In winter, some do not like the dormant color of Zoysia, so the first thought is to overseed to receive a temporary color for winter with a ryegrass. The result of this may not be what you really want.
The downside of using a winter ryegrass is that it is a perennial and the way it grows. It forms clumps and it cannot spread as Zoysia does. The end result is that it can sometimes appear patchy. So, it will not look the best and it will need mowing and possibly fertilizing to do well throughout the winter season. Reseeding will need to be done annually as the ryegrass is unlikely to survive.
A main reason not to overseed for winter is that Zoysia grass is a very dense grass, so the winter ryegrass will have issues to get down into the soil and germinate. It will make the lawn appear blotchy.
The best thing to do for your Zoysia lawn over the winter months spot treat winter weeds. No mowing will be needed for the Zoysia during dormancy stage. Enjoy the time off from mowing!
If you insist on having a green lawn over the winter months. you may wish to try another alternative to get a temporary winter color by applying a lawn turf paint or a dye colorant. Painting or using a dye will not harm the Zoysia. Once the Zoysia comes out of dormancy it will resume its growth.
The post Overseed Zoysia for Winter Color – Maybe Not first appeared on The Zoysia Farm Nurseries Blog.