As water, fertilizer and mowing requirements become increasingly important factors in turfgrass selection, Lobo® Zoysiagrass is gaining attention as a lower-input option. In California, A-G Sod Farms has been expanding production and is seeing firsthand its potential for the western market.
A-G Sod Farms President Larry LeMay believes Lobo has a promising future in the state. LeMay also currently serves as president of Turfgrass Producers International, where he values connecting with and learning from other sod producers.
“I think it’s going to be a grass of the future in California,” LeMay said. “When you look at the water savings and the fertilization savings and the mowing requirements on it, it’s just for our market out in California.”
A-G Sod Farms’ first Lobo production was in 2024 and the farm expanded its acreage in 2025. As LeMay has gained experience with the variety, its color and finer leaf texture have also stood out. “I haven’t talked to anybody that has anything bad to say about Lobo,” he said.
A Fit for the Western Market
California’s ongoing water and fertilizer challenges are part of why LeMay sees an opportunity for Lobo and other zoysiagrasses in the West.
“If you can find a grass that will use less water, less fertilization inputs, less mowing inputs in a state that is asking for that ... that’s where the market should be headed,” LeMay said.
He believes Lobo has qualities that fit what the California market is looking for. “We should be excited about having zoysiagrasses out here,” he said.
See Lobo in California
Want to see Lobo firsthand? Sod Solutions is hosting a Lobo Zoysiagrass Field Day on Sept. 17 at A-G Sod Farms. Landscape professionals and others in the western turfgrass industry are invited to learn more about the variety and its potential for the region.
Hear from Lobo breeder Dr. Susana Milla-Lewis of NC State University and hear from the A-G Sod Farms team about their experience growing Lobo in California. Attendees will also tour Lobo production fields, connect with other industry professionals and enjoy a free lunch.
Lobo® Zoysiagrass offers a fine-bladed appearance for home lawns while providing a lower-input turfgrass option.
