Let's Talk About Zoysia

Quick thoughts on one of my favorite grasses, Empire Zoysia. Make sure you subscribe and hit the bell to get in first! Maintenance is simpler that you think and a gorgeous lawn is a few steps away. Skip intro 1:00. I'm going to be honest, this isn't my best video and I'm pretty sure I was hungover when I shot it. The week was busy as a sponsor of the FPMA summer in paradise conference.

[@clintbrooks9517]

Thanks!!! Not much out there on Zoysia. I have Emerald Zoysia and love it. I followed Walter Reeves suggestion on lower fert rates and it is powering over the little Bermuda that was trying to take over. Super dense turf with great weed resistance. I’ve been using the Green county RGS, H12, Air-8, and DeThatch. I alternate bagging a mulching with my reel mower because a small area can produce sooooo many clippings due to the high density.

[@lmc333]

I can't believe I just watch over 6 min a guy talk about the lawn at some resort... I am now going to put Zoysia grass on my lawn because of you....

[@bryanmoman5429]

I just put down 4500 ft.² of Empire Zoysia at my house. I could definitely use some advice on how to take care of it and how to cut it. Thanks!

[@Lawncology]

Make sure you’re subscribed. Most of what I cover is universal

[@tctulloch]

Good knowledge. I live in NY and learned pretty early on our front lawn is mostly zoysia, which also has a slope. Our backyard is cool season. I hit it with a combination of Air8 and D-Thatch a couple of weeks ago. I'll do another round in another week, but my focus will be the back yard and I'll worry about the zoysia in the late Spring.

[@Kgio-2112]

Hi. I have a question. I am in NY also.. on long island. I have a section of zoysia in my backyard that is nice and thick and soft on bare feet. I am thinking of doing zoysia plugs thru out the front lawn. How long before i have the entire front zoysia with plugs about a foot apart? Thanks Kenny

[@fredkerzic2568]

Here in San Antonio TX zoysia is increasing in popularity due to it heat resistance and slower growth. I dropped some Jamur last week and was wondering if I need to apply a stimulant to help it dig in. Thanks for your channel!

[@chrisjacobie2775]

I’m putting some in this spring here in SA. How did you decide on Jamur?

[@jamesdownton5205]

I have lived in Florida for my childhood, so I have gotten to know a lot of animals and plants whose nature are dependent on the sunlight. But in point of fact, on the first day of December into the winter time, there had been so many plants dead: the state was far more cold than last year. It was to become so cold that it was told to have been the coldest season the state of Florida would ever have had. It grew more interestingly remarkable for its temperature that the news discussed about it since the next two months. I knew that I would never forget those days.

[@thimitri1]

Hello John... thanks for sharing your knowledge.. I have zeon zoysia in a neon green color.. is that the natural color? I had it installed late April and it's a beautiful grass.. very thick and healthy but just not that green color.. I will now buy your d-thatcher and use the ortho sprayer .. is now a good time to do this? Or should I just leave it and water only..? Btw.. no fert has been put but only image for nutsedge.. saw some popping up.. thanks!

[@Guavaprayingmantis]

Just had zoysia sod put in a north Atlanta home. Added topsoil but soil beneath tested for 0 nitrogen and 0 phosphate. Planning on 6-8 weeks of water only, then slowly adding some Scotts lawn food. Will that help the new sod acclimate well at this time of year? Any other recommendations would also be sincerely appreciated. Regards

[@ericsopp3962]

I would love zoysia content and tips. I have Zenith Zoysia here in Apex, North Carolina (Zone 7b). It seems like all the content on KZbin is geared towards Bermuda or cool season grasses.

[@tmo4330]

Eric Sopp I have grown zoysia for 30 years. Scalp your yard in January. This removes thatch which is one of the biggest problems with this grass. Zoysia has waxy blades that take forever to decompose. Bag your clippings and compost them.

