How to Plant & Grow a Zoysia Grass Lawn

Get easy tips on how to plant and maintain this drought-tolerant grass.

Grow a Zoysia Grass Lawn

If you live in the Transition Zone -- an area that stretches from Kansas to the Carolinas -- then a zoysia grass lawn may be a good option for you. Zoysia is heat- and drought-tolerant, and produces a thick green lawn during the growing season. Zoysia is a popular grass for golf-course fairways and tees, since it makes the ball sit up high for an easy hit.

Planting Zoysia Grass

Zoysia grass can be grown from seed, sod, or plugs. Zoysia is a slow grower so sod or plugs are most commonly used. However, there are innovative seed products on the market, such as Scotts® Turf Builder® Zoysia Grass Seed and Mulch that make seeding zoysia a good option. Before laying sod or after planting plugs or grass seed, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Lawn Food for New Grass to help your zoysia lawn get off to a good start by providing the right nutrients young grass seedlings need to grow. Water your newly planted lawn frequently until the plants are established.

Maintaining Your Zoysia Grass Lawn

You can begin to mow your new zoysia grass lawn when it reaches mowing height. Zoysia grass prefers a middle mower setting that provides a 2 to 3 inch cut. Feed your lawn 6-8 weeks after planting with Scotts® Turf Builder® Southern Lawn Food. Continue to feed every 6-8 weeks until the lawn goes dormant in the fall.

Things to Remember about Zoysia Grass

As soon as the weather gets chilly, zoysia grass goes dormant. You'll see a brown lawn until some time around March. If you live too far north, you'll have a dormant lawn for much of the growing season, which is why this grass type is typically not recommended for cooler climates.