Laid Z-52 Zoysia a Week Ago. What now?

hrddto – posted 20 April 2001 07:59

I laid Meyer Z-52 zoysia down about a week ago; I live in Charlotte, NC. The grass is just now coming out of dormancy. It has an olive green tint to it. I tilled in lime, but did not put any fertilizer down before laying the sod (sent off a soil sample for testing and didn’t have the results back in time – still don’t). I’m concerned now that I haven’t done enough. I’ve been watering daily, but to me the grass looks like it needs a boost. Should I put something (starter fertilizer) down to help it out? Laying the sod was hard work and I want to protect my investment. I probably won’t have the soil test result in for another 2-3 weeks. Any advice out there?

seed – posted 20 April 2001 15:40

hrddto, you will not harm anything by holding off on the fertilizer. New sod doesn’t even get its roots into the ground until 1-2 weeks after planting. After that, there will probably be more important things to be concerned about. For example, if the sod was well nourished, you may see some caterpillar activity, nothing too serious, except you should be prepared to treat if necessary. Also, be on the lookout for any disease problems. Is the irrigation uniform? Or will you have to adjust some sprinkler heads or add a head or two to get uniform water distribution. Are there any minor problems of grade that should be corrected while the sod is young? Are sprinklers set at the right elevation? Are there cracks between sod pieces that should be backfilled? After everything is stabilized and if the grass is not growing well, then you might consider its first fertilization. Phil

hrddto – posted 23 April 2001 06:36

Seed,

Thank you so much for the advice. I’ll hold off a while longer on the fertilizer. I’ve noticed the some pieces of sod look a lot better than others (even though they’re close to each other). Fortunately, most seem to be staying green. I’ve been hand watering the ones that appear to be struggling(hope I’m not over doing it).

Also, any advice on what to look for with regards to disease? How will I know?

Thanks,David Ochoa (hrddto)

quote:Originally posted by seed:hrddto, you will not harm anything by holding off on the fertilizer. New sod doesn’t even get its roots into the ground until 1-2 weeks after planting. After that, there will probably be more important things to be concerned about. For example, if the sod was well nourished, you may see some caterpillar activity, nothing too serious, except you should be prepared to treat if necessary. Also, be on the lookout for any disease problems. Is the irrigation uniform? Or will you have to adjust some sprinkler heads or add a head or two to get uniform water distribution. Are there any minor problems of grade that should be corrected while the sod is young? Are sprinklers set at the right elevation? Are there cracks between sod pieces that should be backfilled? After everything is stabilized and if the grass is not growing well, then you might consider its first fertilization. Phil

Greenkeeper – posted 24 April 2001 04:50

Re diseases in zoysia.Since you have spent much time in getting your turf looking good.Looking around in your bookshop for a Turf Handbook on disease or library make sure they have photos.Or try your local fertilizer supplier they may have some free info.Hope this helps

wdrake – posted 24 April 2001 08:21

NC State publication titled Carolina Lawns has advice and guidance for turfgrasses in your state. You can find it at——-www.turffiles.ncsu.edu:80/pubs/ag69.html

You might also want to contact your local extension agent for advice.[700 N Tryon St.; Charlotte. (704)336-2561] There also appears to be an excellent summary of local practices at——www.ces.ncsu.edu/TurfFiles/pubs/index.html

Bill DrakeNiceville FL

hrddto – posted 24 April 2001 08:44

Thanks for the Info. I’ll definitely check out those sites.

My grass is starting to “green up” some. We’re supposed to get some much needed rain today.

David

quote:Originally posted by wdrake:NC State publication titled Carolina Lawns has advice and guidance for turfgrasses in your state. You can find it at——-www.turffiles.ncsu.edu:80/pubs/ag69.html

You might also want to contact your local extension agent for advice.[700 N Tryon St.; Charlotte. (704)336-2561] There also appears to be an excellent summary of local practices at——www.ces.ncsu.edu/TurfFiles/pubs/index.html

Bill DrakeNiceville FL

greengal – posted 18 June 2001 21:22

I live in Fayettevile and also sodded with zoysia this past spring. It is looking real good except for the centipede grass that still crops up and grows faster than the zoysia…so I end up mowing just for the centipede. I am searching for a way to get rid of the centipede. I love my zoysia though and hope yours is doing well. I just added ironite to it to green it up some..it was turning yellow after I used weed and feed on it. Good luck with yours

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hrddto – posted 19 June 2001 06:09

Greengal,

Thanks for the note, and I hope your zoysia is doing well. Mine has really greened up, but I’m also encountering similar problems with what looks like either centipede or some type of “monkey grass”. I’m not sure that there’s a lot that we can do since the sod is fairly new and may be sensitive to any chemical used to retard the other grass. Please let me know if you discover something and I’ll do the same for you.