[@leny7829]

@@tmo4330 Been letting my Zeon zyosia clipping stay after mowing with my Fiskars. For the most part seems okay regarding thatch but not sure since this is my first foray into a "serious" lawn. Based on the videos I've seen regarding thatch, I don't think it is an issue for the most part but could very well be wrong as I'm wondering about certain areas that look yellowish and maybe some fungus issues? Don't think it is thatch since the discolored grass that I pull out is more uniform and upright; so, thinking grass may be dying? Anyways, like Eric Sopp, would like more Zyosia content!

[@tmo4330]

@@leny7829 You can tell when zoysia has too much thatch when it dies out in "patches". This usually takes 3 years of leaving your clippings to happen in north east Alabama. You could use amonia, beer and liquid dish soap in a hose end sprayer and spray your yard on the forth of july every year. This would help decompose the thatch. Believe me, thatch is a serious problem in many zoysia lawns. Especially the nice fertilized ones.

[@leny7829]

T mo This is my second year with the newly established grass and didn't know thatch was such a problem with leaving my clippings. Wanted to b "green" as possible and made sense that there's nutrients in clippings. I was hopping the all around sunny weather in Hawaii would help breakdown faster. Since I don't drink as much, I got some stale beer to sacrifice.

[@teamecrs]

@@tmo4330 ooooooooo

[@johnnygacoustic]

I too would love to know more about caring for zoysia, I am newer to this type if grass and love it and want to do the best for it!

[@Ryan-zd2lk]

ever going to do a straight st aug. video? i know thwre is alot out there but always good to hear things from the horses mouth!

[@RyanSmith-ye4vj]

Hello i run a lawn care business in qld Australia. I have a customer with empire zoysia who had let it grow very long with plenty of thatch. I mowed low about 2 months ago and then raked out some of the thatch. Since then i have added a liquid fert and bio innoculant i made from lucerne (alfalfa) + fulvic acid and bubbled a spore/bacteria product in the mix for 36 hours. The grass has greened back up but not quite like it was. What would you rexommend from here? I normally mow this yard with a side discharge toro timecutter at around 2.5 inches

[@tjdjinn1983]

I just bought yard mastery's double dark to help out with my zoyzia(not sure which one it is) in my back yard. My daughter's birthday is in a few weeks and I wanted to give it a darker look than I already have. While it's a 16-0-0, should I look into the stress blend? I'm in Georgia about 45 minutes SW of Hartsfield Airport.

[@aubreyhinkson7683]

I would love Zoysia content and tips. I have Zoysia here in Tampa, FL Riverview.

[@tmo4330]

I have grown zoysia for 30 years. Bag your clippings. Compost them and put them back on lawn as dirt. Zoysia has waxy blades and takes forever to rot in your thatch.

[@leroywalker3750]

I'd love to learn more about the care and feeding of zoysia. I live in Durham NC and have a lawn care service. They seem to treat the soysia the same as a bluegrass lawn. Also, there seem to be 2 types of soysia in the neighborhood. There is the very short grass (seems like it's no more than an inch) and a longer variety ( maybe 2 inches). Mine is the longer variety. My lawn has been installed about 5 years. It has never been de-thatched or aerated. It has always been bagged except for 1/2 season when it was being cut by a riding mower. I stopped that when I saw that it was damaging the lawn. But as I said, would appreciate any information on how to care for a zoysia lawn. Enjoyed your video.

[@obsessedwithlawnoddswithgr2092]

I think it's the best grass man. keep up the good work

[@daleweaver777]

We took over a lot of customers that have Empire Zoysia here in Central Florida. Most lawn companies are mowing it too high. We have been working at bringing the mowing height down. We are noticing that there has been a lot of thatch build up because of the high mowing heights. Would you recommend us to dethatch using a power rake (dethatcher) or would you recommend aerating instead? Or both? Which one is more important? Some people recommend scalping the yard but I don’t think any of our high end customers would let us do this.

