It is one of the most shade tolerant cultivars, and it can handle extremely short mowing heights. Lawns infested with grubs will slowly thin out and lose vigor, even though they are well-irrigated. Empire™ Zoysia’s nickname is EZ grass and is commonly referred to as the “easy grass”. Zoysia should get .5”-1” of water per week. Z. japonica, also known as Japanese lawngrass or Korean lawn grass, is the most cold-hardy (source) and shade-tolerant variety of zoysia. St. Augustine vs. Zoysia: Which One Is Right For Your Lawn? While Z. matrella is aggressive, and can choke out most weeds, it takes a few years for this turf to become established. Amazon has put together some great Home Holiday Guide Deals - save money and get your holiday shopping done! Bermuda is an aggressive, low-growing grass that is nearly impossible to remove because it spreads through rhizomes, stolons, and seed. Preventative insecticides will help keep grub populations under control, and most other pests are easy to identify and treat on an as-needed basis. Unlike corporate website companies, the authors on this website regularly use many of the tips and recommendations provided in their own garden and lawncare. The grass can be planted through sod, seed, or even springs. This helps to prevent compaction and improve water retention, which lowers your water and fertilizer bill. Zoysia grass seed refers to seeds from a type of grass popular in parts of Asia, though the name refers to the botanist, Karl von Zois. Irrigate weekly early in the morning, and allow the turf to dry out before you water again. Option 4: Let the sod company sprig your lawn. ProPlugger 5-IN-1 Lawn Tool and Garden Tool, Bulb Planter, Weeder, Sod Plugger, Annual Planter, Soil Test 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,522. Lazer Zoysia Grass produces narrower and shorter leaf blades as well as a shorter “dwarf” canopy compared to Diamond. If the thatch layer is over ½” thick, rent a power rake at a hardware store and follow the directions to dethatch your lawn. Quick-release fertilizers may result in a few weeks of sudden growth, but this only attracts pests and diseases without encouraging long-term results. If you can easily pull stolons and runners out of the ground, and they look dead and hollow, you have billbugs. While zoysia can tolerate a few grubs per square foot, an infestation can kill large patches of turf before you notice too much damage. Zoysia is an average grass that prefers average soil. To control an existing billbug population, spray an insecticide that targets the adult beetles just after sunset, when they are most active. It will only cause competition for resources, which will result in unnecessary seedling death. Zeon is a deep green, soft turf with vigorous growth. Fertilize after you have treated for chinch bugs to encourage zoysia to fill in any bare spots. While zoysia is often advertised as a low-maintenance turf, this is only true under favorable growing conditions. Asecond choice would be seeding tall fescue in March. Cavalier grows into a thick, lush, deep green carpet. Blades of grass in the center will easily pull off the crown. Cores will break down and return nutrients to the soil. Zoysia tenuifolia flower. This can help deter them from doing further damage. If you cannot control leaf spot by changing your maintenance practices, you may have to spray a fungicide. Try pruning the surrounding landscape to allow sunlight into the area. It is best adapted to the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions of North Carolina, but some of the more cold tolerant cultivars can be grown in the western part of the state as well. The 2 Key Factors Explained. Zoysia is able to handle shade better in hot, dry climates where fungus spores cannot spread easily. The only problem with summer dormancy is that it gives weeds and other grasses the opportunity to invade your sleeping turf. The most common pest issue with Meyer is white grubs (source). Zoysia prefers hot, dry summers, mild winters, and slightly acidic soils. Seed head. Mow consistently, and fertilize in the summer to encourage faster growth. Zoysia can tolerate most soils and climates as long as the winters are not too cold. If your seedlings are growing during the heat of summer, you may need to irrigate more often and for a longer period of time. These can be fixed by changing your irrigation and mowing schedule, and spraying fungicides when diseases get out of hand. Chinch bugs are attracted to drought-stressed and nutrient-deficient lawns. There are three main varieties of zoysia; Z. japonica and Z. matrella are turf varieties, while Z. tenuifolia is a groundcover or ornamental grass. If possible, use a reel mower (link to Amazon), and keep the lawn below 2” throughout the growing season. Diamond was formerly the finest-leaf producer available on the zoysia market. Although zoysia is a slow starter, once it is established, it can choke out most weeds, and quickly repair damage due to cold temperatures or traffic. Zoysia Grass Seed and Mulch thrives in heat and drought conditions. Zoysia is an aggressive grower, so most lawns can fully recover after a full growing season. Do not dethatch if your lawn is muddy. Dethatch, aerate, and topdress in the spring to build up a healthy soil that fights off infections and infestations. Learn more about establishing