Important times to monitor the weather are late winter or early spring when the turf is coming out of dormancy and early fall when first frost are forecasted. Zoysia – General Notes. Insect Control: Any insects that were missed during the nymphal stage in the summer will have grown to a size where damage is occurring. The mower setting should be around 1 to 1½ inches high. See for HGIC 2310, Managing Weeds in Warm Season Lawns for more information. Zoysiagrass grows best in full sun or partial shade and is well adapted to the piedmont and coastal plain. Pests can become a problem, especially if Zoysia is not growing healthily (too much fertility or water, etc.). An insecticide application targeted at the smaller nymphs is the most effective control even if damage has not yet occurred. Mowing: Continue to mow the zoysiagrass lawn at the normal mowing height until the weather starts to cool in the fall. Make note of areas with white grub activity and plan to apply a preventive application in the spring or early summer. Circular patches of tan or brown sunken turf 2 to 10 feet in diameter may appear as zoysia greens up, especially if there is extended rainy or overcast weather. Proper irrigation now will help reduce problems later in the summer. Cont’ cut more than 1/3 the blade. Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed. Alternatively, the lawn can be hand raked to remove the excessive dead leaf material from the lawn surface. Proper soil pH is necessary to produce a healthy, high­quality, attractive lawn. For more information on turfgrass watering, see HGIC 1225, Conservative Turfgrass Irrigation. Empire, a brand of zoysia grass, provides a dark-green, durable and low-maintenance grass that grows in many different soil types. Here are answers to the most common care questions: Plugs should be planted on 6- or 12-inch centers (see Carolina Lawns, AG-69). Mow Empire zoysia grass … A soil probe can be used to monitor the soil moisture. Use herbicides with caution as the turf is emerging from winter dormancy. This is not the best time to apply an insecticide for insect control because of cool soil temperatures and reduced insect activity. Follow March through May guidelines. Consider dethatching zoysiagrass when the thatch layer is greater than 1 inch. After plugging, apply a preemergence herbicide that does not interfere with zoysiagrass root growth to help prevent weeds. Products containing two or three different broadleaf herbicides are more effective in controlling broadleaf weeds in a lawn. The resulting ragged ends on the blades make the grass more susceptible to diseases. Weed Control: To control crabgrass, goosegrass, sandspurs, and other summer annual weeds, apply a pre-emergent herbicide early in the year. Apply postemergence herbicides in May as needed to control summer annual and perennial broadleaf weeds like white clover, knotweed, spurge, and lespedeza. A second application is needed approximately 8 to 10 weeks after the initial application to give season long control of annual grassy and broadleaf weeds. It is not unusual for zoysiagrass to green up and be burnt back several times during the late winter or early spring due to late season frosts. EMPIRE Turf combines soft-to-the-touch feel with lush green color and fine, tight blade growth. It may take several years for a large pH change to occur. Zoysiagrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar Lawn Maintenance Calendars . Amend soil to maintain pH between 6.0 and 7.0; Know your soil type! Always mow with a sharp mower blade and use a mulching type mower to leave the clippings to decompose on the lawn. Find more information at the following NC State Extension websites: Publication date: Aug. 3, 2020 There are several ways to determine when the lawn needs watering. Last frost dates and first frost dates can vary by several weeks to a month from the coastal areas of South Carolina to the foothills of the Upstate. Irrigate the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches; this can be determined by probing the soil with a screwdriver or similar tool. The center of a large area may start to green. This initial mowing will remove excess dormant tissue and establish the desired mowing height for the year. A dark bluish-gray appearance, footprinting, or wilted, folded, or curled leaves indicate that it is time to water. Weed Control This is our basic service program. Dull mower blades rip rather than cut the grass blades. Fertilizing with a micronutrient fertilizer, such as manganese sulfate, can help alleviate manganese deficiencies. Disease Control Weed Control While the differences may be small, they mean the difference between a good-looking lawn and a spectacular lawn. Which will in turn needs to be mown more than … Zoysiagrass prefers a FSA6122 Lawn Care Calendar The following management practices will help you care for your lawn throughout the year. If more than six grubs are found under the sod piece, apply a lawn insecticide labelled for grub control according to label directions. After the lawn has become dormant, water as needed to prevent excessive dehydration. Location, terrain, soil type and condition, age of the lawn, previous lawn care, and other factors affect turf performance, so adjust these management practices and dates to suit your particular lawn. Mowing This most frequently occurs when it is mowed too infrequently or is excessively fertilized. Keeping your lawn lush and healthy requires attention every month of the year. As with all pest control, proper weed identification is essential. The improved turf-type zoysiagrass will produce a dense, low growing turf that has a slow lateral growth but normal leaf growth. Winter desiccation can be a problem during dry winters. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by NC State University or N.C. A&T State University nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. The slow rate of spread of zoysiagrass makes seedbed preparation and planting techniques very important to successful establishment of a zoysia turf. Round 7 – Zoysia Winter Weed Control (Late Fall/Winter) Zoysiagrass Lawn Maintenance Calendar Download Calendar. Although seed is available, this grass is usually established through s… For example, if you’ve got a 5-5-15 fertilizer, you divide 50 by 5 and you get 10. Disease Control: The most common diseases that may occur on zoysiagrass during the growing season are large patch, formerly known as brown patch, and dollar spot. Be aware, it could take several months for lime and sulfur applications to begin to affect the soil pH. If possible, use a mower with a bagger to collect the clippings and remove any dead material left from winter dor… For best control and to lessen the chance of turfgrass injury, always apply herbicides to turfgrass and weeds that are actively growing and not suffering from drought or heat stress. Mole crickets, grubs, ground pearls, as well as nematodes can cause considerable damage. Vegetative Types. However, fertilizers containing nitrogen should not be applied during this period unless the lawn is located along the coast and no frost is predicted. Fertilization Watering See HGIC 1212, Zoysiagrass for additional information on care and varieties. Zoysiagrass lawns should receive 2 to 4 pounds of actual nitrogen per growing season per 1000 square feet of turf. Observe the 1/3 rd rule by never removing any more than 1/3 rd For more information on mole crickets, see HGIC 2155, Mole Cricket Management in Turfgrass. Fertilizer Calculations: To determine amount of granular fertilizer needed to apply ½ pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, divide 50 by the first number on the fertilizer bag. spp. * Check Bahia lawns for mole crickets, Zoysia for bill bugs & sod webworm, St. Augustine for cinch bugs & sod webworm, and all lawns for grubs, and apply insecticide if needed. AG-432. Diseased turf with dollar spot range from 2 to 6 inches in diameter, but large patch may result in affected areas that may grow to several feet in diameter. Lawn maintenance requirements differ in levels of fertilization, watering, soil pH, and mowing height. 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