posted on May 8th, 2012 by admin
Composting is the natural process that turns organic material like leaves, grass clippings and twigs into a dark rich substance that is fantastic for lawns and gardens. By adding compost to your Zoysia lawn, it will help the grass grow in thicker and healthier. This is because an organic matter in the compost helps soil retain nutrients and water.
Uses of Compost
- soil conditioning
- lawn dressing
- erosion control
- a potting soil component
- mulching
Benefits of Compost
As opposed to some fertilizers, composting won’t burn your grass if you accidentally use too much and it won’t stain your walkways or concrete patios around your lawn. It is also prone to show results quickly.
Placing Compost on Your Zoysia Lawn
Compost can be used as a natural fertilizer for planting new lawns or for maintaining your existing lawn.
When distributing compost across bare ground for a new lawn, be sure to use a generous amount. Mix 4 to 6 inches of compost into the soil. Once the grass plugs are planted, thoroughly water the area.
When distributing compost across your existing lawn, place piles of a shovel-full throughout your lawn about one foot apart. Using a rake spread the compost throughout the lawn until the compost is in a thin layer about ¼ to ½ inch thick. A thin layer of compost will break down quickly, releasing nutrients into the lawn without smothering your grass. After the compost is distributed, water your lawn well.
Compost works as a conditioner to your lawn, keeping it healthy and green. It is safe, organic, and with just 1 – 2 applications per year it can make a significant positive impact on your lawn’s health. Interested in composting? Read more about how to create compost from grass clippings to use on your Zoysia lawn.
posted on April 24th, 2012 by admin
As the weather warms up, that sprinkler system does start to get tempting. Sure, it’s an investment, but it will make sure the grass and garden alike are watered just right, with little thought. And hey – the kids will enjoy it too!
Of course, Zoysia grass doesn’t need much watering! Unless there hasn’t been any rain for some time, it will do just fine with very little maintenance. But what about those flower beds?
While sprinklers might seem like a great solution, unfortunately they tend to waste a lot of water. As OrganicGardening.com points out, we’ve all seen that sprinkler that waters the sidewalk more than the garden! Not only are sprinklers far from “green” when it comes to conservation, they can actually encourage plant diseases, which could mean an end to the green in your lawn and garden, too. Instead, we recommend judicious hand watering with a hand sprayer or even a watering can.
So, how do you know if it’s time to water your garden? A good measure is that green thumb of yours! Stick it in the soil about two inches, and if the soil is not moist, it’s time for a little shower. For those looking for a more precise way to measure your garden’s moisture we offer an easy-to-use Moisture Meter. Just be sure not to overwater – the soil should get nice and damp, not soggy, when you’re finished.
To make the most of your water, put it on your plants early in the morning before the hot sun comes and evaporates it. This way the garden has time to drink it up and you’ll get more bang for your drop!
Of course, the best way to conserve water and make sure that your garden doesn’t get thirsty is to let Mother Nature do the job. Watch the forecast carefully and schedule your regular watering so it doesn’t fall too closely to an upcoming rainfall.
posted on April 9th, 2012 by admin
The time is here. The weather is warming and your grass is starting to green. To get your grass ready for a healthy, lush summer, there are a few maintenance tasks for you to do.
First things first – weeds. While Zoysia grass is incredibly resilient and can choke out many weeds on its own, it is not entirely immune to the occasional weed. Start your spring prep by spot weeding any that have appeared over the winter or early spring. If you find yourself faced with weeds from the crabgrass family, you’ll need to use a pre-emergence product that will kill the seeds before they have a chance to germinate. For the best results, pre-emergence products should be used in early spring and again in the fall.
As new green shoots start appearing, this is the time to apply your fertilizer. There are two great options for giving your Zoysia a leg up as the growing season starts. First is our water-soluble Nutri–20 fertilizer. Second, we now sell organic Turf Thrive, a concentrated blend of bacteria and microbes that strengthen your lawn naturally. Remember most granulate type fertilizers are not appropriate for zoysia lawns. Read all labels carefully.
If possible, take some time to aerate your lawn. It is one of the single best things a homeowner can do for an established lawn. Aeration is the process of poking holes in your lawn to allow water and nutrients to penetrate to the roots of the grass. Aeration machines are generally available from equipment rental stores. We’ve created a list of Do’s and Don’ts of lawn aeration that can be found here.