[@Lawncology]

Dale Weaver if you can keep the height consistently low, you won’t have to scalp. Dethatching is good, I do have an enzymatic product that will do it for you so you are always returning clipping to the soil.

[@EnterBitcoin]

I have empire zoyzia in my lawn in the Bradenton area. This spring is the second season that I have scalped my lawn to about half an inch. I maintain it at about one inch or less. It always come back dense and beautiful in a few weeks after a scalp.

[@Lawncology]

Haskalah that’s the way to do it

[@daleweaver777]

@@Lawncology This is an upscale community with 1 acre Empire Zoysia yards. We are about the only lawns company in there mowing low and the lowest we've been able to go is 2.25". We know this is still too high. Some of the lawns respond nicely and some look a little brown. Is there any way to reduce thatch (other then scalping) without the yard looking horrible for a few weeks. Like aerating it or power raking it?

[@rey3472]

You need either a walkbehind greens mower or else a trim triplex mower. HOC on Zoysia is 0.7" or lower. Thatch and the diseases encouraged by it are greatly reduced by a low height of cut.

[@ebouge1]

Great video John and can't wait to start with Greene County stuff on my Emerald Zoysia lawn laid on the nice Georgia red clay! Looking at air8 as well as some of the others including dethatch at some point but I'm only on my second season with it.

[@breese2001]

I’ve got a 600sf section of zoysia (set within my Floratam yard) that we use for lawn games, cornhole, etc. Now have Bermuda invading in a number of areas so I’ll be going the Turflon/Fusillade route for the next couple years I guess! Already on the BioStim pack & spoon feeding with Milorganite and the turf looks fantastic otherwise.

[@NamesSuk]

@ Lawncology Bought a new home here in central Florida, unfortunately building company went cheap and did Bahia. I was wondering if there is a good method overtime to transition to a Zoysia lawn and realistic time tables if I try to re-seed the lawn. A slightly dumb question if I were to do that is there a benefit of doing the re-seed by section.

[@ttspeedster8930]

I just put down about 2500sqft of zeon zoysia about few months ago and it’s overall being doing amazing, I just have a spot that is coloring slowly but it’s coming along good, I love zoysia grass😎

[@greglopez4853]

I’m interested in zoysia tips/program! I just bought the n-ext bio package for my lawn. Hope to hear from you soon!

[@gwen2966]

I have a zoysia lawn in Montgomery AL. More tips please.

[@patriotlawncare6090]

I'm dealing with a conundrum to whereas I am located in midwest Nebraska and my 10k sq ft lawn is well established zoysia with a kbg/tttf overseed. It thatches up heavily and fungi has been an issue. I know they like living at different heights and likely require different programs. Any pointers to find a happy medium for the blend of grasses in my lawn?

[@mikeje305]

I’m a empire zoysia guy I live in Miami Florida and I don’t see much information out there about empire zoysia,if you have any tips to give me it will be much appreciated thanks

[@edwardmiller6073]

I live in NC with mostly zenith zoysia I use both liquid and granules - what kind of a program would suggest .

[@gardenhoser19]

Hey John, I have a emerald zoysia lawn that's established and over fed. I have thatch that is starting to show through the canopy. I'm wanting to start your products but should I go with rgs first or dethatch? And how is the best way to get that lateral growth without taking forever?

[@juliocs5483]

Go Dethatch liquids and use Growth Regulators which will encourage lateral growth and mow mow mow.

[@juliocs5483]

And bag clippings every other mow to help the thatch issue. More often if u still have a bad thatch issue.

[@bradkorndog857]

Good video... question as a lawn newbie...I am in zone 6b, and am looking to plant plugs/seed zoysia. However it is pre-emergent time due to soil temp (24 hr avg now is 51.5). Should I apply the pre-emergent? I believe I am about a month away for optimum soil temp for planting the zoysia (65 deg??). Hope to get some feedback.

