posted on September 1st, 2010 by John
Lawn aeration is probably the single best thing a homeowner can do for an established lawn.
To look its best, a lawn should be aerated at least once per year. Aeration is the process of mechanically poking holes in the soil to allow water, oxygen, and nutrients to better penetrate to the roots of your grass.
The best time to aerate your Zoysia lawn is in the spring, just before your grass beings to grow rapidly. Aeration machines are generally available from equipment rental stores.
Aerating your Zoysia Lawn Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Make sure the ground is soft enough. Water your lawn the day before you aerate.
- Use an aerator with hollow tines which pull up plugs of earth as the machine travels along.
- Use a criss-cross pattern. Direct the machine over the entire lawn, going back and forth in one direction. Then direct the machine to cross over the first set of rows in the opposite direction.
- Put at least 12 holes per two square feet of lawn.
- If you would like to remove the plugs of soil on the grass surface, let them dry a few days, then drag a small piece of carpet across the lawn to break them apart.
- Aerate in late April, just as the lawn is ready for vigorous growth.
Don’t:
- Use solid-tine spike aerators, which provide less benefits to your lawn.
- Aerate if your Zoysia is suffering from drought, the ground is hard and dry.
- Aerate during a dormant growth period.
- Aerate your lawn within the first year of establishment.
Benefits of Aerating Your Lawn
- Allows oxygen to get to the roots and the soil, allowing it to breathe.
- Increases grass growth.
- Allows organic fertilizers and nutrients get access to the root system.
- Water is able to better soak the soil and reach the root system.
- Helps to break up thatch.
- Loosens compacted soils, allowing the root system to grow.
- Allows pesticides to become more effective.
- Reduces the amount of weeds.
Aerating is ecologically friendly and can significantly improve the quality and consistency of your lawn growth. Read more about organic lawn care for your Zoysia lawn.
posted on August 26th, 2010 by Steve Schug
Everyone enjoys a beautiful, green lawn. However, lawns can create large amounts of grass cuttings which need to be disposed of. A great way to make good use of your Zoysia clippings that is both easy and environmentally friendly is creating a compost bin in your yard. A few simple steps can help your compost bin be productive, and prevent it from turning into a slimy problem that some may associate with composting.
Tips for Composting
- Mix grass cuttings with a tough more fibrous material like hedge clippings, wood chips, and leaves. The layers of grass clippings and brown material should be alternated. This balances the nitrogen level and provides air pockets that assist the breakdown process.
- Check the moisture of the compost. The material should be like a wrung out sponge. If the compost is too wet, add dry leafy material. If the compost is too dry, add water and thoroughly mix it in.
- Aerate the compost bin occasionally. Using a garden fork, turn the compost to aid the composting process. Mix the materials to avoid packing, and to increase the air pockets.
- If you have recently applied chemicals or herbicides to your lawn, wail until the rain has washed them clean before you add them to your compost pile.
- Add lime to your compost. This will jump start the decomposition process and prevent your pile from developing an unpleasant odor.
If all goes well, you will have a nice layer of compost at the bottom of your bin. Find out more about composting, or read more about maintaining your Zoysia lawn the right way.
posted on August 19th, 2010 by Julie
While having a lush green Amazoy lawn is a great start, you may find that you want to add special elements to make your yard more appealing for outdoor activities. A yard with the right set up can be the perfect spot for hosting cookouts, family gatherings, casual conversation, or relaxing outside.
Remember your personal style, your needs, and the purpose of your outdoor space. With that in mind, you can express your individual style while still creating an amazing area.
Some Options for a More Inviting Yard
These elements can help you spruce up your yard and make it a more inviting, comfortable place.
- fire pit
- garden
- patio
- outdoor furniture
- deck
- lighting
- pool
- fountain
- wind chimes
- bird feeder, bath, or house
Bring your family together for outdoor fun any enjoy your Zoysia lawn. Read more about the benefits of Zoysia grass in your yard.
posted on August 12th, 2010 by John
Zoysia is an especially resilient grass that grows well in a wide range of climates and conditions, and requires less watering and mowing than most grasses.
