Media Contact: Stacie Zinn
Orlando, Florida (Friday, September 1, 2006): UltimateFlora™ Zoysia, a new environmentally friendly turfgrass developed by the University of Florida and marketed by Environmental Turf, has been selected for the home lawns of two nationally recognized showcase home projects. UltimateFlora Zoysia was selected for the lawn at the Birmingham Home & Garden Inspiration Home in Vestavia Hills, (a suburb of Birmingham), Alabama, and at the 2006 New Southern Home in St. Cloud, Florida, (a suburb of Orlando). In all, more than 30,000 people are expected to tour both homes during the time they are open to the public. Both homes opened for tours in August. Showcase homes are generally defined as unique projects that are designed and built to “showcase” the latest facets of home design, landscape and construction, using the highest quality materials available. The two-story, 4,000 square foot Birmingham Home & Garden Inspiration Home is a project of Birmingham Home & Garden magazine, the premiere home & garden magazine in the Birmingham area with an estimated readership of 67,500 people. The landscaping of the Birmingham Home & Garden Inspiration Home was designed and installed by Peter Falkner, a licensed horticulturist from Auburn University and co-owner of Falkner Gardens in Birmingham. Of UltimateFlora Zoysia, Falker said “it’s easy to maintain and good for kids because it’s so soft.” The two-story, 6,721 square foot 2006 New Southern Home, is the showcase home constructed as part of the 28th Annual Southeast Building Conference, a conference of some of the nation’s largest home builders doing business in 12 southern states. An article in the SEBC Show Daily, published by the Florida Home Builders Association, described UltimateFlora Zoysia as “a new and improved environmentally friendly turf grass from Environmental Turf, Inc., that requires less water and less fertilizer than St. Augustine grass and is resistant to the bothersome chinch bug.” Developed by turf breeders at the University of Florida, the grass delivers a lush green color, a medium texture and a soft feel underfoot. It has a much improved appearance over coarse-textured grasses such as St. Augustine. The benefits of this grass extend not just to its good looks but also to its environmentally friendly characteristics. UltimateFlora™ Zoysia was developed by the University as an environmentally friendly alternative to the more common varieties of St. Augustine grass often found in southern lawns. UltimateFlora™ Zoysia requires less water and less fertilizer. In addition, UltimateFlora™ Zoysia is resistant to the chinch bug insect, a common pest that attacks and destroys St. Augustine lawns. When compared to St. Augustine grass in University tests, UltimateFlora™ Zoysia ranks “better” for drought resistance and “better” for water use efficiency. It also has “better” shade tolerance, “better” wear tolerance and requires less water for irrigation than St. Augustine grass. University of Florida tests also compared UltimateFlora™ Zoysia to other existing Zoysiagrass lawn varieties. Those tests revealed that UltimateFlora™ Zoysia has better color, fewer seed heads and a finer, more desirable leaf texture than Meyer and Empire Zoysia varieties. UltimateFlora™ Zoysia is available through Environmental Turf Inc. and the company’s network of licensed sod producers. For more information on UltimateFlora™ Zoysia call (772) 460-5575, or visit www.environmentalturf.com. ###
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