[@thomass5169]

Used zenith zoysia seed. Night time soil temps of not below 70 for optimal growth, but it’s been high 60s at night here and seed has germinated quickly.

[@parakeeter5370]

Need help with maintaining my zoysia Meyer grass. Sections this spring looked dead, brown and patchy. What happened to my lush beautiful grass?? Some areas look like just dirt. Ugh. Help!

[@raypruitt4189]

Hi John new sub to the channel. Live in SATX and have about 20K SF zoysia lawn that was in place when we bought the house (probably installed by the builder on top of very little topsoil). The summer heat causes large areas to brown out no matter how much watering I do. What’s the best way to build up the soil min those areas? Thanks. Love the channel.

[@chrisjacobie2775]

Are you sure it’s not grubs?

[@Eli-qr9hc]

Greenville SC. I’m thinking about growing/planting a certain zoysia seed in our lawn. We have Bermuda, but it’s dying in the shady areas ( gets 4 hours of sun) so we laid caviler zoysia thin blade sod in those areas. My question is what type of zoysia seed can I throw into the Bermuda sod (save $ instead of sod) That matches the caviler (sun/shade)

[@thomass5169]

I’m in Manatee Florida, and seeding my lawn with zenith zoysia. It’s early but seed has germinated within 5 days.

[@Eli-qr9hc]

Thomas S is the zenith zoysia a thin blade like caviler zoysia? I’m trying to find a close blade match as well as color. ( secondly, is Xeon zoysia a consideration too, i just ran across this type a few minutes ago)

[@thomass5169]

Eli , I honestly don’t know. It was the only zoysia seed I could find. I purchased the seed a year ago, but only recently seeded the lawn. It may be more of a medium blade. My lawn just started germinating.

[@kennyb7883]

How short should I cut my zoysia? and whats the best way to get it to spread in a hard clay tennessee soil?

[@mattbrown6257]

Having empire zoysia installed what is your recommendation for yearly fertilizer, weed,fungus and insect control. I live in South Carolina zone.

[@Lawncology]

Keep around 2.5lbs of N 1lb each of p and K Propiconazole for fungus Bifenthrin for most bugs

[@jjlritchie]

John, When are you going to sell us smalls guys some liquid fert? Would love to know!

[@CCCC-tq8yo]

Small guys?

[@WEALRO]

Boom bio stimulant pack , kicking in it's only been 3 days or so. And I can tell. Also little milo 3 weeks ago , and I always use fish emulsion. At same time and water deep. Spoon feed is gonna be best for me

[@JR-zw9qx]

I just layed new zeon zoysia sod how long after should I put beginners fertilizer I'm in fort worth Texas

[@franciscoperez-zc7kf]

IS USING PODIUM A GOOD IDEA. I LIVE IN FT LAUDERDALE FLA

[@garylepond7070]

Hello I'm in New Jersey and I half of my front lawn is zoysia and the other is cool season. How can I get it to spread to the entire front yard?

[@TheRealJohnJ10]

Gary LePond I have the same exact problem… 3/4 of my front lawn is Zoysia. I even tried putting plugs in last season… It’s moving so slow… I just bought some zoysia seed I’m gonna try to fill the rest in with that.

[@garylepond7070]

@@TheRealJohnJ10 it's pain right?

[@WEALRO]

Thanks John

[@ChrisXCXCX]

Zoysia in North East Florida takes forever to green up. Moat customers are so used to St Augustine they won't tolerate it!

[@Ariccio123]

Naples is beautiful isn't it? That's why my grandmother lives there 😎

[@sheriffgongetcha5653]

Yes a zoysia video, thank you! I installed some el toro zoysia almost 2 months ago grass looks like its doing great(considering heat n drought in sa,tx) some thin areas where sod wasnt great.. Its only had milorganite about a month ago .. Just put down rgs and humic from bio stim pack yesterday and was thinking of putting down a liquid 16 4 8 fert for july 4th app .. Do u suggest avoiding that much nitrogen . I am very new to the lawn game .. Thanks for this and all other videos !

