Last Updated: March 18, 2025
Homeowners understand the value of maintaining a beautiful yard. But this can be challenging, especially when you live in an area that experiences high temperatures. Even a frequent watering schedule is insufficient to prevent your lawn from drying out and going brown due to the sun’s heat. Fortunately, there are grass types that are resilient against heat, drought and even frequent foot traffic. A prime example of these grass types is Zoysia.
What Is Zoysia?
Zoysia is a warm-season grass that thrives under the sun. Homeowners around the world often use it for their lawns. Australians tend to plant it in residential and commercial properties because of its tolerance to heat and traffic, low maintenance requirements and dense growth.
Why Plant Zoysia in Your Yard?
Zoysia’s high heat tolerance and resilience to foot traffic make it ideal for lawns. It gives you an aesthetically pleasing grass type that will hold up to frequent outdoor activities, from parties to playing sports. Find out why this grass is popular for lawn repairs.
Soft and Supple
Zoysia has supple blades that are soft underfoot. It prevents little to no irritation to you and the rest of your household. Let your kids run barefoot throughout the yard without worrying about their feet.
Low Maintenance
Zoysia is a grass type that takes a while to grow. This means you can reduce your mowing and other maintenance requirements and easily redirect your attention towards the other plant life in your yard. Zoysia also doesn’t require frequent watering or fertilising to grow.
Hardy
Zoysia is highly resilient against damage. It is also heat—and drought-tolerant. As a result, you can freely use your yard without worrying about creating bald spots on its surface area.
Shade Tolerant
Although Zoysia thrives in warmer seasons, it can still survive in the colder months. This grass type can cope with approximately 40 per cent shade.
Weed Resistant
Zoysia grows thick, preventing weeds from invading it. But this mat takes three years to complete its growth. During that time, you will have to be mindful of any weed growth.
How to Plant Zoysia Depending on Your Soil Type
Zoysia grass is a hardy, low-maintenance turf, but getting the best results depends on understanding your soil type and making the necessary adjustments. Here’s how to ensure your Zoysia lawn thrives, no matter what soil you’re working with:
1. Sandy Soil: Boost Moisture Retention
Sandy soil drains quickly, which can cause Zoysia to dry out faster.
Solution: Add organic matter like compost or peat moss to improve water retention and provide essential nutrients.
2. Clay Soil: Improve Drainage
Clay soil holds moisture but can become compacted, restricting root growth.
Solution: Aerate the soil before planting and mix in sand or gypsum to loosen the texture and enhance drainage.
3. Loamy Soil: Ideal for Zoysia
Loamy soil offers balanced drainage and nutrient retention, making it the perfect base for Zoysia.
Solution: Maintain soil health with regular aeration and organic fertilisers to support healthy growth.
Regardless of your soil type, proper preparation is key. Conducting a soil test can help determine pH levels and nutrient deficiencies, ensuring your Zoysia grass gets the best possible start.
What to Watch Out for with Zoysia
Like other grass types, Zoysia has its own problems, but these are easily manageable. It’s only a matter of educating yourself so that you’ll be prepared to handle them.
- Zoysia is an invasive grass. Inspect your flower beds while gardening to prevent the grass from taking over.
- Zoysia’s colour will change with the seasons. Prepare yourself for its discolouration, especially as the temperature drops.
- Zoysia is slow-growing. If you are looking for an immediate solution to your lawn problems, consider planting a different grass type.
Growing Zoysia at Home
Zoysia is available in seed form and sod plugs. The latter is often preferred as it’s easier and faster to plant. The plugs must be planted on bare soil. Make sure the spacing between each plug is even to prevent overcrowding. Once done, sprinkle fertiliser over the freshly planted plugs before watering the entire lawn.
Zoysia Grass Calendar for Lawn Care
Warm season grasses like Zoysia grow best in the South. If you’re unsure or if you’re new to the area, simply follow this grass lawn care calendar.
February or March All Through May
Start mowing your lawn at the first sign of life after dormancy. This is usually when the soil temperature reaches around 18.33°C. For Zoysia, the ideal grass height is 2.54-3.81 cm. Be careful because cutting over a third of the blades can kill your lawn. Start seeding or mulching once there is no more sign of frost. Zoysia germinates at around 18-21°C so make sure the temperature is right before you do anything to your lawn.
Zoysia’s growth means weeds will also start growing. You can start fertilising and applying herbicide but if you’re not comfortable doing it on your own, you can always work with a lawn expert like Green Oasis. Zoysia needs around an inch of rainfall every week, so if natural rainfall isn’t a possibility, consult us for your irrigation needs.
June Through August
There really isn’t much to do during this period but maintain your grass at around 2.54-5.08 cm tall. Keeping the grass slightly long provides extra cover for the grass roots which reduces evaporation and improves deep root growth during hot weather. And because you’re maintaining slightly longer grass blades, you also have to adjust how much water your lawn should get. During these months, your lawn should get at least 2.54-3.175 cm of water. If you have sandy soil, that amount may need more adjustment. Your lawn’s survival can’t depend on guesswork, but if you’re too busy to figure out how to water your lawn, there are reticulation companies like Green Oasis that can help you.
September Through November
Cut back on mowing and maintain 2.54-3.81 cm of growth again as dormancy becomes more imminent. You have to keep mowing until growth stops. Adjust water requirement to an inch per week.
December Through February
Winter mowing is unnecessary, and watering should be strictly on a need basis. Your main task during this period is to watch out for winter debris as you prepare for early spring.
As previously mentioned, if doing these things on your own seems like too much work, you always have the option to hire experts to help. This ensures that you don’t compromise the health of your lawn to save on DIY methods.
Work With a Professional
If you’re hesitant to carry out this lawn renovation, you always have the option to work with professionals. Green Oasis Lawn and Reticulation has over 15 years of industry experience. We’ll install Zoysia grass throughout your yard efficiently. Expect a fully renovated yard after we’ve completed the installation process.
Find out more about this grass type and our services. Get in touch with us to book an appointment.