zoysia in clay soil. If you live in a dry climate, you will likely need to water once per week to prevent your lawn from going dormant. In addition to spreading seed, you can also plant zoysia grass plugs or sod. This means herbicide manufacturers can develop broad-spectrum weed killers that target broadleaf weeds but are harmless to your lawn. If you live in a humid climate, you may only need to irrigate a few times during the summer. Centipede grass prefers more humid growing conditions than zoysia, so it can thrive in climates where zoysia suffers. Belair is good for lawns in the transition zone and shady lawns in the deep south. Obtain a soil test (link to Amazon) each spring to test for other nutrients in your soil. This is the definition of a low-maintenance grass; it has few problems under normal growing conditions. Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Zoysia Grass Seed and Mulch, 5 lb. Learn more from our article Will Zoysia Choke Out Crabgrass? Zoysia is a dense grass, and under the right conditions, it can choke out most weeds and other grasses without too much chemical intervention. Lightly tamp sod into the soil and water immediately. Be sure to mark gas lines, water lines, and electrical lines with spray paint or flags. Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, and they feed on grass roots from July-September before they morph into adults. Plant plugs at the desired spacing across the lawn. Recommended Reading:Why Is My Zoysia Lawn Turning Brown? It can grow unevenly and in mounds. Fescue is a bunching grass while zoysia is a creeping grass, so zoysia is able to choke out fescue under most growing conditions. Before you choose the cultivar for your lawn, research the varieties and cultivars that do well in your area. Spring and fall damage is usually caused by adults, while summer damage is caused by larvae. The best way to prevent weed infestations is to follow a maintenance schedule that gives your lawn a healthy foundation with strong roots. Learn more about zoysia vs. centipede grass. Grows a tough, durable, low-maintenance lawn Will Zoysia Choke Out Fescue? Centipede grass does not tolerate drought, so one of the best deterrents for centipede grass is to allow your lawn to go dormant during the summer. Water 4-5 times per day, like you would with seeds, and keep watering until you see active growth. Dense, clay soil can hold on to large amounts of nitrogen due to the fact that water cannot drain freely into the subsoil. Zoysia is a warm-season grass that also thrives in most of the transition zone. Side By Side Comparison, Best Fertilizer For A Clay Soil Lawn: Why Ingredients Matter, Learn more about establishing zoysia in clay soil. Irrigate once per week in the morning, to allow leaf blades to dry out before cooler nighttime temperatures. Zoysia is found mostly in and from the middle part of the U.S. and east toward the Carolinas. Leaf-blade widths can be wide or narrow depending on the particular species. Grass seed, including Zoysia seed, is fragile and can be difficult to establish. Its dense mat of vegetation often separates players from the soil below. It is best to remove as much plant material as possible before moving on to step 3. Most bugs should be gone by the third application. This grass grows smartly during cold spring and fall months. This is obviously the most expensive option. You can let zoysia go without mowing for a few weeks at a time, allow it to go dormant during dry spells, and forego fertilizing and weed control. The closer you space plugs, the faster your lawn will fill in. In some climates, you may need to irrigate occasionally over the winter during extended dry periods. With sod, the soil doesn’t dry out like it would with seed, sprigs, or plugs, so you may only need to water 2-3 times per day, depending on the time of year. Follow the directions on the back of your seed bag to determine how much seed to plant. If your grass seed head looks like a grain head with little fuzzies on it, it could be the common bluegrass. Dig up and remove as much plant material as possible; Bermuda can regenerate from tiny root segments left in the soil. Turf Builder 5 lbs. However, if you mow every 10-14 days, you’re more likely to leave long grass clippings that don’t break down as quickly. The 2 Key Factors Explained. This will prevent stress from over and under watering. Continue to aerate and topdress in the spring to build healthy soil, but resist fertilizing unless your soil test shows low nitrogen levels. The plant tends to be a shiny, bright green with thin blades of grass that form a soft lawn. Zoysia is extremely dense and can provide a natural weed defense if maintained properly. Lawns with adequate sunlight, irrigation, and fertilization will grow enough to be mowed weekly, which removes the spores before they can do any damage. The grass and weeds will slowly die due to lack of sunlight, moisture, and airflow. You can use plugs to establish new lawns, or to fill in bare patches of an existing lawn. Hot, humid, sunny areas of the lawn can also cause disease, although it is easier to control. in Landscape Design/Organic Produce Production from the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. You will begin to notice billbug damage in early summer, when some patches of the lawn look like they never broke dormancy. Easily