Our Grass is a Cut Above the Rest
Winrock Grass Farm was first started on top of Arkansas' Petit Jean Mountain in 1955 by the late Winthrop Rockefeller (hence the name "Win-Rock") along with other individuals. Mr. Rockefeller had become interested in a turfgrass selection discovered in the far east which had superior characteristics for propagation in the "transition zone" of the United States: those mid-America areas which have both freezing cold winters and hot, dry summers. Amazingly, this new turfgrass to America could not be grown from seed. It had to be propagated by sprigs or plugs. In May of 1955, employees of Winrock Grass Farm began planting the only few sprigs and plugs available of this new United States Department of Agriculture turfgrass release.
It was named "MEYER Z-52 Zoysiagrass," after an agronomist who worked for the USDA, which selected it as "superior". It took years before Winrock Grass Farm even had a "yard full" of mature Zoysiagrass - and it was many more years before Winrock Grass Farm had enough supply of mature Meyer Z-52 Zoysiagrass to begin commercially selling the new grass. Because of its short supply, Meyer Z-52 Zoysiagrass was very expensive during the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's and many people started calling it "Rockefeller Grass" - only the rich could afford it! By the time of his death in 1973, Mr. Rockefeller's dream of propagating this new turfgrass throughout the United States in those areas where winters are too cold for most warm season grasses and summers are too hot and dry for most cool season grasses had only just begun.
In 1979 Winrock Grass Farm, Inc. was incorporated under new ownership and began expanding commercial production and sales. The beneficial characteristics of Meyer Z-52 Zoysiagrass were not only in demand by owners of home lawns but also commercial turfgrass managers and golf courses began experimenting with it as well. Along with its key winter cold and summer drought survival characteristics, professional turfgrass managers and those interested in protecting our environment discovered that Meyer Z-52 Zoysiagrass has very low maintenance requirements, i.e. it needs less water, less fertilizer, fewer herbicides and fewer mowings than virtually all other turf quality lawn grasses. Today, many of the country's newest and finest golf courses, commercial building sites, home lawns and public parks are being planted in Meyer Z-52 Zoysiagrass because designers and maintenance professionals realize the benefits of its lower maintenance needs. Amateur and professional golfers prefer its high quality playing surface and year-round turf quality.
Winrock Grass Farm, Inc. is today the leading producer and marketer of high quality Meyer Z-52 Zoysiagrass in the United States. Winrock Zoysia® is now known nationally as a brand name for high quality Meyer Z-52 Zoysiagrass grown to professional nursery standards. Much care and expense is required for us to grow Meyer Z-52 Zoysiagrass properly, and Winrock Grass Farm, Inc. has set for itself the highest growing standards in the industry.
For more information on our Zoysiagrasses, click on any link below!
History of Winrock Grass Farm
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