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Zoysia Lawn grass winter care in USA

Zoysia grass is one of the low-maintenance, fast-growing, cool-season grass. Although in hot summer, you need to add extra irrigation with Zoysia grass lawns still, annual maintenance is quite affordable.

Zoysia grass is one of those few types of grasses that doesn't lose life in winter. But still, it has some disadvantages too(discussed later). Like every lawn grass, Zoysia grass needs proper care in the winter season.

Zoysia grass winter care 

Before starting winter treatment or care of Zoysia grass, it is always better to look at and examine the current conditions of the lawn. It is seen many times that people follow unnecessary steps to take care of their lawns even if their lawns need such treats in winter. 

Zoysia lawn grass winter care in USA

Let's understand what is the identity of Zoysia grass first then we'll discuss the required steps to be taken in winter. 

Zoysia grass identification 

The following points tell about the basic identity of Zoysia grass and its growing conditions- 

  • Nature- Zoysia grass can invade every possible neighbor. It expands slowly in starting and then rapidly cover the space.
  • Color- In native America, Zoysia grass appears in dark green to light green color. It has multiple varieties but we can't distinguish them just based on color.
  • Height- Zoysia grass can be taller up to 1.5 feet. But they grow better if we keep them at a medium height of 4 to 5 inches tall.
  • Climate- Zoysia grass grows in cool climate conditions. It can grow throughout the year without losing a life. Although in winter this grass gets dormant but still they appear in the next spring season without seeding again.
  • Traffic handling capacity- Zoysia grass can't handle heavy foot traffic in most of the seasons like bermudagrass. If you just mowed your zoysia lawn then it is the case when heavy traffic can kill the Zoysia grass. Yes, it can handle more traffic but it has thick turf and good height. 
  • Shade sensitivity- Zoysia grass is shade sensitive. It reacts when you keep it in shade for longer periods. Longer shade can be responsible for lawn moss and fungi in the lawn. 
  • Dormancy in winter- One thing people don't highlight about Zoysia grass is that it gets dormant in winter. But without absolute treatment, it can recover most of the area and grow again in spring. 
  • Irrigation in summer- One thing that is disadvantage of Zoysia grass is that it needs extra water irrigation in the summer season. Rest of the period, it can grow in less water but extra need in summer. so it is better to have sprinkler irrigation or subsurface irrigation to easily irrigate your lawn.

Zoysia grass condition till Autumn/Fall 

Zoysia grass survives in different growing conditions in comparison to other hot-season lawn grasses. You may not find the same conditions of zoysia lawn grass in fall as Bermuda or St Augustine grasses. Let's discuss its conditions as follows- 

  • Light green to brownish 

In fall, Zoysia grass loses its shine and takes light green color. If you didn't irrigate your lawn regularly in summer then possibly you can see it is taking yellowish or brownish color in fall.

  • Gaps appear in patches

Without proper maintenance of Zoysia grass, it gets thin and has gaps in turf sections. Another reason for such gaps is lawn moss, weeds, and fungi. Even if you use unnecessary post emergents on your lawn turf then it can be responsible for unwanted brown spots. 

  • Mowing required

Unknowingly and sometimes by carelessness, your lawn grass needs mowing in the fall season. It is required to keep your lawn grass shorter in the fall and for a later period.  

  • Less irrigation 

By the overall conditions of the lawn, it is quite normal that Zoysia grass needs less water in fall. Because of low temperatures and less intensity of sunlight, your lawn can handle the heat even in low irrigation. it is more drought tolerant than other cool season grass like perennial ryegrass or fescue, bluegrass, etc.

So after fall and winter, you don't need extra water irrigation in your Zoysia lawn. 

Zoysia grass care in winter

Naturally, Zoysia grass recovers automatically after winter but it doesn't mean that it is guaranteed. Without winter care of Zoysia grass, it may not grow again and you may have to grow it again from seeds. 

The following points will help you to take care of Zoysia lawn grass in winter- 

  • Restrict the foot traffic

Even animal foot traffic can damage the lawn grass if they keep walking and running on dormant Zoysia grass in winter. Rabbits, dogs, cats, and even other small animals can affect the overall growth of Zoysia grass. 

So keep avoiding this damage, either make fencing or restrict the foot traffic on the Zoysia grass throughout the winter.

  • Don't mow too deep 

Although winter Zoysia lawn doesn't need regular mowing in the first week of winter, you can mow your lawn. This mowing shouldn't be too deep(height should be maintained at 2 to 3 inches). If you mow too deep, maybe you can damage its roots and the result will be no grass appearance in spring. 

  • Reduce irrigation duration 

Comparatively summer and winter lawn doesn't need regular or extra irrigation. If you keep irrigation regular, it may directly affect the roots of Zoysia grass. 

At the need irrigation, don't irrigate your lawn in the evening. The too-cold temperature at night and unnecessary irrigation are enough to destroy your lawn.

So once in 20 days irrigation is quite normal. You can repeat this irrigation cycle throughout the winter. 

  • Reduce fertilization

Because of natural dormancy, organic fertilizers or compost don't work to recover it. Even if you test your soil and try to change soil pH, it is not helpful most of the time. 

You can fertilize your lawn next spring when grass leaves dormancy again to recover the grass. But keep it lighter initially. 

Avoid weed pre-emergents or post emergents or herbicides 

The most common weeds found in zoysia are dandelion, chickweeds, clover, etc. Although pre-emergents restrict the weeds from popping up. But in winter, you can't use them in the dormancy period. Post emergents or herbicides don't work in winter grass. 

If they don't get weeds to keep away, they can directly damage the original Zoysia grassroots. So it is better to avoid pre-emergents, post-emergents, and natural herbicides in winter. 

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