Posts Tagged ‘ Zoysia ’
Lawn Aeration
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.
Directions for Nutri-20 Fertilizer
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.
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.
Your Zoysia Lawn: Fertilizing Established Lawns
posted on June 7th, 2010 by John
Once you have planted your zoysia lawn, you might be curious about how to care for it once it has become established. In this post, we will let you know what to do about fertilizing established grass plugs.
Your zoysia lawn will be its most luxurious and healthy if it is fertilized once it is actively growing in the spring before the heat of summer. May through early June is ideal for most of the country. You should NOT use ordinary, granular fertilizers because they can burn or cause serious damage to your zoysia lawn. You must use a water-soluble fertilizer, like our Nutri-20, that has been specially formulated for use on turf grasses. Nutri-20 is great for other stuff, too, like shrubs or vegetables.
When applying fertilizer, you should apply it with a hose-end sprayer, that supplies necessary water along with the fertilizer. Always be wary of directions, carefully following the recommendations, when applying fertilizer of any kind; you don’t want to overfeed your lawn, which may result in a chemical burn.
Low Maintenance Lawns: Part II
posted on June 1st, 2010 by Steve Schug
In our last post, we let you know about some ways that a low maintenance lawn could help save you money while being environmentally friendly. Here are a few more ways that you can save a buck while helping to save the environment.
Lawn Mowing
Lawns need to be cut, which can create an entire set of environmental issues on its own. Lawn mowers can be damaging by emitting air and noise pollution. However, there are some ways to help solve this problem. Rechargeable electric mowers are definitely environmentally friendly (they are friendly to your wallet, too). These are good for lawns up to about ¾ of an acre. An area that is larger than that usually requires a gas powered tractor, which isn’t so friendly to the environment. Newer ones are more efficient and becoming less offensive, but may not be the ideal solution.
The simplest and best solution is to pick a slow growing grass, like zoysia, for your lawn. This will require less mowing, which will ultimately save you time and money while helping the environment by cutting down on emissions. You can even leave the clippings on the lawn to help turn old grass into organic material to keep moisture on your soil.
Fertilization
Another great aspect of low maintenance lawns like zoysia is that you don’t have to fertilize as often, if at all, which will ultimately mean slower growth and less cutting. It also means less potential for harsh chemicals to end up in our waterways. But if you do choose to fertilize, going organic is the best way to go about it. Having a sustainable lawn really means starting with choosing the right grass type suitable to your local conditions. It is key to understanding the characteristics of your grass so that you can know what you can do to help save time, money, and the environment. Putting in the right grass is the first step to a sustainable lawn.
Planting Zoysia Grass Plugs
posted on April 20th, 2010 by Steve Schug
Once you have ordered and received your Amazoy Zoysia grass plugs, your next step is actual planting. And with over five decades of experience in harvesting, packaging, delivery, and planting, we have this planting process down to a science. Before you begin planting, there are a few things to think about.
First, be sure it is the right time of year for you to plant. Zoysia can be planted throughout the spring, summer, and fall, but check out our map to see when is the premium season for your region. Next, you must finish separating the plugs with shears. This is because in our attempt to ensure maximum freshness for you, the plugs are not cut entirely through before shipment.
Finally, you must have a planting plan. Using our example diagram, plan where you are going to place your zoysia plugs. Holes should be made no more than a foot apart. If you want your new lawn to fill in more quickly, you can plant your plugs closer together (half a foot apart). When you are finally ready to put the plugs into the ground, consult the planting instructions that come with each order. But just in case you misplace them, you can follow the steps below.
Planting Instructions
1. Mow your existing lawn as low as possible.
2. Ensure that your ground is workable and moist enough for planting.
3. Once you have determined a starting point, insert the plugger into the ground to remove established grass. You can also drill a hole, depending on the tool you are using. Now you will have a hole for your plugs.
4. Put the zoysia plug in the hole you just created, filling in around the edges with loose soil. Make sure to only bury the roots, as the living plant needs sunlight to grow.
5. Lightly compress the plug into the ground with the heel of your foot or hand.
6. Water LIGHTLY.
To see the proper way to plant, check out this video:
Got Bugs?
posted on April 12th, 2010 by Steve Schug
Luckily, because of the nature of our Amazoy Zoysia, insects and pests are not as common a problem as with regular grasses. Established Amazoy is pretty resistant to most pests and the threat they may hold to grass.
However, there are some exceptions. Amazoy is not resistant to grubs, mole crickets, cinch bugs, and nematodes, especially newly planted plugs. If you have experienced any of these pests, we recommend that you treat for these before planting your plugs. If you don’t, these aggressive pests may eat the tender roots of your new Amazoy Zoysia grass.
