Zoysia runners

Lennyk – posted 21 June 2001 18:43

I have a recently plugged zoysia lawn whichhas started to grow, there are lots of runners springing from the plugs.

However many of the runners are not growingin good contact with the soil and not touching down roots.

Is it possible to cut these runners and then plant them in the soil and will they spring roots there ?Thanks,

Lenny

seed – posted 02 July 2001 08:12

Lennyk, yes, detached stolons (aboveground runners) are generally an excellent source of planting material. They need some anchoring in the ground, perhaps the lowermost one or two nodes firmly buried. My best experience in sprigging zoysiagrass has been in using shallow (1-2 inch deep) slits in the soil, and the stolons or stolon segments (4-12 inches long) are inserted horizontally into the slits, with about half the length of the stolon segment (the growing point end) hanging out where it can get sunlight, and the lowermost or butt-end covered and firmly pressed down with soil.

Phil

[This message has been edited by seed (edited 02 July 2001).]