September Warm Season Turf Care

GOT ZOYSIA PROBLEMS? PROACTIVE APPLICATIONS ARE BEST!

Ever since “burning” zoysia thatch has been outlawed, there appears to be an increase in zoysia “decline”.  Too many problems are misdiagnosed.  My feeling is that if you want your zoysia you have to be proactive (address issues before they become issues) with disease and insect applications or you will be “fixing” your lawn year after year. You have to remember zoysia is a “warm” season grass, so fixing it is best between late April and mid September.

Here a few steps you should take if you are serious about making or keeping your zoysia healthy:

*Remove thatch by power raking in the spring (April 15-May 15) or by next week (because the ground is so warm). Don’t this too early in the year because you can cause more harm then good if we get a late frost!).

*Apply fungicide like “Headway” at 4#/1000 ft. sq September 15-30, October 15-30 AND again April 15-30. If you can’t do all three, don’t do ANY of them. They all work together and pretty much useless as an each. Like so many things in life, they work together for the common good. Pretty expensive (around $75-85 per 30# bag), but very effective if you truly have a fungus problem!

*Apply a systemic (long lasting) insecticide like “Merit (r)” in Mid April and again in Mid July. This will take care of all insects for the year. It’s the “Hunting Bill Bug” that causes the most damage to zoysia and these applications will control all insects for the year.

*Spot spray weeds as needed for the next couple of weeks. By October 1^st you probably won’t be able to spray herbicides on zoysia. (read the label)!

*Apply a high Potash (last number on the fertilizer bag) fertilizer any time this month. DO NOT apply high nitrogen “winterizer” from a big box store. All “winterizers” are not created equally. Warm season lawns need totally different fertilizers at totally different times then their cool season counterparts. Know your grass type and the right fertilizer for the right time of the year and you will have a successful lawn

Remember that all of these applications work together. Any one of them can help, but not like if you do all of them together at the right time and at the right rates. I preach about knowing your grass type and making a plan to do the right things at the right time because they work! Skipping or taking short cuts don’t work.

This can be confusing, so don’t hesitate to shot me an email or give me a call and I’ll be glad to clear up the mud.

Enjoy the cool weather and pray for some rain will ya!

Remember folks, it’s just grass!

Glenn Kraemer