Finally, check to see how much thatch is building up in your lawn. This layer of material called “thatch” is an accumulation of cuttings and stems that build up between the grass blades. This buildup can prevent air, water, and light from reaching the surface of the soil. You can remove thatch by using a hard rake or our organic liquid thatch remover. This doesn’t need to be done every year, just when necessary.
posted on March 27th, 2012 by admin
If you’re considering purchasing Zoysia plugs for your lawn, there are a few things you need to consider when placing your order and planting the plugs upon delivery.
Zoysia plugs require less maintenance, produce a heartier lawn and can be planted throughout the growing season. That said it is important to consider the size of the area you’re interested in planting and how quickly you’d like the area to fill in. Typically, we suggest planting one plug per square foot. If you’d like to reduce the amount of time your Zoysia lawn takes to fill in, we recommend planting two plugs per square foot — one plug every six inches.
Need help figuring out square footage and how many plugs to buy for your space? Try this easy to use Plug Calculator. Simply divide your lawn into sections, enter the length and width of each and how far apart you’d like to plant your plugs – The calculator will quickly tell you how many plugs you’ll need.
posted on March 7th, 2012 by admin
Granulated chemical fertilizers are those little colored balls that you sprinkle all over your lawn and try to keep your pets from eating. They are rich with nitrogen and phosphorus, which are great for plant growth, however they have to seep into the ground to be absorbed through the plants’ roots. Often the fertilizer will soak all the way into the water table and eventually into lakes and rivers. Even worse, when you spread the granulated fertilizer on your lawn, it often gets flung onto sidewalks, streets and driveways. The fertilizer then gets washed directly into water sources when it rains.
When fertilizer gets into water sources, it upsets the balance of the water ecosystem causing organisms to die out. The scary part is that American homeowners tend to use four times as much fertilizer per square foot of land as farmers do. That is *way* too much fertilizer. Most cold weather grasses only need to be fertilized twice a year, at the beginning and end of the season. Zoysia needs even less fertilizer, once a year at the beginning of the season. This is why Zoysia Farms is very particular about the fertilizer we use and sell.
Our main fertilizer, Nutri-20, is different than the typical granulated chemical fertilizer that you sprinkle all over your lawn. Nutri-20 is a water soluble fertilizer and is absorbed through the leaves of the grass or plants instead of the roots. This is more environmentally friendly as the fertilizer does not lay on the ground where it can wash into the river system or soak into the water table.
This year Zoysia Farms has also added a whole line of new organic outdoor products to its store. These products are made from microbes that naturally exist in soil, instead of being man made. Turf Thrive is one such product, using microbes to stimulate root growth and make soil healthy for your grass. You can complement this with Gluten-8, a corn gluten solution that keeps weeds from germinating, killing weed seeds off before they even start growing. There are a number of other products like these that can be used to naturally enhance your lawn and garden. These include herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, plant food and thatch remover.
Chemicals can be dangerous to your children, pets, plants and the environment as a whole. We’re very proud of only carrying products that let you enhance your lawn and garden naturally and safely. Feel free to ask us any questions you have about Nutri-20 or our new organic product line and how they can work for your lawn.
posted on February 8th, 2012 by admin
One of the key reasons customers choose Zoysia is that it has the ability to grow in a variety of soil types, climates, geographical locations and outdoor applications from home lawns to golf courses.
Homeowners and groundskeepers alike prefer Zoysia over other grasses because it thrives with little mowing or watering. In fact, lush, green Zoysia grass can be achieved in just a few growing seasons with very little mowing or watering.
Take a look at the difference Zoysia made for these lawns:
Before: The shade of this Ohio front yard made it difficult for thick, green grass to grow.
After: Despite the shade, this Zoysia lawn has thrived for several years.
Before: This mid-Atlantic backyard was thin and difficult to maintain.
After: Two growing seasons later, the Zoysia grass has filled in the patchy spots that appeared before.
Before: The 13th hole at this Marietta County golf course in Georgia suffered winter-kill turning the second landing area dry and brown.
