Zenith® Zoysia Lawn Maintenance

We’ve carefully grown your new Zenith Zoysia sod.

You’ve carefully installed it.

Now, follow these simple instructions to maintain a healthy Lifetime Lawn:

• Mow at 1.5 inches cutting height. Mow no more than 1/3 of the leaf off at one mowing. Use sharp mower blades and catch and remove clippings. Can be mowed with  rotary or reel mower.
• Less frequent mowing requirements - mowing may be required on a 7 to 10 day interval.
• Water to supplement rainfall shortages only. Avoid fixed timer irrigation settings. Though drought tolerant, Zoysia best performs when it receives approximately 1 inch of water per week. If one or more inches of rainfall occur in a week, additional irrigation is not necessary. (Example: if 1/2 inch of rain occurs within a growing week, apply 1/2 inch by irrigation.) Do not waste water by over watering; avoid run-off and standing water for any period of time. (How and When to Water)
• Once a Zenith turf is matured, apply moderate nitrogen according to the table below. It can maintain good density and color and need cutting only every 10 days at low fertility levels. Higher fertilizer levels produce deeper color, but more growth means more frequent mowing and increased risk of diseases.
• Fertilize with Super-Sod’s Total Lawn Food 16-4-8 + Iron and Pelletized Dolomitic Limstone, which can be purchased at your local Super-Sod outlet. Fertilize according to the table below and according to soil test recommendations.
• Apply between 1 and 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet annually, during the growing season. Select a fertilizer that is labeled for use on zoysia grass lawns. Do not apply fertilizer to wet turf to avoid burning. Too much fertility will result in a thatchy, unhealthy lawn and increased disease risk.
• Supplemental application of Iron will improve grass color.
• Zoysia’s dense growth can reduce the weed population but, to be sure, use of a pre-emergent herbicide, recommended for use on zoysia lawns on the label, is strongly recommended. Apply weed control according to the table below. Read and follow label directions.
• Pests can become a problem, especially if zoysia is not growing healthily (too much fertility or water, etc.). Zoysia Patch disease (Rhizoctonia fungus) can be a problem on over-fertilized lawns. Some rust may be expected in cool spring weather and other leaf diseases may show up in hot, humid weather, but the grass will usually recover if water and fertility levels are minimized. Soil insects such as grubs and mole crickets are minimal problems.
• For assistance with weed identification and pest control contact your nursery/garden center, landscaper, or State cooperative extension service agent.
• Thatch Removal: Periodically it may be necessary to remove accumulated thatch. This is best accomplished in the late winter - just before turf turns green. Scalp with a lawn mower or de-thatch with a commercial machine and remove debris.

Mow Table

Fertilizer/Weed Control Table