in Central Florida?
Zoysia rules from the University of Florida, applied to a very fine cultivar.
Fertilizer. UF/IFAS guidelines for zoysia in Central Florida are 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year, split into several applications, never more than 1 pound in a single application, with potassium at a rate equal to nitrogen. Wait until the lawn is fully green in spring.
Large patch. UF/IFAS warns that nitrogen in early spring and late fall significantly increases the risk of large patch disease, which is active when soil temperatures run about 65 to 75°F. Keep thatch low, avoid evening irrigation, and go light on soluble nitrogen through the cool months.
Water. Irrigate when leaves fold, wilt or turn blue-gray, putting down about half to three quarters of an inch so water reaches the root zone, then wait for the next sign of need.
Soil. Healthy lawns and landscapes do not exist without healthy living soil. On fine zoysia, thin passes of compost-and-sand top dressing keep the surface level for the reel and build organic matter in sandy Florida soil.
How Much Does Trinity Zoysia Cost to Install?
Trinity is quoted per property rather than at a flat rate. The price depends on availability at the time, the square footage, how much old turf and soil work the site needs, and irrigation adjustments for a very low-cut lawn.
Our published installed prices are $2.15 per square foot for CitraZoy and Empire zoysia, and $2.00 per square foot for ProVista, Floratam, Seville and Palmetto St. Augustine. Other cultivars, including Trinity, are quoted on site. Call (407) 687-3322 and we will walk the lawn with you.
What a Reel-Cut Fine Zoysia Lawn Looks Like
Zoysia lawns we maintain in Central Florida. These are CitraZoy, Empire and other zoysias, shown for the finish a fine zoysia program delivers.
Where Do We Install Zoysia?
Owner-operated from Oviedo, serving Seminole and Orange County. See all service areas.
Winter ParkOviedoWinter SpringsMaitlandLake MaryCasselberrySanfordOrlando
Sod installation in Winter Park and Oviedo.
Trinity Zoysia Questions, Answered
What is Trinity zoysia?
Trinity is a very fine-textured Zoysia matrella cultivar developed by Bladerunner Farms in Texas. UF/IFAS groups it with Cashmere, Diamond and Taccoa Green as extremely shade tolerant and recommends this group for golf courses or very high-end landscapes.
Is Trinity zoysia good for shade?
Yes. UF/IFAS describes the Trinity group as extremely shade tolerant, the strongest shade language in its Florida zoysia guide. No turfgrass survives deep, dense shade, so we check the actual light on your lawn before recommending it.
How short should Trinity zoysia be mowed?
UF/IFAS reports the Trinity group performs from putting-green height up to 0.5 inch, with an optimal cut of about 0.25 inch. That requires a reel mower and frequent mowing in the growing season so no more than one third of the blade is removed at once.
How much does Trinity zoysia cost in Central Florida?
Trinity is quoted per property after a site visit, because availability is limited and site prep varies. Our published installed prices are $2.15 per square foot for CitraZoy and Empire zoysia and $2.00 per square foot for ProVista, Floratam, Seville and Palmetto St. Augustine.
Is Trinity or Zeon better for a Central Florida lawn?
Both are Zoysia matrella from Bladerunner Farms. UF/IFAS rates Trinity as very fine and extremely shade tolerant, and Zeon as fine with good shade tolerance. Trinity wants a much lower cut, and UF/IFAS notes limited Florida availability for its group; in our program Zeon is cut at about three quarters of an inch.
When should you fertilize Trinity zoysia in Florida?
Follow UF/IFAS zoysia guidelines: 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year in Central Florida, no more than 1 pound per application, starting once the lawn is fully green. Avoid nitrogen in early spring and late fall, when it significantly raises large patch risk.
Can I get Trinity zoysia sod near Orlando?
Sometimes. UF/IFAS notes this group has limited availability in Florida. When Trinity is the right fit, we confirm supply before scheduling the install; if it is not available, we will tell you which zoysia comes closest for your light and maintenance goals.
Sources: Unruh, Schiavon, Lindsey, Kenworthy and Trenholm, Zoysiagrass for Florida Lawns (ENH11/LH011), UF/IFAS Extension. Trinity’s breeder per Bladerunner Farms project announcements. Written by Michael Geist, owner of Michael Geist’s Yard Works, University of Georgia certified in warm-season turfgrass management and UF/IFAS BMP certified.
Thinking About a Trinity Lawn?
Michael will walk the property, measure the light and the square footage, and tell you honestly whether Trinity or another zoysia is the better fit.
Call (407) 687-3322
