Zoysia Care Guide

Zoysia grass is one of the most popular lawn grasses in Central Arkansas, and for good reason. Its lush, dense canopy creates those iconic silky green stripes that make all the neighbors jealous, and its underfoot feel is unmatched. And for lawns with slight to moderate shade, it’s the only choice.

HOWEVER, zoysia is not for the faint of heart. It can be a physical and financial challenge. In addition to high pest and disease pressure, growing healthy zoysia demands precision in both your mowing and irrigation habits.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about maintaining a beautiful Zoysia lawn in Central Arkansas, including mowing, watering, fertilizing, shade tolerance, pest control, disease prevention, and seasonal care.

• Pros & Cons of Zoysia

  Central Arkansas’ climate presents unique challenges for lawn care. Summers are hot and humid, while winters can bring periods of freezing temperatures. This makes lawn care more complex than in other regions.
  

  Pros

  • Asthetics! If you want silky green stripes this is the grass for you.

  • Dense growth helps choke out weeds

  • Moderate shade tolerance—better than Bermuda but less than St. Augustine.

  • Soft and the most pleasant underfoot

  Cons

  • Slow to recover and spread

  • Proper watering is critical

    • too much will cause rot and disease

    • too little will lead to dead grass

    • flowing or standing water due to drainage issues will kill zoysia

  • Higher Sod Cost (compared to Bermuda)

  • High Maintenance Cost

    • Prone to fungus and pests wich can require additional treatments

    • MUST be dethatched every couple years (if not every year)

    • Proper mowing is critical

• Zoysia Mowing Advice

  Proper mowing is essential for maintaining the health and appearance of Zoysia grass.

  Recommended Mowing Height:

  • 2.5 – 4 inches for most varieties

    • See the two charts to provided in this blog determine what height is right for you.

  Frequency:

  • Mow every 7 days MINIMUM during peak growing season (May - September).

    • Never cut more than ⅓ of the blade height at once to prevent stress.

  • Dull Blades tear and frey grass tips exposing it to incerase drougth, pest, and disease stress. It also looks bad.

    • Sharpen blades every 15 mows or approximately half way through the mowing season.

  Best Practices:

  • Keep mower blades sharp to ensure clean cuts. 

    • Click here to watch a helpful how-to video about sharpening your mower blades.

  • Avoid mowing when the grass is wet.

  • Allow Zoysia to grow slightly taller in shaded areas to maximize photosynthesis.

  • Remove clippings to minimize thatch buildup.

• Watering Advice

  Zoysia is less drought-tolerant than Bermuda. Once established, Zoysia can tolerate heat but will die quickly without water between June - September.
  Be VERY careful not to over water zoysia in the Spring betwee March - May. The same is true for the Fall between October - November.
  
  Professional Programming:

  • Learn more about Optimization

    • Get your Optimization Estimate

  • Get the full DIY Programming Guide

  Spring Watering Advice:

  • Do NOT begin watering until May. Anything before May is asking for disease.

  • Water at approximately 50% of peak summer watering.

  • Careful not to over do it

  • 3 Days per week

  • Start watering around 5 am

  • Rotating/Oscillating Zones set to 10-15 min. total run time

  • Misting/Spray Zones Set to 3-6 min. total run time

  Summer Watering Advice:

  • 4 Days per week

  • Start watering around 5 am

  • Rotating/Oscillating Zones set to 25-35 min. total run time

  • Misting/Spray Zones Set to 6-12 min. total run time

  Fall Watering Advice:

  • Do NOT STOP watering until November or until grass goes dormant.

  • Water days and times should be similar or slightly less than Spring.

  • Careful not to over do it.

  Signs of Under-watering:

  • Grass turns bluish-gray instead of green before turning brown. (shadowing)

  • Grass blades curl and wilt.

  Signs of Overwatering:

  • Mushy ground or standing water.

  • Increased weed and fungus activity.

  • Grass starts thinning and turning yellow / orange.

  • Issues with Nutgrass and otehr sedges.

• Shade Tolerance

  THERE IS NOT SUCH THING AS WARM SEASON SHADE GRASS! Anything that says otherwise is marketing.
  Zoysia offers moderate shade tolerance but still needs at least 4–5 hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive. Click here to learn more about shade issues. 

  Thrives In:

  • Full Sun

  • Areas of slight or dappled shade but still gets a few hours of direct sun.

  Struggles In:

  • Dense shade under tree canopies or next to buildings, fences, etc. 

    • Areas with less than 4 hours of sunlight per day

  💡 Tip: Raising the mowing height in shaded areas can help Zoysia capture more light and improve its ability to grow.

• Pests & Diseases

  Over the past few years we’ve seen a stead increase in pest and disease populations due to warming weather patterns.

  If you have zoysia in Central Arkansas you WILL need pest and/or disease intervention eventually. We highly recommend a preventative approach with our Fungal Agronomic and Turf Pest Prevention treatments.
  Every member of our team carries a special mixture of pest and disease control prodcuts during every round to spot-treat issues quickly for exactly this reason.

  Common Diseases:

  • Large Patch – Occurs in warm, humid weather; treat with fungicides.

  • Dollar Spot – Creates small, brown patches; improve nitrogen levels and treat with fungicides.

  • Rust appears as an orange powder on grass blades; improve air circulation and reduce watering frequency.

  Common Pests:

  • Grubs feed on roots, causing wilting and patchy thinning.

  • Spittlebugs, Chinch bugs, Billbugs, and Mealybugs – Sucks the chlorophyll, nutrients, and moisture out of blades; treat with insecticides.

  • Armyworms – Cause rapid thinning; treat immediately with insecticides.

  💡 Tip: A strong, well-maintained lawn is the best defense against pests and diseases.

• Dormancy and Cold Tolerance

  Zoysia grass will go dormant in the winter, turning brown as temperatures drop below 50°F.

  Winter Care:

  • Lower grass to 2.5 inches before dormancy to prevent rot and/or matting.

  • Avoid heavy foot traffic on dormant Zoysia to prevent damage.

  • Remove leaves and debris to avoid moisture buildup and fungal growth.

  • When clearing sidewalks and driveways after a snow, DO NOT create piles in your lawn. It will die.

• Zoysia Grass Varieties

  ✅ Meyer Zoysia (Recommended)

  • Fine to medium blade texture

  • Dense growth with good shade tolerance

  • Deep green color

  • Slower to establish but durable once rooted

  ✅ Zeon Zoysia 

  • Fine-textured with a soft feel

  • Excellent drought tolerance

  • Best suited for residential lawns and golf courses

  • High disease resistance

  ✅ Emerald Zoysia (aka Shade King)

  • Dark green, fine-bladed grass

  • Tolerates partial shade better than other varieties

  • Low mowing height requirement

  • Slow-growing but forms a thick, carpet-like lawn

  ✅ Palisades Zoysia

  • Medium-textured blade

  • Fast growth and quick establishment

  • High drought and heat tolerance

  • Tolerates moderate shade