Testimonials from Customers: Zoysia Provides Great Results
Zoysia grass is a warm season grass that thrives in summer heat. It stays green all summer long without supplemental watering, allowing minimal water use.
Survives summer heat and drought
“I just want to comment how happy my husband and I are with this lawn. We bought our plugs about 5 years ago. When we were on our hands and knees putting in each plug I thought this better be worth it. Well our yard is the envy of the neighborhood. Each year we could see it spreading. Now it is like a carpet. It is so thick. Last year in the dry weather everyone’s yard was brown. Ours looked great. I know people thought we were watering in the dark of night. My husband and I are so proud of our Zoysia yard.” — K.M.
Zoysia grass is so thick that it physically prevents weeds from entering. The lawn that forms will crowd out weeds, reducing your need for weed control chemicals.
No more weeds
“Although it was a lot of work planting the plugs (we had a large lawn) the work was well worth the effort. After about two growing seasons, our lawn looked so beautiful, without any weeds, that our lawn was the envy of the neighborhood.” — U.D.
Zoysia Prospers in Every Region
New England/Northeast — CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, and VT
Mid-Atlantic – DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, and WV
Southeast — AL, FL, GA, NC, MS, SC, and TN
South Central — AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, and TX
North Central — IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, and WI
Southwest — AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV, and UT
Northwest & Plains — ID, MN, MT, ND, NE, SD, and WY
Read more testimonials from customers of Zoysia Farm Nurseries, and see how Zoysia grass thrives in every climate.
posted on August 4th, 2010 by Steve Schug
Installing borders in your yard is a great way to separate your Zoysia lawn from your garden beds, patio, neighboring lawns, and driveway. Our Easy Edge® is a decorative lawn edging system specially designed for defining your Zoysia grass.
Benefits of Lawn Edging
- Defines your yard.
- Creates practical borders.
- Gives you a neat mowing and trimming line, while saving time.
- Provides a root barrier to prevent grasses from entering flower beds.
- Adapts to straight or curved areas with ease.
Putting a lawn edging system in place is a practical way to give your yard a clean and finished look without a great deal of work. Plastic or metal borders can be inserted six inches into your Zoysia lawn to keep it from growing in unwanted areas of your yard.
Installing Easy Edge®
- It is flexible and easy to install.
- Made of durable plastic, Easy-Edge® is corrugated for extra strength.
- Withstands -30° temperatures and will last for years.
- Our Step-On Edger is helpful for installation.
Watch our instructional video on installing an edging system into your Zoysia lawn.
posted on July 28th, 2010 by Steve Schug
In order to keep your Zoysia lawn looking fresh and healthy, it’s important to make sure your grass is receiving the right amount of water.
When to Water Zoysia
The best time to water your lawn is in the morning, preferably before noon. This allows the grass to dry before nightfall, reducing the risk of disease.
One benefit of Zoysia grass is its ability to stay thick and green with much less water than many other types of grasses, helping you save on your water bill! Amazoy will require up to 80% less irrigation than other types of grass, and will only need supplemental watering if there has been little rainfall.
A good way to test if your grass needs watering is to look at the surrounding ground. If the dirt is dry and cracking, its time to water your Zoysia grass. Be sure to avoid over watering, because excessive watering can damage the roots. If you have questions, check out our Moisture Meter to determine your grass’ watering needs.
Moisture of Zoysia
To maximize growth of Zoysia grass, the plug roots should not be saturated. Because Zoysia’s vigorous root system is so deep and extensive, once the lawn becomes established, little, if any, supplemental watering will be needed to maintain your lawn.
Try these items geared specifically for watering your Zoysia lawn.
posted on July 23rd, 2010 by Steve Schug
Your Zoysia grass offers a comfortable place for you and your family to be active and enjoy the outdoors. Lawn games are fun activities which bring your family together during free time. Your lawn can also keep your guests active and happy while livening up your family reunion or barbecue with some backyard fun.