Thanks,David

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greengal – posted 19 June 2001 18:55

OK..Now I am really fed up…….found out today that my centipede problem is really a crabgrass problem….AHHHH!!!!! So now the man who sold me the the zoysia sod is going to call me tomorrow and tell me if there is help for me now that it is summer…i missed the time to get rid of the seedlings …if I only knew….my yard is one year basically from looking the way i want it now because I have to wait til next spring to kill the crabgrass. Crabgrass loves water and sun…um…I have been watering my new sod bunches and it is surrounded by the sun So, I am one unhappy camper right now! If you know any answers please share them with me….hoping you are having better luck

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hrddto – posted 20 June 2001 06:07

Greengal,

I feel your pain! I have pretty much decided to concentrate on getting the sod well rooted this year, and tackle the weeds and unwanted grasses next spring after the zoysia is better established. I’ve hired Trugreen Chemlawn to handle the fertilizing for me this summer. I ran a cost analysis and found them to be about as cheap as doing it myself. You may want to give them a call. They have programs specifically designed for summer grasses. They’re the “experts” and advised me to not go heavy on the weed control this season (for fear of damaging the zoysia).

Question: Do you also have bermuda creping in? I hear about that a lot and have noticed it myself, but it seems to blend in well with the zoysia. They’re the same season grass, so it shouldn’t leave that “patchy” look in the fall like you see when fescue and a summer grasses are mixed. I’m not sure why it concerns so many zoysia owners. I’m interested in your thoughts on this.

Well, I’ve gone on too long. My advice is not to be overly concerned about the weeds this year. You’ll get rid of them eventually, even if it’s next year. Good luck!

David

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JT – posted 20 June 2001 20:06

hrd,

i had meyer zoysia sod laid down about 5 weeks ago. the landscaper stated that the sod came w/ fertilizer and lime already on it. If i got down close enough to the sod i could smell the fertilizer. HOWEVER, he did advise me that it would HELP to use a fertilizer high in phosphorus. This will help establish a strong root system. So after the first 2 weeks passed, i spread a bag and 1/2 of ‘scotts starter fertilizer’, the breakdown was something like 20-28-12, it’s just important to make sure the middle number is the highest, and not to use a fertilizer w/ to much nitrogen…..it will certainly green up the sod real nice, but it’s a false security. I also asked him today about using sand to fill in at the seams with some zoysia seed in it. He stated that ‘that would really level out the lawn much faster, but too, it would eventually do that on it’s own, just takes longer. One more thing, he recommended to cut the grass short, so that it will fill in better. Remembering not to cut more than a 1/3 off the top each cutting. But keeping it shorter would help. So i’m looking at cutting mine again this sat., after cutting tuesday night. However, i have been watering heavily. MINE TOO, has some dead squares of sod, wich he’s going to replace for me, but the key is getting deep water penetration.

HOPE THIS HELPS A LITTLE BIT

MY .02jtc

greengal – posted 21 June 2001 08:49

Ok….I have this weed man in my yard right now as I type putting down fusilade. It will kill my crabgrass and the burmuda that he just told me is growing faster than the zoysia. This guy is from the sod farm I bought the sod from and doing this at no cost to us..seeing at how much money we already spent…I was releived! I didn’t know that I had bermuda growing..and get this…I have two different kinds of zoysia…we wanted meyers…we got it but with some emerald in it too. They told us that in a couple days our bermuda and crabgrass will all be brown ( so much for a nice lawn this summer) But then to lay itrogen down every two weeks like 3 times then it will green back up. By winter it will be good…but then turning dormant and brown for the season…til spring where I am having fantasy thoughts of NICE GREEN soft plushy lawn…haha….we will see about that Well…at least the sodding farm…they are out of Stedman is taking care of this situation. I am about to move to New York City were all there is, is concrete…at least I will have my sanity back

