How to Care for New Zoysia Sod
Zoysia is a warm-season grass that thrives in full sun with little water. The grass is a good choice for low-maintenance lawns because it is low, slow growing and requires only moderate amounts of fertilizer. If your new zoysia sod lawn starts to turn yellow, the problem is poor care. Establishing new zoysia requires careful cultural practices that will give the grass a good head start in root establishment. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hose end sprinkler
- Garden hose
- Rain gauge
- Granulated fertilizer (16-4-8)
Instructions
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Water your lawn frequently using a garden hose and hose-end sprinkler. Use low amounts of water for the first seven to 10 days in order to prevent the grass from drying until the roots have a chance to become established. Use the equivalent of 1/4 inch of rain water up to four times daily. Decrease this until you no longer water except during drought periods. Zoysia is a very drought-tolerant grass that rarely needs water.
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Sprinkle a granulated fertilizer such as a (16-4-8) over your lawn in the amount recommended by the fertilizer package.
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Mow zoysia at a height of 1 to 2 inches. Zoysia has a shorter mowing height than most other types of turf.
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Run a dethatching machine over zoysia in spring. Dethatching machines are typically available for rent at many garden centers or equipment stores.
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Aerate zoysia lawns in high traffic areas in spring after dethatching. A core aerator operates similar to a lawn mower and may be rented from a garden center or equipment store.
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Tips & Warnings
Test the soil of your zoysia lawn every three to five years by taking 10 samples with a coring device. Mix these samples and take them to a soil laboratory for testing. Adjust your fertilizer in response to any deficiencies in the soil. You can find a list of good soil laboratories from your county extension service.
