Zoysia grass can be grown from seed, sod, or plugs. Zoysia is a slow grower so sod or plugs are most commonly used. However, there are innovative seed products on the market, such as Scotts® Turf Builder® Zoysia Grass Seed and Mulch that make seeding zoysia a good option.

Why is Zoysia seed so expensive?

Here in the Midwest, zoysia seed has a difficult time establishing because of our cool soil temperatures. Thus, most people who choose zoysia grass must plant it in plugs or sod during the summer months. This can get pricey.

How do I grow Zoysia grass on my existing lawn?

Seeding an Existing Lawn: Method 2 Plant the seed as directed, then rake lightly to cover the seed no deeper than ¼” deep. Water daily for 30 days, keeping the seed moist at all times. After seedlings emerge and grass is established, reduce watering frequency and water only as needed.

How often do you water Zoysia grass seed?

The lawn should be watered daily for at least three weeks to keep the seeds moist. After the grass has emerged, water less often but apply more water each time.

Should you let Zoysia grass go to seed?

Self-Seeding Some grasses, such as “Meyer” zoysia (Zoysia japonica “Meyer”), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 10, establish very slowly from seeds, which need to mature on the stems before they can germinate. Any benefit from self-seeding would be slow in coming.

How long does it take for Zoysia grass seed to grow?

Under ideal growing conditions, seeds will take 14 to 21 days to germinate. During this time, keep soil consistently moist but not soggy. You can switch back to a regular watering schedule once your new grass is established.

Is Zoysia grass hard to maintain?

Zoysia grass requires frequent mowing, and can thicken and become difficult to mow. To maintain an attractive lawn, you may have to switch from a rotary mower to a reel mower to avoid scalping or cutting the zoysia grass too short.

Does Zoysia grass grow in the shade?

Zoysia prefers full sun, but it tolerates light shade — unlike Bermudagrass and other sun-loving, warm-season grasses.

How quickly does Zoysia spread?

The closer you space your Zoysia plugs, the quicker they’ll get established and spread. If properly cared for (see Zoysia Maintenance Tips for more on this), your plugs will spread about 1-2 inches per month in each direction during the growing season.

Is Zoysia better than fescue?

Fescue tolerates more shade and cold weather than zoysiagrass. Zoysia tolerates more wear, salt and drought conditions than fescue, making zoysia a better choice for high-traffic areas and coastal locations that receive salt spray. Both grasses grow well in a wide range of soil types.

Which is better Zoysia or Bermuda grass?

While both Zoysia and Bermuda are known to be traffic tolerant, Bermuda grass is particularly more sturdy and can tolerate heavier traffic including children regularly playing on the lawn. Between the two, Zoysia is more resistant to disease and pests, however both types do suffer from these problems.

How do you make Zoysia grass greener?

Use a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer that will last up to six months in the soil. This reduces the active nitrogen available to the plant and slowly feeds it consistently as it’s greening up.

Is it bad if grass goes to seed?

Homeowners can rest assured that grass going to seed is perfectly healthy. It is the natural process for grass to reproduce itself. Grass going to seed is a good sign the plant is actually healthy and growing well. Don’t fret, you don’t need to replace your lawn.

Can you plant Zoysia grass seed in the summer?

The ideal time to plant zoysia is in mid- to late spring (after the final frost) or early summer. It can also be planted in fall, a minimum of 60 days before the first frost is expected.