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hrddto – posted 22 June 2001 07:54

You sound a lot like me. I actually put the sod in myself and what a job it was! Now, I’ve become a little obsessed with keeping it green and healthy. I’m going to check into the “fusilade” for the burmuda. Maybe I’m overlooking something, but I still don’t see the problem with burmuda mixed in with the zoysia. Primarily because they have the same growing season.

quote:Originally posted by greengal:Ok….I have this weed man in my yard right now as I type putting down fusilade. It will kill my crabgrass and the burmuda that he just told me is growing faster than the zoysia. This guy is from the sod farm I bought the sod from and doing this at no cost to us..seeing at how much money we already spent…I was releived! I didn’t know that I had bermuda growing..and get this…I have two different kinds of zoysia…we wanted meyers…we got it but with some emerald in it too. They told us that in a couple days our bermuda and crabgrass will all be brown ( so much for a nice lawn this summer) But then to lay itrogen down every two weeks like 3 times then it will green back up. By winter it will be good…but then turning dormant and brown for the season…til spring where I am having fantasy thoughts of NICE GREEN soft plushy lawn…haha….we will see about that Well…at least the sodding farm…they are out of Stedman is taking care of this situation. I am about to move to New York City were all there is, is concrete…at least I will have my sanity back

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greengal – posted 22 June 2001 08:34

Hi….Just wanted you to know that you can only get fusilade from a licensed chemical person…can’t find it at Lowes. I did a lot of research on it last night and feel confidant that it will terminate my crabgrass and burmuda problem. The problem with bermuda in the zoysia is it grows faster then the zoysia and it will overtake it…the zoysia cannot compete with it and will eventually fade out and all you have it bermuda lawn…which isn’t what I wanted because I don’t want a fast growning grass that I would have to mow every week. Plus the zoysia chokes out weeds…mostly once established..like in 2nd season…except of course crabgrass. My Bermuda in my yard is growing so much faster than the zoysia…so I have two different grass heights going on and you can cut bermuda low but you shouldn’t cut zoysia low so that leaves a problem when mowing…and having an even look. I don’t want to burn out my zoysia by mowing to low but then agagin I want to cut the bermuda low enough so I don’t turn around and mow in 5 days after. Anyways, I read that it is common to have bermuda mixed in by accident of course so if you call the sod farm you got it from they should replace the sod pieces that have bermuda in them seeing how the sod farm didn’t get rid of the Bermuda to well before they planted the zoysia to sell. Hopefull y this helps you some, maybe you like your bermuda and thats okay…but if you get fusilade for crabgrass…it will kill the bermuda also. I have made a deal with myself to not even look out my window today…I need break from looking at my front yard for at least a day…it stresses me out I hope you have a great weekend…take care

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greengal – posted 27 June 2001 18:26

Well…..today I am one happy grass owner…the company that laid my original zoysia came back and pulled up the bermuda that was accidently planted in it…and sprayed fusilade one more time…just to be safe against the crabgrass. Hopefully this will work this time…the new zoysia is so nice and plush looking…lets see how this turns out…wish me luck!

greengal – posted 12 July 2001 10:15

well today I am having my whole yard replaced with Myers zoysia…free of cost from the farm who originally planted my emerald zoysia..I thought I was getting meyers from the get go and then had problems with bemuda and crabgrass….they are redoing it…and going to get it right this time….meyers is better in my opinion than emerald…better looking. It looks more plush and isn’t so fine and flat.

Cary – posted 10 July 2004 07:43

I disagree.Emerald Zoysia is probably the bench mark for ALL turf grasses – K-Blue included.

Fine bladed, dark green, dense, heat and drought tolerant, first to green up in Spring, late to turn brown in the Fall.

Here’s a pic:

[img]http://agfacts.tamu.edu/D8/Williams/AG/landscapedemos/images/zoysiaemerald.jpg[/img]

notemerald – posted 23 August 2004 08:56

I don’t know. FWIW, my emerald is the absolute last to green up, and the first to brown. It doesn’t do as well in the sun as Meyer.