How To Maintain Zoysia Grass? The warm-season grass zoysiagrass spreads by rhizomes and stolons. The stems and leaves of this plant are robust and stiff. It merely has to be watered on occasion and can provide good turf from mid-May to mid-September. Although zoysiagrass is a wonderful choice for hot weather, it turns dormant as soon as the first frosts arrive in the fall and remains brown until the spring.
How To Maintain Zoysia Grass | Zoysia Grass Maintenance Guide
Fertilizing
For a healthy, attractive turf, established zoysiagrass requires less fertilizer than many other species.
A total of 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per season is sufficient. Excessive or late fertilizer treatments might result in fewer roots, more thatch, illnesses, and more top growth, which necessitates more mowing.
Before fertilizing, soil testing is essential for the greatest outcomes. A soil test will reveal serious nutrient deficits as well as the soil’s acidity or alkalinity (pH). It’s better to have a slightly acidic soil pH (6.0-6.5). If the pH is less than 6.0, lime should be used.
Mowing
From May through August, established zoysiagrass should be fertilized. Fertilization in the early spring (March/April) favors weeds and promotes early top growth before roots begin to sprout. The normal hardening process before winter may be hampered by late fertilization (September).
Use a lawn fertilizer with a nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P): potassium (K) ratio of 3:1:1 or 4:1:1 or 4:1:2 for normal maintenance when soil tests reveal no serious deficiencies. The ratio of N:P:K in a 16-4-8 fertiliser is 4:1:2.
Use a fertilizer with a ratio closer to 1:1:1 or 2:1:1 if a soil test indicates low phosphorus or potassium levels, or if basic fertility levels are unknown.
Watering
During the summer, zoysiagrass is a drought-tolerant lawn grass that requires less water than Kentucky bluegrass to stay green and active. Except during severe dry seasons, watering is rarely required.
Drought-tolerant lawns can be built through cultural practices such as adequate fertilization, mowing, and thatch control.
Follow these fundamental guidelines when watering.
Drink water first thing in the morning to lower the risk of disease.
Wet the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches with plenty of water.
Thatch
Degraded and partially decomposed roots, stems, stolons, and rhizomes make up thatch. Just above the soil surface, thatch shows as a distinct horizontal layer of brown spongy or feltlike material.
Because of its vast network of rhizomes and stolons, as well as coarse, stiff stem tissue, zoysiagrass is prone to thatch formation. Clippings returned to a zoysiagrass lawn when handled properly, contribute very little, if any, to the thatch layer.
When the thickness of the thatch on a lawn surpasses 1/2 inch, it should be dethatched. This can be done with a spring-tined motorized rake or a vertical mower.
If the thatch is thicker than one inch, don’t try to remove it all in a year. Instead, remove the thatch over a two- or three-year period. Intensive coring should be explored as well.
Controlling weeds
Weeds have a hard time competing with a well-managed zoysiagrass lawn. When the grass is asleep, though, winter annuals like chickweed and henbit can be a nuisance. Weeds will also infiltrate turf that has been damaged or weakened by insects, disease, or heavy dethatching.
The optimum time to control winter annual weeds is in the fall, rather than in the spring when they blossom and set seed.
Crabgrass and other grassy weeds are rarely a problem in established zoysiagrass lawns. While new laws are being established, especially on close-mowed or frequently irrigated turf, an early spring treatment of a crabgrass preventer may be required.
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Control of weeds
Weeds have a tough time competing with a well-managed zoysiagrass lawn. When the grass is dormant, though, winter annuals like chickweed and henbit can cause problems. Weeds will also infiltrate turf that has been damaged or weakened by insects, disease, or excessive dethatching.
Winter annual weeds are easier to control in the fall than in the spring when they blossom and seed.
In established zoysiagrass lawns, grassy weeds such as crabgrass are often not an issue. While new laws are established, or on closely mowed or regularly irrigated turf, an early spring application of a crabgrass preventer may be desirable.
How To Fertilize Zoysia Grass The Right Way
While a Zoysia lawn is attractive, it requires proper fertilization to be healthy and growing. Zoysia lawns require fertilization at specified periods of the year and with specific fertilizer kinds.
What Type of Fertilizer Does Zoysia Need?
Use up to four pounds of nitrogen-based fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of grass per year. A 15-0-15, 15-0-10, or 15-0-5 fertilizer combination will be suitable for zoysia grass.
A 15-0-15 fertilizer blend signifies that it contains 15% nitrogen, 0% phosphorus, and 15% potassium.
Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for zoysia. Potassium aids in the development of drought and stress resistance in the grass.
It’s worth noting that if the pH of the lawn’s soil needs to be changed, Zoysia grass may require additional nutrients.
Two of the most frequent soil additions used to remedy a pH imbalance are sulfur and lime. Soil pH testing is an important aspect of fertilizer preparation for the coming year. More information on soil nutrients can be found here.
Features of Zoysia Lawn | Zoysia Grass Pros Facts & Maintenance Tips
A map of the southern warm-season, middle transitional, and northern cool-season zones in the United States.
Zoysia is a warm-season perennial turfgrass that spreads via rhizomes and stolons. Stiff leaf blades distinguish this lush turf.
Zoysia is known for its high wear tolerance, drought endurance, and shade tolerance. It tolerates cold better than some other warm-season grasses, thus it can be used in transition zones.
The water and feeding requirements of Zoysia are minimal. Due to its dense growth structure, a zoysia grass lawn resists weeds effectively once completely established.
After the first harsh frost, Zoysia goes dormant and turns brown, but it resumes growth once soil temperatures reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Zoysia goes dormant earlier in the winter than other warm-season grasses, and it might stay brown for a longer period of time. Other zoysia features to be aware of include:
Sunlight Requirements on a Daily Basis: Adaptable to the bright sun to partial shade (six to eight hours of sunlight)
- The tolerance of the sun is excellent.
- Tolerance to Shade: Moderate
- Grass Color: Dark green during the growing season, tan/brown during the dormant season
- Medium Grass Texture
- Drought Tolerance: Excellent
- Disease Resistance: Excellent
- Tolerance to traffic is exceptional.
- USDA Planting Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (may not be adaptive to all regions within each climatic zone) – learn more about your USDA zone.
- Planting dates: Depending on your location, mid-to-late spring after the last frost or early fall are recommended.
- 14 to 21 days on average for germination
- Mowing Height ranges from 1 to 2-1/5 inches