All you need to know about zoysia grass

Zoysia grass is a warm-season turf known for its soft texture, moderate shade tolerance and low maintenance requirements.

Zoysia grass is a warm-season turf known for its soft texture, moderate shade tolerance and low maintenance requirements. It grows best in warm climates and does well in hot summer weather and mild winters. Zoysia requires less fertilizer and mowing than many other types of turfgrass.

Zoysia grass can be grown from seeds or sprigs (stolons or rhizomes) or plugs (small sections of sod). Because of its slow growth habit, you may choose to plant seedlings instead of seeds if you want to establish a lawn quickly.

Zoysia is a tough, adaptable grass that will thrive in most soil conditions; however, this grass type grows best on porous soils with good drainage. Also, zoysia tends to perform well in areas with low fertility levels because it’s more drought tolerant than other warm-season crops.

Zoysia grass isn’t picky about soil pH.

Zoysia grass isn’t picky about soil pH. Zoysia grass can grow in most soils except for very sandy soils. Zoysia is well-suited to a range of soils and doesn’t require amending, but it will struggle in very sandy soil. The most important thing when planting zoysia is that the ground has good drainage so the roots don’t rot. Soil testing will tell a lot about the soil you have and give you an idea of what amendments may be required.

Zoysia grass can survive winter with very little special care.

Zoysia grass can survive winter with very little special care. During fall, reduce the mowing height of zoysia grass to 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Do not fertilize zoysia grass during the winter, and do not water it unless there is a long period without rain or snowfall. Zoysia grass will go dormant during the coldest part of winter, but be careful not to over-fertilize your lawn in spring, as this may cause an excessive amount of growth. Keep in mind that some herbicides used on other types of grass cannot be applied to zoysia; this includes certain herbicides with the active ingredients Dicamba or Mecoprop (MCPP). Be sure you know what type of grass you have before making any applications to your lawn!

If your zoysia lawn is thin, core aerate it in the spring before fertilizer is applied.

If your zoysia lawn is thin, you can help it by core aerating in the spring before fertilizer is applied. Aeration allows oxygen and water to reach deeper into the soil and root zone, loosening compacted soils for better growth. Core aerating a zoysia lawn also helps break up thatch.

Aerate once or twice a year, either in late spring or fall on dry turf. (Avoid aerating if grass is wet.) Use a hand tool with metal tines such as a pitchfork or an automatic aerator available from tool rental companies. For best results, drag or roll the area after aerating to help fill holes with loose soil.

Aerate sandy soils only if they have a heavy thatch buildup; clay-type soils should be done once a year whether there are thatch problems or not.

The best time to plant zoysia grass from plugs is in late spring or early summer just before new growth begins.

The best time to plant zoysia grass from plugs is in late spring or early summer just before new growth begins. The plugs should be planted about every 1-2 feet and at a depth of 1/4 inch to 1 inch depending on the type you get.

Overseeding with annual ryegrass will prevent winter damage and erosion, but as soon as temperatures rise, the annual ryegrass dies off and the zoysia takes over.

If you did not overseed your zoysia, then it will start growing again in mid-March (in Zone 7) when soil temperatures reach 60 degrees. It may take several weeks for the grass to become green again. During this time, the grass will look brown until it starts growing again.

Mowing of zoysia should be done every 3-4 days during normal spring and summer growth periods using a reel mower set at its highest setting. For more mowing information see: Mow High

Watering during dormancy is not recommended as it can stimulate new growth that will be quickly damaged by frost or cold weather.

Watering during dormancy is not recommended as it can stimulate new growth that will be quickly damaged by frost or cold weather.

During the growing season, zoysia grass should be watered when the soil is dry or when the grass blades begin to wilt.

Zoysia grass is a great option if you live in a sunny area with some shade

Zoysia grass is best suited for sunny, warmer areas. It grows well in shaded areas too.
The best time to plant zoysia grass is during late spring or early summer when the soil temperature reaches 60°F (15°C) or higher.
Do not over water zoysia grass. Over watering will cause the lawn to be more susceptible to disease and weeds.
Do not mow zoysia grass too low, it will cause damage and allow weeds to become established in your lawn.
Do not water during dormancy times as this can weaken the plant and make it more susceptible to disease and insects.