I need some tips for taking care of my zoysia grass in South Florida. I laid down sod in mid October 2024. Some spots like the back left are really healthy, but other areas are looking dry or dead. I’ve been watering for 20 minutes every day for the first 6 weeks, but it doesn’t seem to be getting better.
It’s probably going dormant right now.
Winslow said:
It’s probably going dormant right now.
Should I keep watering while it’s dormant? Do I need to water every day?
At this time of year, zoysia is prone to patch disease caused by a fungus. You should only water it once a week. It will go dormant during the cold months and might look brown and green. It should green up when it’s consistently warmer.
Water twice a week for 20 minutes, or give it about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water. It looks like it hasn’t been watered in 2-3 months since November? When it goes dormant, it turns brown, which can mean different things. Sometimes brown is okay. Some potassium might help your dormant grass. Look for a 0-0-25 product, which has just that last number. After that, you’ll want to use a fertilizer focused on greening up and pre-emergent to help for spring when late February comes.
@Parker
I haven’t run the sprinkler since the first week of December because it was getting too expensive. It’s been about 5-6 weeks without watering, but we did get some rain during the last couple of weeks in December. I’ll check into using some potassium. Thanks for your help.
@Shawn
Definitely set it up to run around 6 AM for 20-30 minutes. You can check your water volume using a tuna can or small container. Only 2 times a week during the winter. In the height of summer, you might need to water 3 times a week for 30-45 minutes. Once temperatures are in the 70s and 80s, 2 times a week for 30-45 minutes should be fine. Try to wait until summer to add the third day. The 0-0-25 usually comes in a 50-pound bag. Apply about 1/8 to 1/4 pound of potassium once a month, all year. This will help strengthen your grass and boost root growth. If your roots are healthy, expect the top to follow. You might not see big changes right now, but as spring starts, you’ll notice the areas that need extra care.
@Parker
Are there any guidelines I should follow to know when to start mowing? I have a 16-inch Scott’s Manual Push Reel mower, and my total lawn area is under 2000 square feet.
Shawn said:
@Parker
Are there any guidelines I should follow to know when to start mowing? I have a 16-inch Scott’s Manual Push Reel mower, and my total lawn area is under 2000 square feet.
Try not to cut more than one-third of the leaf blade at a time. Zoysia prefers a shorter cut, around 2 to 3 inches. Let it grow to about 3.5 inches before cutting.
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