[@Lawncology]

SheriffGonGetcha I love el toro!!! Keep the N rates to 1/3lb per K max per feeding. Focus on soil and thatch management

[@sheriffgongetcha5653]

Lawncology Appreciate and thank you for the advice ! Looking forward to seeing the results..

[@LichaelMewis]

Why don't you recommend mechanical dethatch?

[@Lawncology]

Depends really on timing and (here comes the long answer) i’m a firm believer or of leaving as much material on the lawn as possible. What I mean by that is clippings should be mulched and returned in the soil should be able to take those down use all of the material as food and intern create a stronger soil system and plant. It tends to generally happen is over feeding of turf creates an excess of grass blade clippings which tend to pile up and essentially suffocate the soil. In times like that mechanical Practices must be taking in to consideration. It is quite simple through biological stimulation to break down thatch and get it back down into the soil where it belongs. So, while I don’t completely disagree with mechanical D thatching, I think it gets overused and there are better ways to care for a Turf through practical maintenance

[@LichaelMewis]

@@Lawncology anyway that I can send you a picture of my empire Zoysia? I mechanically dethatched it around Easter and since then it's got lots of yellow spots. I also cut it a lot lower. Last year I kept it around 3-3.5". This year I dropped it to 1". But it's not turning that lush green color.

[@Lawncology]

Mike Lewis SELA [e-mail]

[@thimitri1]

Hey John.. thanks for sharing your knowledge.. I have zeon zoysia in a neon green color.. is that the natural color? I had this installed late april and its beautiful grass. Very thick and healthy but just not green like my tiftuff Bermuda in my back and side yard...

[@neverwinterfarms]

Any thoughts on posting a generic feeding schedule for different grass types?

[@Lawncology]

Shawn Russell I would love to... however, mine would all be liquid.... I have programs for all parts of the country for all grass types

[@neverwinterfarms]

I believe a lot of guys on the forum are moving towards 100% liquid. With the spreader-mate, and DIY versions, it is the method to get the most consistency.

[@518ar]

Hey John, I live in Greene county and work just a couple buildings down from your facility. Is it possible to purchase directly from there or should I order online? Thanks!

[@Lawncology]

TobeyWan head on over

[@brianmoore9057]

John, how far north have you seen Zoysia successfully grown?

[@redram5150]

BRIAN MOORE I’m a big fan of Zoysia. My mother propagated Z-52 sod on her lawn and I’ve grown Zenith on my lawn from seed and plugging from established areas. We both live in southeast Pennsylvania. I wouldn’t doubt similar success could be seen in lower NY state. Keep in mind that all Zoysias will become dormant by mid October and “wakes up” in my area by Memorial Day. Understand that by “dormant” I mean your lawn will look dead. It’ll be tan, dry, and lifeless... but that’s up north I chose Zenith because it has many of the same qualities Z-52 has and Compadre does not. Compadre grows faster, has a different textured blade, becomes dormant sooner, and requires more water. Zenith grows very slowly, which I love about it. It uses much less water than most grasses, its turf chokes out weeds amazingly, is more drought resistant, and doesn’t become neon in late summer like other grasses

[@brianmoore9057]

K ris I live in southern Minnesota and saw a post that someone mentioned about getting it to survive in central New York and I didn’t believe it. Personally someone needs to start breeding zoysia and KBG to get the winter hardiness and slow growth.

[@thomass5169]

Red Ram, I just seeded my lawn with Zenith zoysia. Can’t wait 😊.

[@ryanonesto9067]

I just had zoysia install in my backyard but it seems lumpy. How do I level zoysia?

[@factsnotfeelings4901]

Have you tried dirt?