picked, but not easily spotted. Mow zoysia weekly to remove infected blades and to encourage deep root growth. See the amount of time it takes for germination to happen. Soils that are low in nitrogen are usually loose, sandy soils that can’t retain water. However, this will result in a sub-par lawn that can create and compound problems. Zoysia leaf blades grow off the stem at an 80 degree angle, whereas Bermuda grass emerges at … After the white flower head is gone, the rest of it blends with the the grass, making it challenging to spot it from afar. This blend is perfect for anywhere in the southern United States and is actually one of the most cold tolerant of all warm-season species. Amend with specific fertilizers as needed. If you back off too soon, weed seeds will germinate in the bare patches of soil. Empire is softer and more dense than Meyer, and it requires fewer fertilizer applications. Zoysia Grass Seeding Rates Ideal Seeding rates are 2 lbs. Zoysia will tolerate poor growing conditions. Cavalier has exceptionally long, fine leaves, which makes it one of the tallest zoysia cultivars. ft. 3.8 out of 5 stars 1,252. Do not remove cores after aerating. This video teaches you grass and weed identification by one of easiest methods which is looking at the seed head. However, severe infections should be treated to prevent melting out. These soils are usually a balance of different soil textures with a reasonable amount of organic matter. Fescue and zoysia don’t cross paths often, but when they do it’s not much of a fight. Zeon is considered to be one of the best overall zoysia cultivars, with its only real drawback being a slow establishing period and limited availability. Bag the clippings, and dispose of them in plastic bags. Lazer Zoysia Grass produces narrower and shorter leaf blades as well as a shorter “dwarf” canopy compared to Diamond. Spray broadleaf herbicides in the spring as seeds begin germinating, and continue to spray as weeds show up in your lawn. This will provide a healthy foundation for your turf that improves water retention, drainage, nutrient content, and overall health. The downside to Diamond is that it is one of the most high-maintenance turf grass options for a lawn. Once the plugs begin active growth, gradually back off on irrigation until the turf has filled in. Our Zoysia Grass Seed Blend contains 100% pure, premium zoysia seeds. I will show you photos of my lawn about four weeks after I seeded and then again ten weeks after seeding. It produces a singular seed head that is red-to-purple in color with small white flowers. For Superior, Low Maintenance Landscaping. See Does Lawn Aeration Really Work? During this period, Z. matrella cultivars are more high-maintenance. Dethatch in the spring after the first mowing. Lightly rake seeds into the top ¼” of soil. Watch the progress of Zenith Zoysia grass seed from the first day planted to day 51. Zeon has moderate shade and drought tolerance. This cultivar has a sophisticated, manicured look, but it requires frequent mowing, consistent irrigation, and a detailed pest management and fertilization schedule. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Damage from hunting billbugs looks like a hybrid between grub damage and drought damage. Over-fertilization in the spring can contribute to brown patch. Examples provided of tested products are actual products owned, tested, and used regularly by the author. Meyer is a good option throughout the transition zone and on into cooler or shadier parts of the deep south. See Best Fertilizer For A Clay Soil Lawn: Why Ingredients Matter. Although zoysia is a slow starter, once it is established, it can choke out most weeds, and quickly repair damage due to cold temperatures or traffic. Rust looks like a rusty, powdery coating on a patch of grass. This option is best for sandy or loose soils, as it can cause compaction in clay. If the area continues to grow larger, you will have to use a chemical treatment. It may also be known as Manila Grass, because it was first brought to the US from the Philippines, in the late 19th century. Thriving Yard is a privately owned website. Zoysia is the turf of choice for salty, coastal soils or areas near salted roadways. However, if you do not change your maintenance practices at this point, leaf spot can melt out, which means the small lesions will grow and kill the blade. Aeration allows oxygen into the soil, which helps encourage root growth and water infiltration. The lack of shade tolerance makes Empire more susceptible to brown patch; a fungus that thrives in humid, shady parts of the lawn. Sprigging is similar to seeding, but it has a higher success rate. However, you will want to make a new, separate compost pile and only use this compost in areas where you don’t mind some weed seeds or a few sprigs of old lawn grass coming back. This ensures a uniform appearance and growth habit. If you can keep the grub population to a minimum, the aggressive nature of zoysia will allow it to outgrow the damage from remaining grubs. If you topdress with compost each spring, you may not need to fertilize at all. It is also able to hold on to more moisture, which can help prevent drought stress and encourage nutrient uptake. Most turf diseases are caused by poor irrigation and mowing schedules. 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