Let’s face facts. Visitors will notice your grass first. Your grass will always be the focal point, despite all the beautiful flowers and trees, winding paths, and towering trees. You want your lawn to be healthy and well-maintained.

Zoysia grass is a popular grass in the south. It’s perfect for warm-weather climates, and when cared for properly, it’s heat- and drought-resistant. This species requires regular maintenance.

Learn how to care for your zoysia lawn.

How to Grow a Healthy Lawn

Zoysia is one of the varieties of turfgrass that turns straw-like colors when it gets frosty.

Zoysia, along with St. Augustine and buffalo grass, is a warm-season species that can go dormant in the coldest months.

Zoysia is best established from sod rather than seeds. It thrives in areas that have moderate traffic. There are 11 varieties of zoysia that can be used on lawns. However, the most popular species in the south are Z. japonica, Z. matrella.

Maintaining zoysia grass health is important. Good soil is crucial for good nutrition.

We highly suggest you conduct a soil test. Doing so will help you establish basic principles of your soil’s phosphorus and potassium levels, as well as the organic matter in the soil.

You can also test the soil for any signs of over-fertilization, which can reduce grass’ drought tolerance and lead to the growth of thatch.

How to Maintain Your Zoysia

For zoysia to become established, it can take three seasons. Once it is established, it will need a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen percentage and less phosphorous and potassium. Slow-release nitrogen fertilizers are the best; organic fertilizers work well.

It is possible to plant zoysia in the fall, but it should not be fertilized.

This time of year, fertilizing the grass can prolong the natural dormancy and make it more vulnerable to winter weather. Apply fertilizer in the early summer.

Proper grass maintenance requires regular mowing. The recommended grass height is between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 inches, so you’ll want to begin mowing as soon as the grass blades grow above that height.

The trimming of lawn blades can be a good way to control weeds and other nuisances. To reduce grass stress, let the grass grow a bit higher than the recommended blade height during the summer months.

The final step in maintaining your lawn is watering zoysia. Zoysia grass can withstand drought better than other grasses and needs to be watered only when it is showing signs of need.

If your grass begins to curl inward, it is a sign that you need to water it. For good growth rates, watering your lawn once a week is normal.

These maintenance tips will help you maintain a beautiful, well-groomed lawn.

Organic Fertilizers: The Advantages

Organic lawn amendments can reduce fertilizer use by up to 50% and pesticides by up to 75%.

These fertilizers are also compatible with the zoysia lawn’s fertilizer requirements. We mentioned that zoysia grass needs very little phosphorous so it is important to not overdo it.