If the damage is minimal, wait before applying an insecticide. This is not the best time to apply an insecticide for insect control because of cool soil temperatures and reduced insect activity. However, an early warm-up can lead to significant mole cricket activity. Heavy populations can be reduced through appropriately timed insecticide treatments during this period. If grubs the white larvae of beetles, such as Japanese beetles have been a problem in previous years, monitor the grubs by cutting a square foot piece of sod on three sides and peel it back.
If more than six grubs are found under the sod piece, apply a lawn insecticide labelled for grub control according to label directions. Fertilization: Fertilization of zoysiagrass should be based on soil test results, and this is a good time to test soil. However, fertilizers containing nitrogen should not be applied during this period unless the lawn is located along the coast and no frost is predicted. If new turfgrass growth is encouraged by fertilization during the early spring and this is followed by a late frost, the result can be significant damage to the lawn.
Irrigation: During dormancy, water the lawn to prevent excessive dehydration. Winter desiccation can be a problem during dry winters. Watering to prevent drought stress can help eliminate turf loss during winter.
Most areas of South Carolina receive enough rainfall during the winter to avoid winter desiccation of lawns. However, this is not always the case. Monitor the winter rainfall on a regular basis and apply water to the turf if no measurable rain occurs over a 3 to 4 week period.
The added moisture in the soil will help keep the growing points of the turf warmer, preventing crown death. To manage a lawn, it is important to know the soil texture in the top foot of soil. Sandy soils do not hold moisture well since they drain freely and dry out faster.
Clay soils, however, will hold moisture for a longer period. Do not allow the lawn to stay excessively wet if the lawn has a clay soil. If the soil stays saturated all winter, this can cause many other problems. A soil probe can be used to monitor the soil moisture. Mowing heights below 1 inch will require a reel type mower to achieve satisfactory results, and with zoysiagrass, a reel type mower will give better results at any height.
During periods of environmental stress, high temperatures, or a lack of rainfall, slightly raise the mowing height until the stress is eliminated. Always mow with a sharp mower blade and use a mulching type mower to leave the clippings to decompose on the lawn.
The mower blade will need sharpening on a regular basis, which is usually about once a month. If the bagger is picking up soil, especially sand, the mower blade may need to be sharpened more often than once per month. Fertilization: Always fertilize and add lime or sulfur based on a soil test. Zoysiagrass will grow best at a pH of 6 to 6. If a soil test shows a higher pH, sulfur can be applied to lower it. Apply 5 pounds of pelletized sulfur per square feet of turf.
In 3 months, recheck the soil pH to see what change was made. It may take several years for a large pH change to occur. Soils in the Upstate are typically acidic and usually do not need sulfur applications, but they likely may benefit from lime applications.
Zoysiagrass lawns should receive 2 to 4 pounds of actual nitrogen per growing season per square feet of turf. The higher rate may be used on zoysiagrass lawn grown on sandy soils, and the lower rate for lawns grown on clay soils.
An application of a soluble iron product will enhance the green color without creating excessive growth. The rate will depend on soil type. A soil test will help determine if a fertilizer containing phosphorus, the middle number in the fertilizer analysis, is sufficient for the lawn. See the section on fertilizer calculations below to determine how much granular fertilizer product should be applied.
The need for phosphorus is determined by a soil test. It is important for the soil to have sufficient potassium, especially late in the growing season as the grass enters dormancy. Potassium is important for disease resistance and cold weather hardiness. A long-term approach is needed to correct either cause, but iron can be added to quickly enhance turf color between the spring and summer fertilizer applications.
Note: A yellow appearance may also arise in early spring. This could indicate an iron or manganese deficiency due to soil temperatures lagging behind air temperatures, high pH soils, or high phosphorous levels. Spraying with iron ferrous sulfate at 2 ounces in 3 to 5 gallons of water per 1, square feet or applying a chelated iron product will help to enhance turf color.
Fertilizing with a micronutrient fertilizer, such as manganese sulfate, can help alleviate manganese deficiencies. However, as the soil temperatures start to climb, the yellowing should slowly go away. Lime or sulfur may also be added if a soil test indicates a need. Be aware, it could take several months for lime and sulfur applications to begin to affect the soil pH. To determine amount of product required to apply 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1, square feet, divide by the first number on the fertilizer bag.
This will give the number of pounds of fertilizer product to apply to square feet of turf. Irrigation: Water to prevent drought stress. Monitor the lawn on a regular basis to assess the need for irrigation. Wait to irrigate again when the lawn shows moisture stress. There are several ways to determine when the lawn needs watering.
One way is to monitor the lawn daily. When the turf begins to dry, it will appear to have a bluish color. Another method is to walk across the lawn late in the evening. Starter fertilizers are normally rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium the three main ingredients that feed lawns to ensure root growth gets a jump-start as soon as the new grass is laid down.
These fertilizers contain nutrients in specific balanced formulas depending on the grass mix, the nutrients that already exist in the soil and the climate in your area. Testing your soil is a good first step in helping calculate the right amount and kind of fertilizer to use. Work the starter fertilizer into the soil, and leave the site damp as you place and then roll the sod. Starter fertilizers are different in composition than maintenance fertilizers, so test the soil as needed to ensure it's correctly balanced.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Even in warmer climates, most zoysia grass goes dormant over the winter months, often turning dry and brown while it waits out the weather.
Don't fertilize while the grass is dormant, explains the team at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Doing so can "wake up" the grass to begin growing, and then, when cooler weather continues, it can suffer damage. Start maintenance fertilization on zoysia grass in the spring, when the grass has come out of dormancy and the lawn is approximately 50 percent green. This will help keep the vibrant green color of the grass and promote healthy growth and strong root development.
The fertilizer that you choose should contain nitrogen and potassium to get the best out of your Zoysia lawn. The perfect fertilizer would be a slow-release granular fertilizer with a N-P-K ratio. This means that it contains three parts nitrogen, one part phosphorus, and two parts potassium. A N-P-K ratio is ideal when your lawn is established. Apply solid fertilizer to your lawn using a push spreader. A drop spreader for small areas or a more efficient rotary or broadcast spreader for larger areas.
A liquid fertilizer can be applied easily to your lawn by attaching its container to the end of your hose. This is ideal for all Southern lawns and has been specially formulated for Zoysia and other warm season grasses, and the best time to apply the weed and feed is in early spring. You will need 3. One bottle will cover up to 3, square feet. The pH level of your lawn is important, and you should check this with a home soil test kit when applying fertilizer. The ideal pH level for Zoysia would be between six and seven.
You can add lawn lime and sulfur to your soil to correct an over-acidic pH imbalance. Most Zoysia lawns will require three to four applications of fertilizer throughout the year. You can add pesticides, soil enhancers, pre-emergent and post-emergent weed killers to your fertilizer application to increase the benefits of your treatment and for improved weed control. Be careful not to over-fertilize your lawn, as this will cause more damage than good and create thatch in your grass.
Nitrogen is the primary nutrient that Zoysia needs. It usually requires pounds of nitrogen per 1, square feet annually. Phosphorus is excellent for root growth and also helps with the development of seeds.
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