Warm-season grass
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia is the grass people fall in love with when they see an established one. It grows into a thick, dense turf that feels like a carpet underfoot and crowds out most weeds on its own. It takes a bit more shade than bermuda and holds up to traffic. The trade-off is patience, because it is slow to establish and slow to green up in spring.
At a glance
- Season
- Warm season
- Also called
- zoysiagrass
- Best window
- April 1 to July 31
- Soil temperature
- 70°F soil or warmer
- Seed per 1,000 sq ft
- 1 to 2 lb of seed
How to spot it
Fine to medium blade, very dense and stiff. It spreads by runners and underground stems like bermuda but at a fraction of the speed, so it is far less likely to run wild into your beds.
Looking after zoysia grass
What this grass wants through the year.
- Mowing
- One to two inches suits most home zoysia. It is stiff enough that a sharp blade matters, and a dull mower will shred the tips and leave it looking ragged.
- Watering
- Drought tolerant once it is established. Early on it needs steady water to root in, but a mature zoysia lawn gets by on very little.
- Feeding
- Light to moderate nitrogen in the growing season, less than bermuda wants. It is easy to overdo it, which just feeds thatch.
- Weeds & pests
- A thick zoysia stand shades the soil so well that weeds have a hard time getting started, which is half its appeal. Thatch buildup is the main upkeep item over the years.
- Planting & establishing
- Late spring into summer, almost always from sod or plugs rather than seed. Budget for a slow fill-in. Plugs can take a couple of seasons to knit together into full turf.
Good for
Homeowners who want a beautiful, low-weed lawn and are willing to wait for it. Good for yards with a bit of shade and moderate traffic.
Watch out for
The slow start, and a long dormant brown season like bermuda. It also greens up later in spring than most, so it is the last lawn on the block to wake up.
Working on your lawn
Knowing the grass is half of it
You know what you have now. The calculators work out how much seed, feed or sod Zoysia Grass takes, and the calendar says whether this is even the month to be buying it.
Common questions
- Is zoysia grass low maintenance?
- Once it is established, yes. A mature zoysia lawn is dense enough to keep most weeds out and gets by on modest water and feeding. The work is all up front, since it is slow to establish from plugs or sod and slow to green up each spring.
- How long does zoysia take to fill in?
- From plugs, often a full season or two to knit into complete turf. Sod is instant coverage but costs more. Either way, zoysia rewards patience and does not like to be rushed.
Care guidance reflects general practice for the Carolinas. Your soil, sun, and site vary, so a soil test and your local extension office are the last word on your own lawn.