Zoysia Grass
Establishment: Seed, Sod, Plugs, Sprigs
Plant strengths: Part shade, heat and multiple soil types.
Maintenance:
· Mowing Height – Ideally ¾” to 2” but for most home owners 2”-2.5” is a reasonable height.
· Mowing Frequency – Weekly during growing season, bi weekly in transition to dormancy, no mowing required during dormancy.
o In upstate SC (Greenville, SC) we typically see the grass start greening up mid – end of March, and start going dormant end of October – beginning of November.
o On average, you can expect 28-32 mows over the course of the year.
· Nitrogen per year: 2-3 lbs. per 1000 square feet.
· Disease tendency: Low
· Weaknesses:
o Fungus – this turf type is notorious for developing fungal infections, treatable by a professional pesticide applicator with a fungicide.
o Thatch – this turf type can develop thatch issues, so dethatching and core aeration are recommended every year.
· Industry best practices: Dethatch, hire a professional fertilizer and weed control service, core aerate every year.
Check out https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/zoysiagrass-maintenance-calendar/ for more information on zoysiagrass!
