Fertilizing Zoysia

Choose a slow release fertilizer.

Slow-release fertilizers are better than fast-acting varieties because they last longer, are less likely to burn the grass and less likely to pollute streams or water supplies. They also typically contain more nutrients, which means you’ll need to apply them less often.

How to fertilize Zoysia

Fertilizers can be applied to Zoysia several times during the growing season. When applying fertilizer, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application rates. You will want to apply one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. A grass spreader is best for distributing the fertilizer evenly across the entire lawn. Water your Zoysia after application and do not apply the fertilizer when it is hot and dry or when temperatures fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Open bag of fertilizer and pour into spreader

Open the bag of fertilizer and pour it into a spreader. If you don’t have a funnel, you can make one out of paper.
While doing this, be very careful not to spill any fertilizer on your skin or clothes. The chemicals in the fertilizer can cause irritation if they come in contact with your skin. Also be careful not to breathe in any of the dust from the fertilizer as it could cause respiratory problems.

Set spreader to proper setting

The setting you choose when you fertilize zoysia grass depends on the spreader and fertilizer that you use. The instructions on the bag of fertilizer should tell you what setting to use. Use a setting that is appropriate for the fertilizer. Higher settings release more fertilizer, lower settings release less. If your spreader does not have numbers on its dial, refer to your user manual for information about which holes in the bottom of the hopper correspond to each type of setting.

Apply fertilizer to grass

The amount of fertilizer you will need depends on how much grass you have. Multiply the square footage of the area you want to fertilize by .5 pounds and then divide the result by 100. For example, for 1,000 square feet of zoysia grass, it would be 500/100 = 5 pounds of fertilizer required.
Before applying fertilizer to your lawn, water it thoroughly so that all parts are moist. You can also apply a pre-emergence herbicide before using a high-nitrogen fertilizer since some weeds will grow with this type of fertilization. Apply a weed killer to prevent this from occurring if needed.

Water grass after applying fertilizer until it is absorbed

After applying the fertilizer, you must water it into the grass. If you do not water in the fertilizer, it may cause severe burning to your grass. By watering in the fertilizer you are helping to absorb it into your lawn as well as soak into the soil.

Choose a slow release fertilizer with a ratio of 18-12-8 or 16-4-8.

When it comes to choosing a fertilizer for your lawn, you have many options. Fast release fertilizers are great for quick green-up and fast growth, but they also tend to burn and can even kill grass if applied incorrectly. Slow release fertilizers are better for the life of the lawn because they release nutrients over time, minimizing stress on the plants during the application process. For this reason, we recommend a slow release fertilizer with an N:P:K ratio of 18-12-8 or 16-4-8.

The first number is Nitrogen, the second number is Phosphorous and the third number is Potassium.

The first number on the fertilizer bag is the percentage of Nitrogen. This nutrient is necessary for good growth of the lawn. The second number is the percentage of Phosphorous and this nutrient helps to grow healthy roots. The third number is Potassium, which helps the plant to be more resistant to disease and drought.

Therefore, 20-5-10 means that 20 percent of this fertilizer by weight is Nitrogen, 5 percent Phosphorous and 10 percent Potassium.

Zoysia grass will need nitrogen throughout its growing season in order to have a healthy green color and dense growth. If your zoysia has been established for several years and you are not seeing good growth with a green color, then applying more nitrogen may be needed….