Posts Tagged ‘ grass plugs ’

Why is My Zoysia Grass Brown?

posted on March 24th, 2010 by Steve Schug

After the first hard frost, you may be wondering why your grass has started to turn a tawny-brown tone. You don’t need to worry! Zoysia grass, like a deciduous tree, goes dormant after the first hard frost, when cold weather is moving in. The lush green color will fade.

In fact, most grasses have the tendency to go dormant at some point in the year. Winter causes dormancy for zoysia grass because it is categorized as a “warm season” grass. Cool season grasses are the opposite, and can go dormant in warm summer month, just when most people want to enjoy their lawn.

These photos, found at Gardens Gardens blog, show exactly what zoysia dormancy looks like.

This is healthy, and a part of the grass’ process. Zoysia’s ability to go dormant in winter helps it withstand colder temperatures, while still allowing it to come back lush every spring and remain green even in the full heat of summer.

In fact, some of you may not experience this dormancy at all. If you live in a region with mild winters, your lawn will remain lush and green all year round. But if you do experience dormancy, there is no need to worry, once winter is over, your grass will be back in no time at all, without any effort needed from you.

Click here to see more pictures of dormant zoysia grass.

Plug Arrival: Best Time to Plant Your Plugs

posted on March 11th, 2010 by Steve Schug

Not surprisingly, the best time to plant your Amazoy Zoysia plugs is the same day they arrive to you. The plugs are living plants, so the sooner you plant them, the better. However, if you are unable to plant your Zoysia plugs right away, here are a few tips to keep them healthy until you can plant them.

1. Take the plugs out of the box and their plastic packaging.
2. Lay the plugs on a flat surface with the grass side facing up.
3. Keep your plugs in an area that does not get direct sunlight.
4. Keep your plugs well misted, about once a day, with water.

If you follow these four tips, you will have about two to three weeks to get them into your soil. Planting instructions are included in every order, or you can check out planting instructions here.

Zoysia Growth: Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

posted on March 4th, 2010 by Steve Schug

How much time have you spent messing around with grass seeds that you hoped would improve your lawn? Having a beautiful lawn may not be quick fix. The solution starts with a product that is appropriate for your needs.

Zoysia is the right solution for sunny and partly shady lawns. When planted one plug per square foot, (the minimum we recommend), Amazoy Zoysia will take two to three growing seasons (2 to 3 years) to fill in completely. If you choose to plant plugs closer together, your estimated growth time will decrease. If you want to calculate how many plugs you may need, check out our plug calculator.

Two to three years may sound like a lot, but Zoysia’s process of growth is part of its strength. It actually grows differently than other grasses, sending our runners or “stolons,” expanding sideways more than it grows tall. Zoysia’s slow spreading tendencies help it to become strong and sturdy, withstanding heavy traffic and erosion. So over those few growing seasons, Zoysia will grow lush, even, and green, while simultaneously crowding out the summer weeds, ultimately creating a beautiful lawn for you to enjoy.

Zoysia Grass: Seeds vs. Plugs

posted on March 1st, 2010 by John

If you are considering purchasing zoysia for your lawn, you may be considering a few different options. In your research, you may find that zoysia is not an all-inclusive term. Not only are there are different types of zoysia, there are also different ways to plant it: seeds or plugs.

Seeds

Seeds are a new option for planting your Zoysia, although it tends to be more expensive and can require more to cover a comparable area. Seeds can be planted from May to June, resulting in a very short planting period of about 6 weeks in most regions of the country.

The area to be seeded must be well prepared, flat and with no competition from other grasses or weeds.  The seeded area must be watered frequently and kept moist until established, and must be covered with an erosion cloth to reduce surface distribution caused by this watering. They are also sensitive to light and temperature. Because of this, seed has generally only been successful when planted by professions, such as golf course managers.

The grass that results from Zoysia seed is a medium to coarse textured lawn. It can grow unevenly and in mounds. The resulting grass is also not very resilient against cold temperatures, sometimes resulting in death during winter.

Plugs

Here at Zoysia Farms, we believe in the power of plugs. Although plugs require more time to fill in than seed, the success rate is virtually 100%. Even more so, they require less maintenance overall. You don’t have to water often, and the grass isn’t light sensitive. The grass is thick and tough enough that erosion isn’t a problem. Grass resulting from plugs is an even lawn that proves to be hardier in colder temperatures.

Planting is easier, too. We have already done all of the hard work for you. We ship you the product, and you plant exactly what we provide to you: a living plant. The planting period is much longer, too. Rather than the 6 week planting period for seeds, zoysia grass plugs have a planting season that spans from early spring to fall.