Lawn Games
Below are some lawn games you might want to try while spending time outside enjoying your Zoysia lawn.
- Croquet
- Bocce Ball
- Horseshoe
- Bean Bag Toss
- Cornhole
- Ladderball
- Washers
- Badminton
- Volleyball
posted on July 14th, 2010 by Steve Schug
There are many different types of fertilizers that claim to help nourish your lawn. With all the options that are out there, it is difficult to know which is right for your lawn. You should be aware of what kind of fertilizer is right for an Amazoy zoysia lawn.
Granular Fertilizers
Granular fertilizers are probably the type of fertilizer you are most familiar with. While these are most common and popular with homeowners, they are not best for your zoysia lawn.
Granular fertilizers tend to simply sit on the surface of grass, causing burns that could damage your plugs. The nutrients never reach the roots, where they are most needed.
Water Soluble Fertilizers
Water Soluble Fertilizers allow for the fertilizer to dissolve in the water, which takes the nutrients directly to the roots. This provides your grass with vital food elements that help it grow to become lush and healthy.
Read more about our own fertilizer, Nutri-20, and how to apply it.
posted on July 7th, 2010 by Steve Schug
As we learn more and more about how to best take care of the earth around us, here are a few tips on how to make lawn care more eco-friendly.
Water
Most grasses only require an inch of water per week, and with zoysia grass, that is even less. Be wary of how much you are watering; too much can be bad for your lawn and your wallet.
To give the grass the water it needs, water in the early morning or evening so that less evaporation occurs. Also, think about using rain barrels to reduce dependence on your town or city’s water source. It can also save you money.
Mowers
While electric mowers can save gas emissions, they still use up energy resources. Try using a reel mower. While older reel mowers might have a bad reputation, newer reel mowers have sharp blades and cut just as well as electric
Clippings
Next time you think to buy fertilizer for your lawn, consider leaving lawn clippings. Lawn clippings can provide as a great natural fertilizer and don’t cause thatch buildup.
Nutrients
When adding nutrient to alter your soil, make sure that you are using organic products like organic lime or elemental sulfur. This will help your soil absorb sunlight and water the appropriate way, ultimately conserving resources.
posted on June 22nd, 2010 by Julie
Zoysia Farm Nurseries’ Nutri-20 fertilizer helps you have a beautiful, lush green lawn. But it doesn’t stop there. It will help you grow plumper, tastier tomatoes, sweeter melons, bigger roses, and healthier shrubs.
Nutri-20 is different than granular fertilizers, which simply sit on the surface, causing burns that would damage the plugs. Our fertilizer is water soluble, which helps release nutrients much faster. Since zoysia grass is thick and hearty, the water soluble nature of the Nutri-20 fertilizer allows for the nutrients to reach the roots, providing your grass plugs with vital food elements that help it grow.
If you are looking to use Nutri-20 for your lawn, note that a 5 lb. bag will cover approximately 4,000 square feet of lawn. The tips below will help you apply Nutri-20 to your lawn, plants, and shrubs.
Gilmour Hand Held Sprayer:
1. Put 1 cup of Nutri-20 into sprayer.
2. Fill to top of sprayer with water.
3. Shake well to dissolve Nutri-20.
4. Attach to hose, turn on water, and begin spraying.
5. Covers 350 square feet of lawn.
6. When sprayer is empty fertilizing is complete.
Ortho Dial Sprayer:
First, set your dial to 8 ounces. Then follow the instructions below.
1. Put 1 cup of Nutri-20 into sprayer.
2. Fill to top of sprayer with water.
3. Shake will to dissolve Nutri-20.
4. Attach to hose, turn on water, and begin spraying.
5. Covers 350 square feet of lawn.
6. When water in sprayer is clear fertilizing is complete.
For Watering Can:
- Use 2 teaspoons per gallon of water.
See additional information about Zoysia Farm Nurseries’ Nutri-20 fertilizer.
