When And How To Plant Zenith Zoysia Grass Seed For A Soft, Green Lawn

Zenith zoysia grass (Zoysia japonica) is one of the more cold-tolerant varieties of zoysia grass on the market. It can thrive in hardiness zones 5b through 11a, or zones 1 through 4 on the turfgrass hardiness map, making it one of the best grasses for places with cooler weather. You'll find it in lawns all across the United States, as far north as Connecticut. It forms a dense turf that holds up to heavy foot traffic and crowds out weeds in your lawn. Native to Asia, zoysia grass also boasts impressive heat and drought tolerance, remaining lush and green even when temperatures soar above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. And because it's drought-tolerant, zenith zoysia grass doesn't requires as much water or fertilizer as other turf grasses.

With that said, it does take a little extra care and attention to get a new zenith zoysia lawn established, especially when growing the grass from seed. This species is slow growing so it's important to prepare the site, water frequently, and weed regularly to minimize competition while your new lawn is getting established. You should also seed your lawn as early in the warm season as possible so it has plenty of warm months ahead to develop its roots before the first frost.

Because zoysia grass has a slow growth rate, most people establish a new zoysia grass lawn by using sod or plugs. However, it's not impossible to establish a full lawn from seed. It's just going to take longer and require more work on your part up front. The best germination rates occur when temperatures are between 86 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you live in a cooler climate with a shorter warm season, you might need to plant earlier to ensure the seed has enough time to establish before the first frost. You can spread see when the soil surface temperature reaches at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Seed at a rate of 1 or 2 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Before spreading seed, remove any existing vegetation from the area so that you're laying seed on bare soil. After scattering the seed, use a rake to lightly cover them with soil. Then, add a layer of wheat straw (not hay, which contains seeds) to help the soil retain moisture while your seeds are germinating. The newly seeded lawn should never be allowed to dry out. Water it lightly three or four times per day to keep it constantly moist for the best germination results. It typically takes at least 10 days for seeds to germinate, even in optimal conditions. So be patient and continue watering, even if you're not seeing immediate results.

After the initial phase of daily watering to help your newly seeded zoysia lawn get established, you can cut back to watering on an as-needed basis. The drought-tolerant grass only needs 1 inch of rainfall per week. So you only need to water during weeks when it doesn't rain enough. When you do water, apply the full inch of water your lawn needs for the week in one watering session. Letting the soil dry out completely between watering will encourage roots to grow deeper and make your lawn more drought-tolerant.

In addition to needing relatively little water, zoysia grass also needs less fertilizer than most turf grasses. One application of a nitrogen fertilizer when it first greens up in the spring is usually enough to maintain a vibrant, green lawn through the warm season. You can also skip fertilizer altogether and return nitrogen to the soil by leaving grass clippings on your lawn after you mow. For best results, mow your lawn once a week during the growing season and rake the clippings to spread them evenly across your lawn or use a mulching mower. This will provide a steady supply of nitrogen-rich clippings all season long.

When you first notice your lawn greening up in the spring, mow it at the lowest setting on your mower to cut away the dead grass blades. This will encourage more fresh, new growth quickly. After that first mow, stick to a cutting height of 1 or 2 inches.