Zoysia grass is a warm-season turfgrass highly valued for creating a dense, luxurious lawn across the southern United States and the transition zone. This perennial grass is known for its durability, offering excellent tolerance to heat, drought, and heavy foot traffic once established. Its dense growth habit naturally suppresses weeds, and many varieties offer a fine texture and a rich, dark green color. Zoysia is often chosen because it requires less water and fertilizer compared to other warm-season grasses, making it a lower-maintenance option.
Available Forms of Zoysia Grass
Zoysia grass is typically available in three primary forms, each balancing initial cost, establishment time, and required effort. Sod is the most immediate method, consisting of strips of mature grass that can be rolled out like a carpet. Sod provides an instant lawn and minimizes weed competition, but it requires the highest initial investment and significant labor for installation.
Zoysia plugs are a middle-ground option, consisting of small, individual sections of established sod that include a root system. Plugs are a cost-effective choice for smaller areas or patching existing turf, establishing more quickly than seed because the grass is already mature. Planting involves spacing them out, often 6 to 12 inches apart, and waiting for the grass to spread laterally to fill the bare soil, a process that takes one to two growing seasons.
The most budget-friendly method is Zoysia seed, sometimes sold as seed blends or sprigs (pieces of the stem with nodes that produce new plants). Only certain varieties, such as those derived from Zoysia japonica, are commercially available as seed, including popular types like Zenith. Establishing a lawn from seed requires the longest time commitment, often taking an entire growing season for full coverage. It also demands the most intensive initial care, especially consistent watering to ensure successful germination.
Primary Sources for Purchasing Zoysia
The vendor chosen often depends on the specific form of Zoysia intended for purchase, as sources specialize in vegetative material versus seed. Specialty sod farms and local nurseries are the best places to buy high-quality sod, often growing certified cultivars like Zeon or Empire. These local suppliers provide large quantities and may offer delivery or professional installation services, which is beneficial given the time-sensitive nature of laying sod.
Online retailers and mail-order businesses are excellent sources for Zoysia plugs and seed, frequently offering the widest selection of cultivars unavailable locally. Plugs are commonly shipped in trays or sod pods, making them easy to transport, but buyers must ensure they can plant them immediately upon arrival. When purchasing sod online, be aware that logistical costs for palletized, refrigerated delivery can be substantial.
Local big box stores and garden centers offer the greatest convenience for small-scale projects, typically stocking Zoysia seed and trays of plugs during the peak planting season. While easily accessible, they often carry a limited variety of cultivars, which may not be optimal for specific climate or shade requirements. When buying from any source, always confirm the vendor is reputable, particularly for patented cultivars, to ensure you receive the correct, high-performing grass type.
Key Considerations When Selecting a Zoysia Variety
Selecting the correct Zoysia cultivar requires assessing your specific growing environment. A primary consideration is climate suitability, as Zoysia performs best in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 11. Certain varieties, such as Meyer Zoysia, are bred for improved cold tolerance in the transition zone. Researching how a variety like Emerald or Innovation performs in your region’s winter temperatures is necessary before making a purchase.
Different varieties possess varying tolerance levels for environmental stressors, which influences the long-term success of the lawn. Cultivars like Zeon and Geo Zoysia are known for their better shade tolerance compared to other warm-season grasses, making them suitable for yards with mature trees. If the lawn will experience heavy foot traffic, choosing a variety with a dense growth habit and good wear resistance, such as Empire or Palisades, is advisable for faster recovery.
Aesthetic and maintenance requirements also play a role in selection, as Zoysia varieties range from fine-bladed to medium-coarse textures. Fine-textured types typically require a lower mowing height (1 to 2 inches) and may necessitate a reel mower for the cleanest cut. Coarser varieties tolerate a higher cut with a standard rotary mower. Most Zoysia requires up to 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually during the growing season.
Immediate Steps After Purchase
The success of a new Zoysia lawn depends on immediate steps taken after the material arrives, beginning with proper site preparation. Ideally, a soil test should be conducted weeks before planting to adjust pH levels to the preferred range of 6.0 to 6.5. This allows for the incorporation of any necessary starter fertilizer into the top few inches of soil. This preparation ensures the new grass has the best environment for root growth, which is important for plugs and seed.
For vegetative material (sod and plugs), planting should occur within 24 hours of delivery to prevent the grass from drying out. Sod should be laid on moist, prepared soil, with the edges tightly butted against one another. Plugs need to be firmly pressed into the ground to ensure good root-to-soil contact. Immediately after planting, a deep initial watering is necessary to saturate the soil beneath the material and settle the roots.
The first few weeks of establishment require a frequent watering schedule to encourage the root system to take hold. For sod and plugs, this often means multiple light waterings per day for the first 10 to 14 days to keep the top layer of soil consistently moist. The first mow should be delayed until the sod has rooted down enough that the edges cannot be lifted. Alternatively, delay mowing until the plugs show visible new growth, which typically takes two to three weeks.