How to Install Zoysia Sod in St. Louis, Missouri

Plant sod from the spring until September in Missouri to give zoysia grass enough time to grow roots and become established before cold weather arrives. Also, plant at a time when you won't need to walk on or use the lawn for approximately three weeks.

Send out a soil sample to a Missouri cooperative extension office to receive recommendations for fertilizer, lime and other soil amendments.

Till the lawn to a depth of 4 to 6 inches, and add the fertilizer, lime or other soil amendments recommended from the results of the soil test. Next, use a garden rake to roughly level the ground and rake a starter grass fertilizer into the top inch of soil.

Moisten the soil prior to laying the sod. Do not saturate it; the soil should not be extremely wet.

Lay a strip of sod on the moist soil, cutting the ends as necessary with a utility or garden knife. Lay the first strip along a straight edge, such as your sidewalk or driveway. Next, stagger rows so the ends do not start and stop at the same point, creating a brick-like pattern. Lay the sod strips right up against each other.

Roll the sod with a lawn roller so the sod makes good contact with the ground.

Water zoysia sod with approximately 4 inches of water immediately after it's installed, and then water weekly with an inch of water for the first month. After that, you will rarely need to water zoysia grass in St. Louis unless there is a long spell of dry weather during its growing season (spring until fall).