Want to get rid of those troublesome weeds from your Zoysia grass lawn? Below you can learn about weed control for zoysia grass. This blog will include which weeds are most prevalent in Zoysia turf and the methods of eliminating them.
Zoysia grass is a popular turfgrass grown in lawns throughout Texas. It is a warm-season grass, which means it prefers temperatures between 75-90 degrees Fahrenheit. Zoysia grass will produce dense, low-growing grass with slower than average growth. This means you’ll mow less often.
Zoysia grass is mostly weed resistant, but weeds can still show up. It’s important to know which weeds commonly invade the type of turf you have. This way you can apply herbicides to treat those specific weeds.
Does Zoysia Grass Have Runners?
A runner is a shoot or stem of grass that grow along the surface of the grass. Runners are also called stolons. They look similar to vines. The roots and blades of grass are attached to the runner, or aka, “vine.” The advantage of runners are that they grow sideways and expand, instead of growing tall.
Zoysia turf does have runners and it is one of the reasons it spreads quickly and densely.
Common Weeds in Zoysia Grass Lawns
The weeds that you can find in Zoysia grass lawns are:
Crabgrass- grassy weed prone to invade Zoysia lawns. Grassy Weeds: These weeds look like grass, which can be hard to detect on your lawn. Some of the common types are nutsedge, crabgrass, goosegrass, and dallisgrass.
- Broadleaf Weeds: The most common types of broadleaf weeds are dandelion and clover. You may also see chickweed, henbit, and spurge on your lawn.
Weed Control in Zoysia Grass
The most valuable tip for fighting off weeds in your Zoysia lawn is to keep it healthy by regular maintenance practices. Check out our lawn maintenance service page and see how we can help you out with your lawn.
Mowing
Mow zoysia grass to a height of 1-2 inches. Mowing decreases the chances for weeds to sprout their seed heads and spread. It also gives you a chance to survey your entire lawn and check for any weeds that may be sprouting.
Make sure you bag up the grass clippings. Not using a bag or placing the clippings back onto the grass allows the weed heads to get right back into the grass and re-sprout.
Shaded Areas
Look out for any shaded areas on your lawn. Some well-bladed Zoysia grasses are known to perform fine in the shade. But, shade can make bare spots in your lawn as the grass is not getting any sunlight. This can create an open space in your grass’s canopy to let weeds grow.
Lawn Fertilization
Using lawn fertilizer on your turf might sound odd, as it does not directly decrease the weeds. But weeds do not like nitrogen, and lawn fertilizers contain nitrogen. So while you are feeding your lawn, the weeds will be competing for space to grow.
Apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer regularly to assist your Zoysia grass to stay healthy and lush. Take a look at our lawn fertilization page to find out more information.
Watering
Zoysia grass requires 1 inch of water every week. If there is no rainfall, then watering with a sprinkler one morning per week should be enough. Zoysia can get fungus easily because it is a thick turf, so be sure to water in the morning so it can dry throughout the day.
Learn when to plant zoysia grass.
Zoysia Grass Yearly Weed Maintenance Tips
January through April
Apply pre-emergent herbicide on your lawn to control the annual weeds such as goosegrass, crabgrass, etc. The approximate timing for applying pre-emergent herbicides in North Texas is twice a year. Apply once February-May and apply again once in August-November.
Zoysia grass is quite sensitive to some herbicides, so always follow the manufacturer’s label before using any.
May Through August
Some selective annual weeds need pre-emergent herbicides to control them from sprouting, which is applied during fall and spring to reduce the chances of weeds in summer. If the weed issue starts, wait until the grass is fully green before applying the post-emergent herbicide.
Avoid applying herbicide in hot temperatures unless the temperature is under 90 °F. Apply herbicides with caution as the turf is coming out from winter dormancy.
September through December
In September, you can control many annual winter weeds by applying pre-emergent herbicides. Apply twice, put down the first application and do second application around 8 to 10 weeks later. Follow all the manufacturer’s directions on the product before you apply.
You can add broadleaf weed herbicides to the Zoysia grass to control chickweed, henbit, and other cool-season broadleaf weeds. Selective herbicides can also be applied to eliminate annual bluegrass and winter grassy weeds.
Pre-Emergent Weed Control in Zoysia Grass
Applying pre-emergent weeds to your lawn during spring and fall will help to reduce the chances of weeds in summer and winter. It can eliminate the weeds from sprouting and keep your lawn fresh.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the application process, amounts needed to use, and necessary precautions before and after treatment. When using herbicides, make sure the children and pets are out from the grass until the product is fully dried.
Post-Emergent Weed Control in Zoysia Grass
Post-emergent weeds can control the existing weeds from growing in the Zoysia grass. After you have determined the type of weed growing in your Zoysia grass, you can begin researching what type of herbicide will be ideal for eliminating that weed.
It is essential to understand the difference between selective and non-selective herbicides when buying post-emergent chemicals. Selective herbicides can eliminate weeds that are labeled on the product. A non-selective herbicide can eliminate all plants that it comes in contact with, including your grass.
So, you need to be cautious while applying this, as you can even kill your Zoysia grass.
Conclusion
Warm-season grasses are prone to weeds all year long. Because of this maintaining Zoysia grass is something that requires time, patience, and attention to detail.
Setting up a continuous and monthly lawn care schedule is the key to success. Here at JC’s Landscaping, we are ready to help you take your lawn to the next level.
One thought on “Weed Control For Zoysia Grass”
You didn’t mention that Zoysia is dormant in winter. When it comes out of dormancy, it is brand new, fresh growth that may be vulnerable to pre-emergents. A few products I’ve read about advise not to spray/use their pre/post emergent products until the grass has full emerged from dormancy, perhaps after a mowing or two. Is this a concern in your experience?