After: The repaired landing area is once again lush and green – Helping golfers play their best.
posted on January 10th, 2012 by admin
When you have children or pets, your lawn can take quite a beating. Kids love to run and play. Pets love to dig and run. Having a strong, hearty grass will save your lawn from the abuse and Zoysia is a wonderful grass that can fit the bill for active families.
Zoysia does not require the same dangerous chemicals that other grasses do because Zoysia naturally resists bugs and weeds. This saves you from having to dump harsh pesticides and weed killers on your grass. Established Zoysia also requires very little fertilizing. Pets and children can romp on the lawn without the risks associated with chemicals.
The way Zoysia grows outward along the ground makes it resilient to damage. This means that it can take a beating with very little lasting effect. The kids can play, the dog can run and dad can practice his golf swing, all without worrying about the grass. In the event that your Zoysia lawn *does* get damaged, it will actually heal itself by filling in the hole.
One of the harsh realities of owning a pet is that they use the lawn as a bathroom. Zoysia is more tolerant to pet waste than other grasses. No grass can survive constant, prolonged exposure in the same spot from pet waste. Some grasses react to even a little pet waste, turning brown after occasional exposure. Keep pets off of new plugs for the first 30 days while they become established. After that, it’s fine to let Fido enjoy your Zoysia lawn.
posted on December 15th, 2011 by admin
Around here, we’re quite passionate about Zoysia. That’s why we’ve devoted ourselves to helping others enjoy it! One of the reasons we love Zoysia so much is that it’s a very unique and special grass.
Here are some fun facts we bet you didn’t know about your Zoysia lawn:
- Zoysia was originally a wild grass native to China before being recognized as a good, fast covering grass.
- Over 5,000 years ago, Zoysia was used to cover earthen grave sites so loved ones would have the covering of nature to protect them.
- Instead of just growing vertically like most grasses, Zoysia grows out. It forms a thick network of runner that fills your yard and creates a dense, arterial root system below ground.
- The way Zoysia grows out instead of only up makes it very resilient to damage and able to fill in quickly if it does get hurt. This makes it popular in areas that take heavy abuse, such as golf courses and pathways.
- Zoysia can survive in extreme conditions, withstanding temperatures from 120˚ to –30˚ Fahrenheit. No other turf grass can survive such a range of temperature.
- Zoysia requires about two-thirds less mowing than other grasses. Awesome right?
posted on November 7th, 2011 by admin
With the cold snap imminent, some of you are going to notice your grass turning a tawny-brown color. No need to worry, this is quite natural. Zoysia, like trees, goes dormant after the first hard frost — But instead of losing leaves, its green color fades.
Zoysia’s dormancy is a safeguard against colder temperatures, up to -30˚ F in fact! Just like trees that regrow their leaves in the spring, Zoysia will come back lush each spring once the soil reaches 50˚F. This behavior is what let’s Zoysia thrive in even the hottest summers.
Most grasses go dormant at some point in the year. “Cool season” grasses do the opposite, they go dormant and brown in the warm summer months. Zoysia is categorized as a “warm season” grass, so it goes dormant in the winter and is green in the summer, just when you want your grass nice and lush.
Depending on where you live, your Zoysia may not go dormant at all. If your winters are mild, your lawn will be green year round. Either way, come spring, your lawn will be back to its lush, beautiful green in no time!
posted on October 4th, 2011 by admin
With winter coming, it is time to get your lawn ready for the cold. Zoysia grass is a “warm season” grass and goes dormant in the cold months, turning a tawny-brown color after the first hard frost. This is a good thing! Dormancy helps the grass survive the cold months while still coming back as the temperature warms. It is a very normal process and the grass will be back in no time without any work needed from you.
To get your grass ready, mow it at about 1.5 to 2.5 inches during the fall. Make sure to collect any of the grass clippings so that you don’t get dead spots come spring. You don’t need to fertilize your grass at this time. Fertilizing is better done in the summer months when the grass is growing.
Overall Zoysia grass is strong and fairly self-sufficient. Keeping your Zoysia strong during summer will let it go into winter strong. Dethatch to help water and nutrients reach the soil is fine at this time of year, even better done in the Spring. One of the very best thing you can do for your lawn is aerating it. Fall is a great time to do this. Then just sit back and enjoy how easy Zoysia is while you wait for Spring.
