Common Reasons Zoysia Turns Brown…
Amazoy Meyer Zoysia is a warm weather grass that stays a beautiful shade of green during the warm weather months. It turns a shade of blonde/brown when the weather begins to cool in winter. If your Zoysia is turning yellowish during the growing season there may be a few obvious culprits.
Zoysia grass requires little water but ironically the most common reason for yellowing is over-watering or under watering, depending upon the area you live in. Zoysia is a drought tolerant grass and after it is established it does not typically require much water if you live in a climate where you receive fairly regular rain. Too little water will also lead the plant to start to go yellow and even brown or dormant if your climate is more desert. The amount of water that you give your Zoysia grass is dependent upon the area you live in. If you are seeing your grass turn yellow during the growing season it may be your watering schedule and you can adjust this and it should begin to return to repair itself slowly.
The pH for Zoysia to thrive is between 6 and 7. If the pH of your grass is not in its optimal levels then this can cause it to prematurely yellow out. We would recommend testing the pH. If you find that it’s below 6, you should add lime. If it’s above 7, you should add sulfur.
Pests such as grubs, moles and voles are a common issue that can cause your established Zoysia lawn to brown out. These pests attack the root of the grass and prevent it from getting the nutrients needed to survive. To determine if you have grubs you can simply turn over a small portion of the lawn to see if there is an infestation. Moles and voles will leave small holes in your yard. Applying the appropriate pesticides will help with these issues.
Finally, you can take a sample of your lawn to a local nursery and have it tested for a fungus or disease if no other cause can be found. Once you determine if this is the issue you may need to apply a product like a fungicide. If the problem has progressed too far you may have to plant new plugs in that area to get it to fill-in.
These simple reasons could be the cause of your Zoysia grass going from its healthy green color to the premature shade of brown but, do not be discouraged. By following our tips your lawn can usually recover.
The post Common Reasons Zoysia Turns Brown… first appeared on The Zoysia Farm Nurseries Blog.