Winterizing Empire Zoysia in Florida

awin4me – posted 04 September 2010 16:42

I’m getting ready to go into my first winter with Empire Zoysia in central Florida. Do any posters have any advice for any particular winterizing tips so everything will look wonderful after dormancy?

I could use some fertilizing advice as well. I used Scotts Start up in the beginning (higher nitrogen) and then used a basic 6-6-6 fertilizer during mid summer. My grass has really looked good throughout. The neighbors (who all have St. Augustine constantly walk by and ask about my lawn). Is the basic fertilizer just as good for Empire. I mean the basic 6-6-6 or 10-0-8 is so cheap compared to Scotts or other name brand stuff.

Other then fighting off a little bit of nutsedge I’ve had no complaints on my Empire. Looks good, water bill is down. I actually mow it quite high (5″ on my John Deere). It gets full sun which it seems to love.

tommy – posted 05 September 2010 20:39

The type fertilizers your using are fine, but also use a straight iron product around the beginning of Nov. You also need to start lowering the mowing height, so that your around 2 inches in mid Oct. Lower 1/2 inch per week, even though its going to reduce the amount of green top growth for now….it will actually have the end result of keeping the lawn green longer into the fall. Cutting shorter promotes new leaf growth, and newer leaves are able to stay green longer in cold weather.

[This message has been edited by tommy (edited 05 September 2010).]

botanicalbill – posted 28 September 2010 21:35

I too put in Empire this past spring. I have been reading your posts for most of the year and I finaly joined this form. I ended up plugging 1/2 acre and did it solid around the house and around the gutter down spouts. I could not affort to sod the whole yard. The spread rate of the empire has impressed me. I should be fully covered by next spring/summer. I had 2′ centers on 8″x8″ plugs.

Anyway, thats not why I replyed to this. If you are going to use a 6,6,6 fert, then just buy the 10,10,10 and put it down 40% lighter, it will save you some greeenbacks.

awin4me – posted 04 October 2010 22:56

Tommy,

Thanks! I’m probably going to keep it a bit higher as it requires less maintenance and holds water better in my opinion that way.

Besides when we get the first freeze its gonna brown out which is fine.

I’ll definitely do the iron though…….thanks!