Zoysia
A dense, slow-growing warm-season grass prized for its weed resistance and feel underfoot. Zoysia spreads by both stolons and rhizomes to form a very thick mat that naturally crowds out weeds. It tolerates more shade than Bermuda and is popular across the South and Transition Zone.
- Season
- Warm-season
- Mow height
- 1-2.5 inches
- Spreads by
- Stolons and rhizomes
- Blade width
- Fine
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Shade tolerance
- Medium
- Regions
- South, Transition Zone
Zoysia (Zoysia spp.) produces one of the thickest, most weed-resistant lawns available. The dense mat it forms is naturally resistant to weed invasion, and it handles moderate shade and foot traffic well. The main drawbacks are slow establishment and a long dormancy period, it's often the last to green up in spring and first to go brown in fall.
Best use: Home lawns throughout the South and Transition Zone. Excellent choice where a premium, weed-resistant lawn is the goal.
Mowing: Keep at 1-2.5 inches depending on variety. Zoysia requires sharp mower blades, dull blades tear rather than cut and cause a brown haze.
Fertilizer: Moderate feeder, 2-4 lbs nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft per year. Split applications work best.
Watering: Good drought tolerance. Goes dormant in drought but recovers well.
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