If for some reason, insects present a problem after your grass has been established, no need to worry. Zoysia is good at resisting injury from most chemicals when pest problems arise.
Knowing Your Lawn: Soil
posted on April 6th, 2010 by Steve Schug
Keeping your lawn maintained and looking great starts with knowing what is underneath it: soil. You might think “dirt is dirt”, but in fact, soil can have quite the range. Being knowledgeable of what kind of soil you have in your yard will help you make the right choices for your lawn.
There are a few things you should be considering when thinking about soil and lawn care maintenance.
Test Your Soil
First, you should test your soil. Knowing what kind of soil you’ve got will help you know what nutrients you need. You can test your soil using a pH meter or a soil test kit.
Your pH meter will tell you the pH of your soil, which will range from 3 to 10 on the pH scale (see below). A 7 on the scale marks neutrality; any soil above that is considered basic or alkaline, while anything below is considered acidic. Most good soils will range from 5-7.
Discover Your Soil Type
After finding out the pH of your soil, you should grab a handful of your soil to discover the texture and type. If your handful of soil holds shape, it is clay-like. If it doesn’t it will be more sandy.
Clay like soil has a few advantages. It holds moisture and nutrients well, which means less time watering and less money spent on fertilizers. Despite this, there are a few disadvantages.
Clay like soil has poor drainage, allowing it to become oversaturated and deprive plants from the oxygen it needs. It can also warm slowly in spring, shortening the planting season. When it does dry, it can crust or crack, causing plant roots to tear.
Sandy soil has advantages. It drains easily and quickly, allowing for oxygen. It also is easily worked, and warms quickly in spring, allowing for quick planting. Despite these things, it also tends to have a low capacity for holding both moisture, needing more water and fertilizer. It is also subject to erosion.
An ideal soil is something in between sandy and clay like. To read more about soil types, click here.
Fix It
If you’ve got clay like or sandy soil, there are a few things you can do to alter it to your needs. Add a generous amount of organic matter, like compost, manure, or peat moss. Spread a layer, between 3 or 4 inches thick, over your existing soil. Then thoroughly incorporate it into your existing soil. Be sure to do this, because just adding a layer on top won’t help.
Remember, do add organic matter in moderation. Too much can be harmful and toxic to your lawn.
Your Soil and Zoysia Plugs
Luckily, zoysia can grow in a variety of soils. But it is always best to alter your soil before planting plugs. It will help encourage your zoysia lawn establish and grow hearty and lush.
Traffic on Your Lawn: Let the Kids Play Away!
posted on March 29th, 2010 by John
Are you worried about keeping your lawn looking nice, even after your kids play on it or your pets run through it? Well, with zoysia, you don’t really need to worry.
Zoysia’s tolerance to heavy traffic is one of its many strengths. The soft grass that grows from the plugs is a resulting hardy, thick, and durable lawn. And because you don’t have to use chemicals on your lawn, it is completely safe for your children and pets. Even more so, once the plugs are established, you don’t need to worry about your kids’ or pets’ outdoor habits ruining your lawn. Zoysia’s durability makes for a strong grass that is resilient against heavy traffic.
The only time you may want to keep the kids and pets off the lawn is when you are first planting Zoysia plugs. This will help ensure that the plugs establish and are given the chance to grow. But once the roots have taken hold and the grass plugs have become established, feel free to let the kids and pets play.
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.
Geographic Location: Where You Are Matters
posted on March 22nd, 2010 by Julie
One of the great things about our Amazoy Zoysia grass plugs is that they grow in a multitude of growing regions and climates. The plugs can survive through an array of conditions: heat, cold, drought, and rain. Because of this, we ship our grass plugs throughout the continental United States, with the exception of Washington and Oregon (our years of experience with grass plugs shows that the conditions there are not conducive to the successful growth of Amazoy Zoysia) Zoysia loves hot and dry weather, which contributes to the reason why Zoysia can stay green, even in the hottest of summers.
Because of the variety of terrain and temperaments of our country, certain states and regions have different growing seasons, as seen in the map below. So depending on your location, your shipment of plugs will arrive to you when it is best to plant them. We also take weather and field conditions into consideration, so if you are having weather that will inhibit the successful growth of Zoysia, we will wait until better weather arrives to send them to you. Conditions on our farm can affect shipment, too; if our farms are too wet, we are unable to harvest. Mother Nature holds influence over when shipment occurs.
To see your region’s optimal planting season or when your plugs will ship to you, check out our map here or below.
