Do Zoysia Plugs Work?

About Zoysia Grass

• Zoysia is a warm-season grass native to Asia. It is used extensively throughout the Southern U.S. and California. Varieties range from fine-textured to coarse, with smooth, sharply pointed blades. It grows in all kinds of soils and both acid and alkaline soil. It turns brown after a frost but greens up again at the first sign of warm weather. It is also wear-resistant and is often used on golf courses and sports fields.

Planting Zoysia Grass

• Generally, zoysia grass is established from prestarted grass plants, except for Zoysia japonica, a coarser-textured, cold-hardy variety, which is established by seed. Zoysia grass planting requires removal of all material from the soil and level grading. Pulverize the soil finely for easy rooting. Remove lower limbs of trees from the lawn area to allow for better light penetration on the grass plants. Ensure good drainage by sloping the lawn away from the house.

Zoysia Plugs

• Plugs are square or round pieces of sod that are planted at intervals across the lawn area. This method allows the zoysia grass to fill in the open spaces by spreading through its stolons and rhizomes. Two-inch plugs are generally used placed center-to-center about six to eight inches apart. Sprigging uses much smaller pieces of turf planted more closely. Ensure that the plugs are in firm contact with the soil when covering with dirt. Water deeply during the morning hours every day until the plugs begin to sprout new growth. Then, water as needed. It takes about a year for the plugs to fill in to form a full, thick lawn.

Care of Your Zoysia Grass Lawn

• Fertilize your newly planted plugs with a 1-2-1 fertilizer at a rate of 1 lb. of nitrogen for each 1,000 square feet of area. Then, apply fertilizer monthly. Though a drought-tolerant grass, zoysia turns straw-colored during long, dry periods. Irrigate two to three times each week to keep the green color. Avoid overfertilizing, which can cause problems with thatch accumulation. As the plugs fill in, mow the grass to 1 to 2 inches long every five to seven days.