How to care for Zoysia grass in Macon / Warner Robins

Zoysia grass is an appealing option to Macon / Warner Robins homeowners thanks to its tolerance of weather conditions common to our climate. Being a warm-season turfgrass, Zoysia goes dormant in the winter months to protect itself from the cold. But despite it going brown in the wintertime, you can establish a beautiful, dense Zoysia turf in Georgia with proper lawn care that will be beautiful for years to come.

Types of zoysia: There are a few species that are common in the Macon / Warner Robins area that adapt well to our climate. They may vary in their blade width and texture, as well as their coloring, but all will offer that desirable heat and drought tolerance homeowners look for in their Macon / Warner Robins landscape:

• Zenith Zoysia: Zenith zoysia can be grown from seed which is a major advantage over other zoysia turf grasses.  However it does not have much shade tolerance.  It needs a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.  Zenith has wider blade than fine bladed zoysia.
  

  Emerald zoysia grass

• Zeon Zoysia: This hybrid species is a fine textured, dense grass. It has great shade tolerance and has very dark green appearance.
• Emerald Zoysia: This hybrid species is almost identical to Zeon, planted by sprigs or sod, boasts a deep green color and is often used on golf courses.  It needs a minimum of about 3-4 hours of direct sun.

Planting: Zoysia grass can be planted using sod, plugs or seed (if offered). Sod or plugs are the best option since it’s a slow growing grass. Once it’s planted, routine lawn care is critical.

Lawn Care

• Mowing: A reel mower is recommended when trimming your Zoysia grass as to not damage the grass blades. Mow every 7-10 days, with a blade setting of 2-3 inches to prevent scalping.
• Irrigation: As with any turfgrass, proper watering is imperative to a healthy Zoysia lawn. Make sure your grass is getting at least an inch of water weekly.
• Fertilizing: Stick to a light fertilization during the warmer months. Be sure not to over-fertilize and burn your lawn.

Benefits

• Shade Tolerance: If you have several shady areas in your yard, Zoysia is a great option since it grows better in shady areas unlike Bermuda, another common Atlanta grass. It’s important to note that Zoysia grass still needs at least four hours of direct sunlight each day or eight hours of filtered sunlight to flourish.
• Dense Grass: Once established, Zoysia creates a thick, lush lawn and typically requires less
  

  Zenith Zoysia

  fertilization than alternative grasses.

• Summer Tolerance: Zoysia’s ability to stand up to heat and drought is a major selling point and used frequently in Atlanta landscapes.

Drawbacks

• Slow Growth: Establishing a Zoysia lawn requires patience. Zoysia grass is slow to grow which also makes it harder to recover from injury.
• Thatch: Unfortunately, thatch buildup is a common problem in Zoysia lawns so although you may be mowing less, you will need to dethatch your lawn more frequently than with other grasses. Dethatching can be accomplished with regular aeration.
• Disease: Zoysia is prone to large patch, also known as brown patch, and other diseases when returning from dormancy. Often this is a result of inadequate lawn care and can be prevented with the right fertilization recipe.
• Invasiveness: Zoysia is an aggressive grass and near impossible to remove once it’s established. This can present an issue if your neighbors have another type of grass or if it begins to creep into your landscape areas. Some edging options that are anchored several inches deep can help keep Zoysia grasses from spreading outward.

It’s no wonder golf courses often choose lush Zoysia as their grass of choice when it comes to creating fairways and tee boxes, but without proper management, your lawn will not achieve that golf-course look. We know what it takes to maintain a beautiful Zoysia yard and are here to help. If you have questions or concerns about caring for this type of grass, call us at 478-318-7644 and speak with one of our Lawn Care Specialists today.  Or if you would like a quote on installation, contact our sister company.