Zoysia grass came from Korea to the United States in the 1890s, but didn't gain a solid following until the 1950s. One of the biggest shortcomings of Zoysia grass is the time it takes to establish. Common Zoysia Grass Problems. Zoysia goes dormant and turns brown after the first hard frost but resumes growth as soil temperatures return to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Slow growth also means slow recovery. St. Augustine vs. Zoysia: The Basics Both grasses can tolerate salt, drought, and some shade, although zoysia is easier to maintain. Check out the guide below to determine the height of lawn that works best for you and is best for your lawn. While you can lay Zoysia sod any time of year, it takes longer to root than other grass sods so it's best to give it plenty of time to get established before cold weather arrives in autumn. I think you can mow your zoysia at two inches high in spring and fall but raise the cut to two and one-half inches in the heat of the summer. Since Zoysia is a warm-season grass, you’ll see the best results when you plant the sod in periods when the grass is actively growing (late spring through late summer). Below are some other zoysia characteristics to … Zoysia (Zoysia spp.) How to Start Zoysia Grass. Use the lowest mower setting for this spring mowing. Have we made a big mistake? Zoysia planting can also be done in early fall, but make sure to plant at least 60 days before the first fall frost. Fertilizing Established Zoysia Grass In general, zoysia grass is fertilized about four times, or approximately every six weeks, from April through October with 1/2 to 1 pound of nitrogen applied per 1,000 square feet during each application. is a warm-season grass, meaning it stays green during the summer and tends to lose its color in winter. There are many factors that can determine which turf you choose, but first, Let’s dive into the basics of each grass. When sowing the seeds, don’t cover them with soil or straw. A golden rule when mowing any turf is "never cut more than 1/3 of the leaf height." Such matted grass will invite diseases such as the terrible snow mold. Location, terrain, soil type and condition, age of the lawn, previous lawn care, and other factors affect turf performance. How to Eliminate Zoysia Grass from Your Lawn . You don't want your grass any higher than 3 inches after the last cut before winter because such grass has the tendency to compress or mat’ under snowfall. Mower Options. How to Care for Zoysia Grass Now that you know a bit about the grass that makes your lawn beautiful, we can talk about how to take care of it. Zoysia grass is known for its ability to stand up to heat, drought, heavy foot traffic and a variety of other challenges. If planted in the wrong place, with respect to regional climate and light exposure levels in your yard, Zoysia may not perform as well as expected. However, in the fall and winter, it becomes tan or even brownish. Should you plant Zoysia grass plugs. Avoid cutting wet grass to prevent clumps. Just another Food & Outdoors site. As compared to zoysia grass, which is a warm season grass, Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a hot weather grass that grows aggressively in Southern states.Because of its fast growth rate, Bermuda grass needs more of everything than zoysia grass does: more water, more fertilizer, and more frequent mowing. Grass Attributes Well, Zoysia grass Spreads into dense undergrowth Grows into a vast network of stolons and […] Girard on Girard. By knowing how to prepare, plant plugs, and care for your zoysia, you, too, can have a healthy and lush zoysia lawn. The best times to plant zoysia grass are in late spring (once all chances of frost have passed) to early summer. My husband and I measured our mower and we were cutting our’s about 2 1/4″ high. Whether Zoysia is right for you depends on where you live, your lawn care goals, and how you use your lawn. Zoysia is an easy-care, warm-season grass that is highly versatile and drought tolerant, making it popular for many lawns. The 1 ½ cutting height during the hot months of July and August stressed the Zoysia to the point of death. However, when you do mow this type of grass, there are several reasons … The theory is you cut these 16 x 24 inch pieces up into 4 inch pieces and spread them out. How to cut grass properly. Zoysia MUST be cut with a sharp mower blade. October 15, 2019 by Peter Leave a Comment. A well cared for, freshly mown lawn not only looks awesome, it’s also great to walk on and play on. Q: You have said to cut zoysia grass 1/2″ to 1 1/2″ high. However, despite being versatile and robust, it can be quite difficult to maintain zoysia grass – this is why using only the very best lawn mowers for zoysia grass is so important. Always use a sharp blade. Example: If you’ve let your Bermuda or Zoysia grow much too high and reach 3 inches, set your cutting height to 2 inches, wait a couple of days, then mow to 1.5 inches. When pushed along, the manual mowers will snip the grass, leaving behind a well-manicured lawn. Otherwise grass tips are shredded, causing a yellow appearance. Zoysia is a coarse leaf grass used in warmer climates, though some varieties can grow as far north as New York, Maryland and Chicago. 