If your lawn does have significant winter kill, you can plug your lawn after it breaks dormancy to help fill in bare patches. The downside to Diamond is that it is one of the most high-maintenance turf grass options for a lawn. The lack of shade tolerance makes Empire more susceptible to brown patch; a fungus that thrives in humid, shady parts of the lawn. Zoysia should not be aerated in the fall because it goes dormant. Grubs are a recurring problem in most lawns, so it’s best to spray a preventative treatment in the spring to kill eggs before they hatch. It has done wonderfully except that my dog and the neighbors dogs use it as a bathroom. You can also use layers of cardboard or other solid materials that will block the sun. She has an A.A.S. Water 4-5 times per day for the first 4 weeks, then gradually start reducing your irrigation schedule as the grass begins to thicken. If you’re able to start from scratch and establish a new lawn, you can get a head start on soil improvement by mixing in a thick layer of compost to your topsoil. Although zoysia is an aggressive grass that can heal from winter kill, this can slow down the turf’s ability to choke out weeds during the summer and repair high-traffic areas. If some plants have already gone to seed, bag the grass clippings when you mow to prevent spreading the seeds across your lawn. If you mixed compost into the soil, your lawn will not need to be fertilized until the following year. Bag the clippings, and dispose of them in plastic bags. While zoysia can tolerate a few grubs per square foot, an infestation can kill large patches of turf before you notice too much damage. Bermuda does not tolerate shade, so taller mowing heights may reduce the spread, but it’s not very effective. Till when the soil is moist; not dry and not muddy. The answer is, not much. It is best to remove as much plant material as possible before moving on to step 3. Let the area dry out, and mow to remove as much of the infected grass as possible. Option 1: Spread and bury the sprigs by hand. For more information see St. Augustine vs. Zoysia: Which One Is Right For Your Lawn? It's only $95-$125 and lasts for 3 months (which is all we really need to make it through summer). Below is quick and easy reference calendar for the essential maintence of zoysia. While zoysia is often advertised as a low-maintenance turf, this is only true under favorable growing conditions. Moisture plays an important role in disease development. If your Zoysia lawn is suffering from dead spots this summer like the photo above, you aren't alone. It can grow a dense, thick carpet, but it lacks the underground runners, rhizomes, that help these grasses choke out other plants. This allows the root system of the Zoysia to get oxygen and helps correct drainage problems. Damage from hunting billbugs looks like a hybrid between grub damage and drought damage. As you continue to build up the soil each year, you can cut back on fertilizing and rely on the compost to provide nutrition. Be sure to mark gas lines, water lines, and electrical lines with spray paint or flags. Unlike chinch bugs, grubs are more common in well-irrigated lawns. I laid myers zoysia in my front yard about 6 weeks ago. Spread a 3”-6” layer of compost over the soil and till it in. Zoysia grass is known for its ability to stand up to heat, drought, heavy foot traffic and a variety of other challenges. Dense, carpetlike growth and outstanding drought tolerance make zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.) 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. The dense growth pattern of zoysia grass, combined with mowing, will keep weeds at bay. Nitrogen washes out of the soil easier than most other plant nutrients, so sandy soils are unable to hold on to synthetic fertilizers, even if they have a slow-release formula. Irrigate less frequently, and make sure you are only watering in the mornings, to allow the blades time to dry out during the day. MOWING. The more cores you remove from the lawn, the more compost you can rake in later. The thicker your stand of zoysia, the less space weeds have to germinate and take over. These soils are usually a balance of different soil textures with a reasonable amount of organic matter. Zoysia prefers hot summers and mild winters. 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 grass spreads by above-ground stems called ‘stolons’ and underground stems called ‘rhizomes’. Whether you’re establishing a new lawn or troubleshooting an old one, our ultimate guide to Zoysia has everything you need to know to grow a healthy, low-maintenance, weed-free turf. Bermuda is an aggressive, low-growing grass that is nearly impossible to remove because it spreads through rhizomes, stolons, and seed. Zoysia is a dense turf, and with inconsistent mowing, it can build up a thick thatch layer. The bottoms of the sprigs should be covered with soil, but the tips of the grass blades should be exposed. a welcome alternative to water-greedy lawn grasses in much of the United States. Before you choose the cultivar for your lawn, research the varieties and cultivars that do well in your area. Sunday Lawn Care offers a lawn-safe weed killer derived from iron. Because the Zoysia is dormant, it will not be harmed by the over-seeding. Zoysia is the turf of choice for salty, coastal soils or areas near salted roadways. Option 4: Let the sod company sprig your lawn. Mow zoysia weekly to remove infected blades and to encourage deep root growth. See "What is core aerification and when should I do it?" Once the plugs begin active growth, gradually back off on irrigation until the turf has filled in. Back off to 2-3 times per day until the sprigs have filled in most of the lawn. Keep sod consistently moist for the first few weeks after planting. Zoysia is one of the grasses that are most susceptible to rust. You will need approximately 1 bushel of sprigs per 100 square feet of lawn area. Soon, the lawn will have dead patches of grass that pull up like a loose carpet. It is a durable grass which can repair itself quickly and withstand heavy traffic. This will ensure you have killed the grass, and it will give weed seeds time to germinate and be sprayed, which helps to eliminate weeds in the future. Thriving Yard is an affiliate for companies including Amazon Associates and earn a commission on qualifying purchases. However, poor soil, drought stress, winter kill, and high humidity can slow down zoysia’s aggressive growth, giving weeds a chance to invade bare patches of soil. To control an existing billbug population, spray an insecticide that targets the adult beetles just after sunset, when they are most active. Most leaf spot infections will go away as soon as the nighttime temperatures warm up and the humidity drops. So, what can be done for a zoysia grass lawn in the fall? Centipede grass prefers more humid growing conditions than zoysia, so it can thrive in climates where zoysia suffers. If you did not spray your lawn, you can compost the dead plant material. Care Of Established Zoysia Grass Lawns Diseases In Zoysia Varieties Some Zoysia varieties are subject to dollar spot, leaf spot, brown patch and rust. Zoysia is an average grass that prefers average soil. Ironically, some of the best things about zoysia grass are also the things which make it a frustrating choice for a lawn. Put sprigs in a wheelbarrow or bucket and walk across the lawn planting sprigs every 6”. Regular mowing, watering, and fertilizing as seen earlier are the best ways to prevent these problems. While Meyer is advertised as a quick-growing cultivar, it is slow to establish. Soils that are low in nitrogen are usually loose, sandy soils that can’t retain water. Sprigs will go from green to brown in the first few weeks; this is normal. Zoysia grass grows by sending out runners or ‘stolons’ both above and below ground so it grows and spreads by expanding sideways rather than growing upwards like other grasses. Clay can be so dense that nutrients are not able to move into the root zone of a plant. This cultivar was developed in California, and it is extremely drought-tolerant. That's great information to have. Zoysia planting can also be done in early fall, but make sure to plant at least 60 days before the first fall frost. 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