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How to Seed Zoysia Grass

Zoysia is a warm-season grass that can be grown in some of the southern cool-season states. It is a slow grower. Use zoysia grass for home lawns, golf courses, athletic fields and parks. Plant zoysia seeds in early fall just when the summer heat begins to cool. Seeding a lawn can be a chore, but is not overly difficult. Once the seeds are planted, zoysia grass needs plenty of water and light. Once the grass is established, little maintenance is required.

Things You'll Need

  • Grass and weed killer
  • Fertilizer
  • Spreader
  • Roto tiller
  • Rake
  • Water hose
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove any grass growing in the area. Zoysia grass grows best with no competition. Use spray-on grass and weed killer. Follow the directions that come with the product.

    • 2

      Fertilize the area. Type of fertilizer depends on the soil. Do a soil test to find out what fertilizer to use. Apply 9 lbs. of fertilizer for every 1000 square feet of land. Use a spreader and walk at a steady pace. Make sure all of the area receives fertilizer and remember to turn off the spreader if you stop. Otherwise, that spot will be over-fertilized.

    • 3

      Till the soil to a depth of 5 inches. Set the roto tiller to this depth. Walk at a steady pace and remove sticks, stones and other debris from the soil as you go along.

    • 4

      Plant the zoysia grass seeds with a spreader. Apply 2 lbs. of seed for every 1000 square feet of land. Walk with the spreader at a steady pace. Turn off the spreader when stopping so as to not overseed an area.

    • 5

      Rake the seeds and soil lightly, but do not let the seeds get deeper than 1/4 inch into the ground. Zoysia seeds need plenty of light to grow well, and they will not get the light if they are too deep into the soil.

    • 6

      Water the seeds immediately after planting. Use a watering hose to evenly water the soil. The area must be moist, but not soaking wet.

    • 7

      Water the lawn two to three times a day for the first 20 to 30 days after planting the seeds. There will be lots of little seedlings sprouting by this time.

    • 8

      Reduce the watering to once every other day for the next five to eight weeks. Only use enough water so that the soil is moist down to a depth of 1 inch. Overwatering will kill zoysia grass.

    • 9

      Fertilize the lawn six weeks after planting the seeds. Use a spreader and apply 9 lbs. of fertilizer for every 1000 square feet of land.