Zoysia Sod Variety

Empire Sod in Louisiana

Empire is the most-supplied Zoysia across Louisiana. Heat tolerant, humidity tolerant, holds up to family traffic. The standard pick for newer subdivisions from Hammond to Lafayette to Lake Charles.

  • Cut Fresh Per Order
  • Statewide Delivery
  • Contractor Pricing

What Is It?

Empire Sod Explained

Empire Zoysia is a Zoysia japonica cultivar discovered in Brazil and introduced commercially by Sod Solutions in 1996. It was bred for heat and humidity tolerance, which is exactly what Louisiana hands out 8 months a year.

Best fit: newer family subdivisions across south and central Louisiana where homeowners want a yard kids and dogs can use, with a finer blade than St. Augustine and better drought tolerance. Empire dominates the Hammond growth corridor, the Lafayette suburbs, the Northshore, and the Capital Region.

Where Empire does not fit: deep dense oak shade (Trinity LS or Geo handle that better), or heavy alkaline coastal clay where St. Augustine outperforms. Empire is the right pick for mixed-sun family yards on well-drained soil.

At a Glance

Empire Specs

Quick-reference card. Blade, mow height, sun, shade, drought, traffic, salt, pH, and USDA zone.

Blade & Mow Height

Blade: Medium blade, 3 to 5 mm
Mow: 1 to 2.5 inches

Sun & Shade

Sun: 6+ hours of direct sun
Shade: Moderate shade tolerance

Drought & Traffic

Drought: Excellent
Traffic: High, holds up to kids and dogs

USDA Zone

Zones 6-10

Salt Tolerance

Good

Soil pH

5.8 to 7.0

Louisiana Fit

Where Empire Fits Best in Louisiana

Empire is the dominant Zoysia from Hammond to Lafayette, the Northshore to the Capital Region. The well-drained sandy loam of Tangipahoa Parish (Louisiana sod country) supports it especially well, and most family-grade subdivisions across south and central Louisiana spec Empire by default. The Cajun heat and humidity that breaks lesser Zoysias is exactly the conditions Empire was bred for.

Common in: Newer subdivisions in Hammond, Ponchatoula, Slidell, Mandeville, Denham Springs, Walker, Watson, Prairieville, Gonzales, Dutchtown, South Lake Charles, Sulphur, Bayou Cane (Houma), Schriever side

The LSU AgCenter turfgrass guide backs the regional fit data above. Send us your zip and we will tell you straight whether Empire fits your specific yard.

Pricing

Empire Sod Pricing & Pallet Coverage

Pallet Coverage

A standard pallet covers approximately 450 square feet, cut as 16x24 inch slabs (typical, varies slightly by farm). Most yards in Louisiana run 1 to 4 pallets.

Half Pallets

Half pallets available for small repairs and patch jobs (approximately 225 square feet). Minimum order applies for delivery, not pickup.

Contractor Pricing

Contractor and builder pricing kicks in at five or more pallets per order. NET 30 terms for qualified accounts. Recurring delivery scheduling for ongoing jobs.

Care Schedule

How to Care for Empire Sod

  • Watering during establishment: Water twice a day for the first 10 days. Then daily for week 2. Established Empire needs about 0.75 inches per week. Drought tolerant once rooted, handles July-August stretches better than St. Augustine.
  • Mow height range: Maintain at 1 to 2.5 inches. Reel mowers give the best look but rotary is fine. Sharp blades, weekly mowing in peak growth.
  • Fertilizer schedule: 3 applications per year. Spring, early summer, late summer. Empire needs less fertilizer than St. Augustine because growth is slower and denser.
  • Pre-emergent timing: Apply in mid-February (south LA) or early March (north LA). Second application 8-10 weeks later.
Honest Comparison

Empire vs The Closest Alternatives

Two side-by-side reads so you can pick straight, not guess.

Empire vs. Palisades

Empire and Palisades are both Z. japonica with similar blade and mowing height. Palisades has slightly better salt tolerance for coastal LA. Empire has slightly better humidity tolerance and broader supply. Either works for newer family subdivisions across Louisiana.

View Palisades

Empire vs. Geo

Empire is the standard family-yard Zoysia. Geo (Z. matrella x japonica hybrid) is the premium upgrade with finer blade and better shade tolerance. Geo costs more per pallet. Pick Empire for the proven default. Pick Geo for premium installs that want the finer texture.

View Geo

Common Questions

Empire Sod FAQ

Empire is competitively priced because it is the highest-volume Zoysia across Louisiana farms. Typically costs more than Floratam St. Augustine but less than Geo or Zeon. Contractor pricing kicks in at five or more pallets. Call for current pricing.

Yes. Empire was bred for traffic tolerance and is the dominant Zoysia spec for family yards across Louisiana. Holds up better than St. Augustine in high-use areas. The dense growth recovers quickly from wear.

Empire tolerates moderate shade (4-6 hours of direct sun) but is not a deep-shade variety. For yards with less than 4 hours of sun under mature oaks, Geo Zoysia or Trinity LS Zoysia handle deep shade better. Or Palmetto St. Augustine.

Spring (March-May) and early fall (September-October) are the best windows for fastest rooting. Summer installs work but require more diligent watering. Avoid winter installs (December-February) because dormant Zoysia roots slowly and is vulnerable to cold damage.

Ready to Order Empire Sod?

Fresh Empire sod cut from our family of Louisiana sod farms and delivered direct to your driveway. Same-week delivery. Contractor pricing on volume.

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 6 PM · Statewide delivery · Contractor pricing on volume

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