36 Related Question Answers Found How can I speed up Zoysia growth? Its growing season starts from the late spring till early summer. Unfortunately, the same thickness of Zoysia grass that makes it so desirable for lawns also leads to its most common problem: a buildup of clippings, dead leaves and roots at the base of the grass that is known as thatching. Zoysia grass is very resilient and can handle the heat, heavy foot traffic and salt. Zoysia is preferred if you are establishing a new lawn in poor soil that can become compacted. You should cut Zoysia grass lawns at heights of 1-2 inches above the soil line. We lowered the mower to be about 1 1/2″. This is called scalping, and it can damage your lawn. A perennial favourite for no mowing enthusiasts, Zoysia tenuifolia is a low growing grass originating from South East Asia. At three inches, the grass will still be able to shade the soil from the hot summer sun just before the first freeze. I would go to my non-zoysia area and use a cheap plugger to cut the holes. See more info at http://www.zoysiaplug.com The right length of grass is critical to its health and weed minimisation. That method works for the farms that are planting acres and acres of this stuff at a time, but for homeowners, it’s just normally not practical at all. If you don’t have a reel mower, be sure your mower blades are very sharp (sharpen them monthly.) is a common choice for lawns because of its color and texture. A cut down is the process of cutting the grass extremely low. For the past year I have been maintaining the lawn at ~2.5” which is how long it came (Image 1). Its high salt tolerance makes it a good choice for coastal areas. Zoysia is a warm season grass. A dull blade tears the grass blade rather than making a clean cut. It expands sideways instead of growing taller, creating a thick, soft carpet to cover your lawn. Once fully established, a zoysia grass lawn resists weeds well due to a dense growth pattern. Very labor intensive! You will remove most all that is green and some of the decaying material from last year’s growth and the natural winter decline. Don t cut Zoysia any shorter 3 in Texas or you will kill it. There are several Zoysias but the Zoysia tenuifolia has the finest textured leaf and is the only one considered to be no mow. Dull blades tear and fray the leaf tips rather than cutting them, and will give your lawn a tan or brownish appearance. The growing point gets higher as the grass grows taller. Anyone can achieve it. During the summer months, the grass is usually a bright green. Zoysia grass is popular in many areas for its vibrant green color, thick ground cover and relative ease of care. El Toro Zoysia Maintenance . For Zoysia grass lawn, you should use reel mowers with multiple blades due to its scissor-like method of cutting. The following suggested management practices are designed as a guideline to assist lawn care professionals and homeowners in the maintenance of an 'El Toro' Zoysia grass lawn. Zoysia grass is harder to cut than cool-season grasses. Homeowners love this grass for its beauty and low maintenance needs, and it is a definite favorite for those who have no wish to spend every weekend mowing the lawn. Even you have a powerful mower, it could not give your zoysia grass a clean-cut simply because the blades are not sharp. Karl von Zois, an 18th century Austrian botanist, was commemorated by having the species named after him. Zoysia is a hardy grass that requires less water than other grasses. ZOYSIA GRASS CUT DOWN Every spring we discuss cutting our Zoysia by doing a “Cut Down” or “Buzz Cut”. This is normal due to the drop in temperature. It is important to have a sharp mower blade. In its optimal growing zones, this tough grass can deliver a beautiful, dense lawn with very little input from you. However, zoysia grass problems do pop up on occasion – most often from zoysia diseases like brown patch. Because it is more difficult to grow a zoysia lawn from seed than from sod or plugs, transplanting is the preferred method. The cheap plugger didn t last very long so I had a double plugger made from ¼ inch steel. Zoysia grass grows best in USDA planting zones 6-11. Newly sodded zoysia grass lawns should not be allowed to grow excessively long before beginning mowing. Growing a zoysia lawn is easy once you get it started. A healthy zoysia lawn should be mowed to a height of 1 1/2" to 3". The sod took very well, but, even when it was just put down, the height of cut has been a concern of mine. The correct mowing height for Zoysia is from ¾” to 2 ½”. Although relatively free from most pests and diseases, zoysia grass isn’t without its faults. Quick guide on how to plant zoysia plugs. If your cut height is too low, you’ll mow the growing point off. , in the 70s several Zoysias but the zoysia tenuifolia is a hardy grass that requires less water than types... 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