If you’ve recently purchased a house or a plot of land, chances are that there is at least a part of it that is to be covered in green. As a rule of thumb, lawn grass is what typically ‘lawn’ should consist of. Lawn grass is fairly affordable, available widely, and doesn’t take a whole lot of looking after either.
Lawn grass, scientifically known as Zoysia grass, is a genus of the Poaceae family. It is planted between late spring to early summer. It spreads by stolons and rhizomes and grows slower than other grasses. It is native to Korea and, once mature, grows long, emerald-green leaves that turn brown in cooler climates. The blades of lawn grass are narrow and sharp.
Since it was introduced in the early 20th century in the United States, Zoysia soon became a dominant grass type in the southern half of the country. Due to its dense nature, the grass is widely used for parks, golf courses, house lawns, etc.
Read about: Garden grass: How to cover bare patches with bright green layer
Lawn grass: Quick facts
| Common name | Zoysia grass |
| Scientific name | Zoysia spp. |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Plant type | Perennial turf grass |
| Mature size | 4-6 in. tall |
| Sun exposure | Full |
| Soil type | Well-drained |
| Soil pH | Acidic, neutral |
| Native Area | Korea |
Lawn grass: Types of Zoysia
Zoysia japonica
Also known as Japanese grass, this subspecies of lawn grass is the only lawn grass that is commercially available as a seed. This lawn grass has a coarse texture, and cultivars with slightly different traits have been developed since the 1950s.
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Some of these cultivars include variants like Z. japonica, ‘Meyer’, which is more commonly known as Meyer Zoysia grass and Z-52, Z. japonica ‘Zenith’, which is a cultivar consisting of medium-long blades, and Z. japonica ‘compadre’, which is resistant to wear and is primarily used for athletic fields.
Zoysia matrella (Manila grass)
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Zoysia matrella consists of blades with a finer texture than Z. japonica, but is less cold tolerant. It also grows slower and doesn’t need frequent mowing. One such type is the ‘Emerald’ Zoysia, which is a high-quality lawn with soft, thin blades.
Lawn grass: Growing Zoysia grass
Although when grown commercially, Zoysia grass is grown on a large scale through procedures like sodding, sprigging or plugs, when it comes to house lawns, Zoysia can be planted directly with seeds. Newly sown Zoysia seeds should usually be sown in spring and can take upto two months to fully develop.
- Rake the bare soil lightly.
- Spread the seeds with a spreader, as the packaging of the seeds says.
- If you want to overseed pre-existing lawns, aerate the grass and then vertically cut it until the soil surface is exposed and then proceed to broadcast seed.
- Water every day, multiple times a day, for at least a month. The seedbed should have enough moisture for germination to occur.
Zoysia grass needs a ton of light to survive. Full sun at all times is a must. If the grass gets more shade beyond a certain extent, it can cause the grass to thin and hence allow weeds to grow, which will, in turn, stress the grass.
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Lawn grass: Maintenance
With the benefit of being able to adapt to several types of soils comes the curse of choosing different fertilisers for each. Do your research thoroughly and take factors like pH level, soil density, soil type etc., into consideration.
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As a general rule of thumb, feed your Zoysia 2-4 lbs of nitrogen per thousand square feet of lawn. Use more for sandy soils and less for clay. Refrain from over-fertilising as it’ll cause thatch to build up and damage the grass.
Zoysia grass can grow in almost any type of soil without any gripes, regardless of their acidity, for the most part. For the most part in the sense that if the pH of the soil is less than 6, you might want to make it acidic by applying lime. Make sure the soil is well drained.
Water the grass every day for a cumulative of one inch per week. Zoysia thrives in deep-rooted water levels that reduce the possibility of droughts. If the soil the grass is grown in is largely consisting of clay or is compacted, control water irrigation to happen on the dry side. The best time to water Zoysia grass is in the morning to prevent fungal diseases.
Zoysia grass loves warmth and hot climates. It thrives in very warm weather, specifically over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The grass usually stops growing near the first frost and remains brown and dormant throughout the season. Zoysia can withstand humidity on several levels. In cooler regions, Zoysia turf grass is the last one to turn green in the spring and, as expected, is the first to turn brown too.
Mow the lawn once a month or once it reaches a height of around 5-6 inches.
Pests and diseases
Although the Zoysia plant isn’t prone to pests or diseases, there are still a few exceptions that are quite unnerving too. Insects like Japanese beetles or June beetles feed on Zoysia roots in the early summer. Grubs aren’t much of an inconvenience in the beginning when they are in single digits. The problem arises when they outnumber your fingers and become a headache to deal with. These insects can cause considerable damage if present in large numbers.
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Another fungal disease to take care of is the large patch fungal disease that gravely affects the condition of warm-season grasses. Prevent excessive usage of nitrogen, thatch or overwatering to prevent fungal diseases.
Lawn grass: Benefits
While lawn grass certainly is one great choice for homeowners, people often forget that there are several other benefits of lawn grass as well, some of which are extremely beneficial.
Lawn grass is an extremely agile plant when it comes to producing oxygen. A 250-square-metre patch can absorb enough carbon dioxide and produce oxygen to provide for a family of four. Lawn grass is also extremely capable of absorbing large amounts of rainfall and helps in times of droughts.
It also keeps the ground cool, and that too very efficiently. It was found to be even 30 degrees cooler than the surrounding temperature in some studies. Lawn grass is also self-cleaning and fairly low maintenance.
Coming over to physical benefits, walking barefoot on lawn grass has proven to reduce stress significantly.
FAQs
How often do I need to water my lawn grass?
Water your Zoysia lawn once a week until the total is up to an inch per week.
Does lawn grass need frequent mowing?
Mowing lawn grass once a week is fine. Try to keep it in the ballpark of two inches.