If you have an irrigation system, you will need to schedule 4-5 sessions each day that are long enough to get the soil wet, but not so long that water begins to run off and wash away the seed. While Z. matrella is aggressive, and can choke out most weeds, it takes a few years for this turf to become established. 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 best times to plant zoysia grass are in late spring (once all chances of frost have passed) to early summer. Once your sprigs are planted, you need to water them immediately. The basic fact about zoysia grass is that, unless it is grown in the right climate, it will cause more headaches than not. Bermuda is an aggressive, low-growing grass that is nearly impossible to remove because it spreads through rhizomes, stolons, and seed. Dig up patches of invasive grass or spot spray during active growth. Fertilize after you have treated for chinch bugs to encourage zoysia to fill in any bare spots. It will green up as soon as you apply water. Set the tiller as deep as possible and till up the lawn. There are many other zoysia cultivars that have been developed to tolerate different growing conditions. Grass in shady, moist areas of the lawn grow much slower, so rust spores are able to infect blades of grass and spread to neighboring patches of grass. Plant when daily temperatures are consistently in the 70s. Adding extra seed to an area will not help it fill in faster. The goal of soil prep is to remove as much of the past lawn as possible, including the root system, and to develop a weed-free soil bed for the new grass. If zoysia is maintained properly, it can grow a thick, deep-green carpet that resists most pests, diseases, and weed infestations. Zoysia should get .5”-1” of water per week. Follow the directions on the back of your seed bag to determine how much seed to plant. In low wear areas, Empire Zoysia will tolerate up to 50% shade, while in moderate to high wear areas it can tolerate up to 30% shade. Most future turf problems can be solved in the beginning by preparing a healthy foundation. Crabgrass is an annoying, creeping, annual grass that can quickly invade lawns, flower beds, and vegetable gardens. Learn more from our article Will Zoysia Choke Out Crabgrass? Meyer is a good option throughout the transition zone and on into cooler or shadier parts of the deep south. Mow weekly with sharp blades when the grass is dry. If possible, use a reel mower (link to Amazon), and keep the lawn below 2” throughout the growing season. Zoysia is able to resist most pests and diseases if it is maintained properly. If brown patch is severe and corrected maintenance practices are not helping, spray a fungicide to kill off the remaining spores. As you continue to build up the soil each year, you can cut back on fertilizing and rely on the compost to provide nutrition. Most turf diseases are caused by poor irrigation and mowing schedules. See Best Fertilizer For A Clay Soil Lawn: Why Ingredients Matter. Plant plugs at the desired spacing across the lawn. Spray fescue during the spring before zoysia comes out of dormancy. Dense, clay soil can hold on to large amounts of nitrogen due to the fact that water cannot drain freely into the subsoil. You can plant Meyer from seed, but vegetative planting yields faster growth and denser turf. The lack of shade tolerance makes Empire more susceptible to brown patch; a fungus that thrives in humid, shady parts of the lawn. Clay can be so dense that nutrients are not able to move into the root zone of a plant. Bermuda grass is the most difficult weed to remove from a zoysia lawn. Soon, the lawn will have dead patches of grass that pull up like a loose carpet. Lightly rake seeds into the top ¼” of soil. Option 4: Let the sod company sprig your lawn. Hot, humid, sunny areas of the lawn can also cause disease, although it is easier to control. If you feel that chinch bugs may be contributing to your brown lawn, schedule a meeting with our lawn pest control technician, Joe. Whether Zoysia is right for you depends on where you live, your lawn care goals, and how you use your lawn. Diamond is one of the few turf grasses suitable for putting greens. Zoysia is a warm-season grass that also thrives in most of the transition zone. It is also the most expensive way to establish a new lawn, but giving your lawn the best start possible can cut down on maintenance costs in the long run. One thing to note is that Zoysia grass establishes more slowly than some other warm season lawn grasses, but as it slowly grows it forms a very dense carpet of grass beneath that feels lush under foot. Z. matrella, also known as Manila grass,has a fine texture, low growing height, and dense growth habit. Lawns infested with grubs will slowly thin out and lose vigor, even though they are well-irrigated. Just break up the soil into clods and try to get a nice, even, soft seedbed. It's only $95-$125 and lasts for 3 months (which is all we really need to make it through summer). Examples provided of tested products are actual products owned, tested, and used regularly by the author. If you feel that your irrigation system isn't functioning properly, we would love to schedule a $95 One-Hour Irrigation Tune-up with Mike, our sprinkler technician. Zoysia can tolerate most soils and climates as long as the winters are not too cold. Sunday Lawn Care offers a lawn-safe weed killer derived from iron. Zoysia is an average grass that prefers average soil. Option 2: Spread the sprigs across your lawn and till them in on a shallow setting. This combination of above and below ground stems allows for the thick, dense growth and e… Brown patch starts as a dark green, wet area of the lawn that slowly grows a small, yellow/orange ring around the perimeter, leaving dead grass at its center. Zoysia Grass Problems. Average soils can support zoysia without much chemical intervention. This option is best for sandy or loose soils, as it can cause compaction in clay. Ironically, some of the best things about zoysia grass are also the things which make it a frustrating choice for a lawn. Although Gainesville lawns have historically been St. Augustine grass, Zoysia has began making a major push as the turf of choice for a few years. Large areas of zoysia grass or the entire lawn can be core aerified in late May or early June to help alleviate compaction and then plugged or sodded at the proper time (late May to early June in the St. Louis area). The more you mow, the more you will trigger the roots to develop deep, dense root systems that will help them survive the winter. However, zoysia grows best from sprigs, plugs, or sod, even if seed is an option. Regular mowing, watering, and fertilizing as seen earlier are the best ways to prevent these problems. If these control methods do not resolve your rust problem, you can spray a fungicide on the affected areas. Lightly tamp plugs into place, but do not stomp on them. Suddenly, this healthy low-water Zoysia ‘Zeon’ grass turned yellow, patchy and died in spots. Zoysia Grass vs Bermuda Grass . 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. etting back the start time (running earlier in the morning so the water saturated the lawn longer before evaporation by the sun). In some climates, you may need to irrigate occasionally over the winter during extended dry periods. Pull up a tuft of grass to inspect for chinch bugs. Brown patch is the most common fungal disease that affects zoysia lawns. It is most common in cool, shady, moist areas of the lawn. What happened? Learn more about zoysia vs. centipede grass. You can’t replant or plug these areas in fall but you can use the opportunity to kill and remove any perennial weeds or cool season grass weeds, such as fescue, that may have invaded these areas with a glyphosate product in fall or spring before embarking on the renovation process in late May. Zoysia grass grows best in USDA planting zones 6-11. I just read that you should water heavy only when the grass needs it, instead of watering shallow frequently. – Don’t overwater. Damage from hunting billbugs looks like a hybrid between grub damage and drought damage. 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