Caring For Your 
Zoysia Grass Lawn

Zoysia lawns offer superior turf density, providing a natural barrier against weeds. Zoysia is also more shade tolerant than other warm-season grasses like Bermuda. Several cultivars of Zoysia are common in our area, including Meyer, Emerald, El Toro and Zeon.

When out of dormancy (when green and actively growing), Zoysia grass typically requires 1 inch of water per week. During very hot weather, Zoysia may require as much as 2 inches per week. During times of extreme drought, Zoysia grass may go dormant. Think of dormancy as a type of hibernation. This is a survival mechanism. People often think their grass has died. When ample rainfall or water returns, the Zoysia grass will resume growth, provided this occurs in the warmer months. The soil should be well-drained. Standing water is particularly harmful to your Zoysia grass since it is prone to a fungal disease called Zoysia patch which is aggravated by dampness and humidity. Address drainage issues to alleviate standing water. Core aeration can help compacted soil. Remember, infrequent, deep watering is better than shallow, frequent watering. A good way to determine an inch of water is the tuna-can trick. Place an empty tuna can in an irrigation or sprinkler zone. Turn on the water and take note of how long it takes for the can to fill. You now know how long you need to run the irrigation to get an inch of water. The time of day you water or irrigate your lawn is important! Irrigation should be done early in the morning rather than in the evening. Evening irrigation increases the chances for fungal diseases.

The Southeast United States is blessed to have two seasons of weeds: Summer weeds and winter weeds. Most of us are more familiar with summer weeds such as crabgrass and dandelions, but winter weeds such as annual bluegrass and henbit can be just as bothersome. Crabgrass and annual bluegrass (Poa Annua) are particularly troublesome because they can displace the Zoysia grass, stealing valuable nutrients from your lawn. Once established, these weeds can be difficult to eradicate. Although the density of Zoysia helps provide a natural barrier to weeds, it is by no means, "weed free". That's why we provide four pre-emergent (weed prevention) application rounds per year. Two in the spring and two in the fall. These pre-emergent act by preventing weed seeds from rooting in the soil and are effective on a broad variety of weeds. Newly sodded lawns require a special type of pre-emergent that prevent weed seeds from sending up new shoots. While this type of pre-emergent does not prevent as many types of weeds, it is very good at preventing grassy weeds and will not harm new sod. This product is not available without a special license. We can't prevent all weeds. So when one of our Route Managers treat your lawn he or she will spot treat any existing weeds. This is called post-emergent weed control. Should you decide to do your own weed control, please read and follow all product instructions. Please be extra careful with post-emergent weed control. Remember, Zoysia never goes completely dormant. During all times of the year it is susceptible to damage from improperly applied herbicides.

The soil throughout much of the Southeast is considered acidic or low on the "pH" scale. For optimal results, Zoysia grass requires a more neutral pH of at least 6.5. For this reason, it is recommended that granular lime (a calcium-containing material) be spread evenly across the turf to raise the soil pH toward a more neutral or alkaline level. We typically do this on warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia grass in the early Fall.

Core aeration is an important and often overlooked cultural practice in achieving the best from your Zoysia lawn. Core aeration is the process of removing thousands of "plugs" from your lawn. These plugs are about the size of a wine cork. This process does many things. It loosens the soil providing better oxygenation. It drives root depth, helping your lawn better tolerate drought. It allows granular fertilizers to better incorporate into the soil. It helps with drainage and helps prevent Zoysia patch. Because Zoysia grass spreads by special surface roots called stolons, these stolons are often cut during the process of core aeration. When they are cut, they multiply, helping your lawn grow thicker faster.