ZOYSIAGRASS

PROFESSIONAL TURF
MANAGEMENT


MOWING

Zoysiagrass performs best when mowed closely. We suggest that your lawn be mowed as close as 1 to
1 1/2 inches if possible. This height of cut should be easily obtained so long as the lawn is smooth. If there are severe irregularities in the grade, be careful not to scalp certain areas. Scalping a lawn could cause damage to the crown of the plant. If the lawn is uneven, please contact a Carolina Fresh Farms representative for instructions on topdressing a lawn. In order for Zoysia to look its best, it is mandatory that your lawn be mowed every 7 to 10 days. This ensures that thatch will not become a problem and help you avoid that “white” color of the lawn just after mowing.

WATERING

Your lawn requires 1 to 1 ½ inches of water per week during the growing season. Irrigation of the lawn should be performed in the early hours of the morning just before daylight. This practice will avoid any rapid evaporation of water before it reaches the lawn; yet allow the leaf tissue to dry quickly after the sun rises. Do not water your lawn every morning for short intervals. This process will only encourage shallow root growth. Instead, water your lawn for long periods two to three times a week.

AERATION

Aeration has two purposes. The first is to simply loosen the soil. The second is to prune the roots. Core aeration is the recommended method and should be performed every 2 years on a typical home lawn during the growing season. If your lawn receives heavy foot traffic, it would be advisable to aerate every year. Aeration should be performed during the growing season of the turf.

CHEMICALS / FERTILIZATION

The most important part of managing a Zoysia lawn is providing fertilizer and preventing disease, insects and weeds. The premium fertility program to the right will provide the essential elements that your lawn needs to grow healthy.

For spreader settings or any other fertilizer information please contact your local outlet or go to
lebsea.com

HELPFUL HINTS

Zoysiagrass has the potential to be the best looking grass in the neighborhood. Today there are as many as a dozen varieties easily available to the consumer. Carolina Fresh farms currently grows four varieties. Cavalier and Palisades are the two newest varieties cultivated on our farm. Each one of these varieties has different appearances and characteristics. Due to the ease of maintenance, Palisades is quickly becoming our largest seller. This variety may be maintained on minimal fertility schedule yet retain the beauty of a typical zoysia lawn. It has a wide blade which tends to be easier to mow with a conventional mower. Cavalier is narrow bladed grass similar to Emerald. Both of these varieties were developed for improved shade tolerance and minimal thatch accumulation. Regardless of the variety you are growing, beware of quick release fertilizers which yield excessive of top growth and thatch accumulation.

PREMIUM PROGRAM

This program offers the best of all products. It includes Barricade preemergent, insect control, fertilizer and post emergent weed control.

Feb. 21st—Mar. 15th
5-5-20 .38% Barricade
(5# per 1,000 sq. ft.)
Prevents summer weeds such as crabgrass.

April 15th
16-25-12 w/ Micros 1% Fe
(5# per 1,000 sq. ft.)
Provides phosphorus for root growth.

May 15th - May 21st
16-4-8 43% MESA .38% Barricade
(4# per 1,000 sq. ft.)
Merit 0.3G (Grub control)
(3# per 1,000 sq. ft.)
Provides nitrogen and more preemergent to extend control of summer weeds.

June 21st—July 1st
20-0-25 EXPO 1%Fe
(5# per 1,000 sq. ft.)
Provides nitrogen.

Aug. 1st—Aug. 15th
Perk Stress Relief
(4# per 1,000 sq. ft.)
Produces green color w/out flushing top growth late in the season.

Oct. 1st—Oct. 21st
5-5-20 .38% Barricade
(5# per 1,000 sq. ft.)
Prevents winter weeds such as Poa annua.

SOILS

A practical understanding of your soil is essential in managing your lawn. Soil pH is perhaps the most crucial element. Most turf grasses perform best when the soil pH falls between 6.3 and 7.0. We recommend that a soil test be performed annually to check the pH values as well as other nutrient levels within the soil profile. Any Carolina Fresh Farms Turf Center will be happy to send your soil samples to a soil testing laboratory.

SPECIALTY PRODUCTS

8-4-24 .38% Eagle
Systemic fungicide used to cure or prevent many diseases in turf, especially useful for control of brown patch, dollar spot and spring dead spot.

Perk Stress Relief
Used at any time during the growing season when deep green color is desired without unnecessary top growth.

Talstar SOP .073%
Insecticide with many uses, controls chinch bugs, fall armyworms, fire ants and many other insects

PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDES

Pre-emergent herbicides are essential in providing a weed free lawn. Barricade and Team Pro are two such chemicals. Of these two products, Barricade is the better product, offering an extended period of control when compared to Team Pro.

Never apply these products to a lawn, which is not well established!