Zoysia lawn care schedule

Zoysia is the premium warm-season grass: denser, more shade-tolerant, and more cold-hardy than bermuda, but slower to establish and slower to recover from damage. Zoysia japonica ('Meyer', 'Empire') extends into zone 6 (the only warm-season species that does), while Z. matrella ('Diamond', 'Cavalier') and Z. tenuifolia stay in zone 8+. Once established, zoysia chokes out weeds better than any other lawn grass thanks to its density.

Growth habit

Spreads slowly via stolons + rhizomes

Mowing height

1–2.5 in

Season

warm-season

Notes: Slow to establish from seed; usually sodded or plugged. Zone 6 cultivars (Meyer, Empire) need the most cold tolerance.