[@ryanonesto9067]

facts not feelings not yet I was looking for suggestions. I live in central Texas outside of Austin

[@juliodiaz3675]

Nice I live here in lehigh acres I have st agustine and having problems with it

[@jaredchambers7898]

Get to it!

[@angelellis7690]

What’s state are you in ?

[@Lawncology]

Angel Ellis in the video, Florida. Utah is my home

[@swflcichlids6879]

Naples!! You were in my Home town

[@trevormcmanis]

Which Zoysia is best for NJ?

[@Lawncology]

American One Productions NJ njaes.rutgers.edu/fs521/

[@sdowning533]

How do I choose which kind of Zoysia to use?

[@Lawncology]

S Downing where are you located?

[@CCCC-tq8yo]

Why not carbon Y

[@GregoryHoffman]

Dude 30 second intro needs to go

[@CCCC-tq8yo]

Goooooo maples grand lol

[@smokestack9795]

Would you recommend zoysia in CT?

[@whahappon3771]

Smoke Stack absolutely not

[@onesri]

Can I smoke this Grass?

[@CCCC-tq8yo]

What ur email

[@joeyggonzalez9563]

Need your email

[@CCCC-tq8yo]

Ur sure it's not fake grass lol

[@sariakhan496]

Korean

[@Kube_Dog]

Video starts at 0:33. But it's not worth it. Pass on this one.

[@rey3472]

When I saw you run your hands through that Zoysia, I cringed. Not because of you. Because the height of cut was so high. Long term, I have never seen Zoysia remain low maintenance unless it is mowed low. By low, I am talking about at less than 5/8 inch. That is how I and the lawn people that know what they are doing in Hawaii treat Japonica selections such as Empire and El Toro. It is typical for lawns in Hawaii to receive zero Nitrogen. Even with no fertilizer, unless the turf is maintained at a low height of cut, it will have a thatch problem. Of course, it is different if the turf goes through winter dormancy and a hard freeze kills the top growth. I apply up to 1/2 lb of NPK per month of growing season with micronutrients and none if the turf is going through a period of excessive growth due to high temperatures and/or excessive rain. I also growth regulate to limit vertical growth when needed.

[@Lawncology]

rey3472 yes, mow height is super important. And I agree that this is long. This is a problem with professional care right now in Florida with the way zoysia is being treated. There are plenty of places north that can handle a little taller grass, but this is a breeding ground for disease. I personally would like to see more El Toro in Florida but it’s just not around like in Hawaii. I absolutely love that grass.

[@rey3472]

I do not imagine Zoysia becoming more common in Florida any time soon. Next issue with Zoysia is Nematodes. They are a latent infection here in Hawaii. Damage appears during cool, cloudy, and wet weather when the grass is stressed. Sorry, damage is so severe that nothing nutritional or soil related turns the situation around. I have heard from lawn people in Florida about similar problems with Zoysia.

[@Lawncology]

there's a swell happening where more and more people are putting in Zoysia especially since most of the influx are northerners who are used to the look and feel of fescue! It used to primarily be high end properties but it's taking hold in a lot more neighborhoods.

[@rey3472]

These northerners are in for a rude shock when they find out how badly Zoysia will disease at Fescue heights. I get a lot of those here in Hawaii. It is a surprise for them when I scalp down to dirt, then maintain at 1/2". Oddly, this is opposite of what the academics say to do with Zoysia and diseases. They want you to mow high. I find that in cases of disease not complicated by Nematodes, scalping down to the ground often stops the disease.

[@drewsxb]

rey3472 hows it Rey and John. I recently started a z3 zoysia lawn (stolons) in Maui and looking for some advice on products to use. I am about 3 months in and probably have about 2 more months to go before every inch off the yard is covered in grass. It’s been spreading and growing nice and thick but really slow of course. I use a simple push reel mower and cutting around 3/4”. Any advice you could share would be appreciated. Mahalo!