To help reduce disease problems, fertilize the zoysiagrass lawn according to recent soil test recommendations and water infrequently. Weed Control: A selective, annual grass or broadleaf weed control pre-emergent herbicide that is labelled for use on zoysiagrass and applied during late winter and spring will reduce many weeds the following summer.
Fertilization: Fertilization of zoysiagrass should be based on soil test results, and this is a good time to test soil. However, fertilizers containing nitrogen should not be applied during this period unless the lawn is located along the coast and no frost is predicted.
Zoysiagrass lawns should receive 2 to 4 pounds of actual nitrogen per growing season per 1000 square feet of turf. The higher rate may be used on zoysiagrass lawn grown on sandy soils, and the lower rate for lawns grown on clay soils.
Zoysiagrass is an important turfgrass used throughout the southern regions of the United States and into the transition zones where both cool-season and warm-season grasses are adapted. The improved turf-type zoysiagrass will produce a dense, low growing turf that has a slow lateral growth but normal leaf growth.
Glyphosate is considered to have low potential for runoff due to its high affinity for soils [12]. Contrary to this conventional wisdom, glyphosate has been detected in surface waters, generally within agricultural ditches near the site of application.
Golf course superintendents apply pesticides and fertilizers to the course, and depending on an array of processes, these chemicals break down into by-products that are biologically inactive.
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup and related non-selective herbicide products. Roundup is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, and, in my ex- perience, is applied on most U.S. golf courses.
The Pesticide Specialist explained that pesticides are used on golf courses and other recreational areas to maintain the health and appearance of the turf. James learned that most golf courses have highly trained golf course superintendents who manage the course, including turf management and pest control strategies.
"Anyone on the golf course or nearby is at risk. Finally, pesticides applied to the turf may run off into surface waters or leach down to groundwater, which can then expose people to contaminated drinking water. These people may live far from the place where pesticides were used."
Research suggests that some chemicals used on golf courses may raise risks of lymphomas and other health problems. One study, published in 1996 in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, specifically addressed this concern.
Chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide used extensively in the agricultural industry, as well as on golf courses, green houses, and as mosquito adulticide.
“We get into periods here where I will spray my tees and greens every seven to 10 days and the fairways every two weeks,” he says. “We usually spray three days out of seven, so combining chemicals to get more bang for the buck is a necessity.”
Deep roots help the grass stay strong, lush and green. Golf course turf receives adequate nutrients from regular fertilizing. Fertilizers typically contain a balance of potassium and nitrogen, which helps the grass stay strong, even when it's subjected to extreme temperature and heavy traffic.
Sprayers are used to deliver precise rates of various products to putting green turf. Products typically range from ultra-light rates of fertilizer to highly specialized plant protectants that are needed to control specific turf diseases or injurious insect pests.
Courses dump often unregulated fertilisers and pesticides on their greenways to keep the grass looking unnaturally green. The fertilisers run off into bodies of water, causing a state of nutrient over-enrichment called eutrophication which results in algal blooms that destroy ecosystems.
As an effective weed killer, paraquat has historically been used by golf courses in groundskeeping. Today, however, paraquat use is banned on golf courses by the EPA. The powerful herbicide is classified as a “Restricted Use” chemical and applicators must be licensed.
Cost and availability of sod, O’Brien says, are the two biggest deterrents from Transition Zone facilities installing zoysiagrass.
Innovation zoysiagrass was developed by breeders and researchers at Texas A&M and Kansas State.
Devou added nine holes in the mid-1990s, but fairways remained problematic. A past superintendent had experimented with zoysiagrass in a wayward area on the first hole. At the urging of a previous course operator, Ralph Landrum, a former PGA Tour player who relished competing on zoysiagrass, Freking created a one-acre nursery. Lacking funds to solid sod the course, Freking and his team started strip sodding fairways in checkerboard patterns.
In summary, an ever-increasing number of golf course superintendents in the Transition Zone are turning to zoysiagrass for fairways and tees … It offers a solution to an old problem.
I think there’s something to be said for cool-season grass. But the average golfer likes zoysiagrass more than they like a low-mow bentgrass. The average 18-handicap loves that zoysiagrass.”.
Establishing zoysiagrass via sprigging takes too long – at least two and likely three years to receive adequate coverage – for most Transition Zone facilities. Establishment via solid sodding is too expensive. Estimate costs of fairway-quality sod, according to research by Purdue University’s Dr. Aaron Patton, exceeds $15,000 per acre – and that’s if a golf facility can find it.
The majority of zoysiagrass in the Transition Zone is found on fairways. Meyer is the predominant variety. And most superintendents responsible for maintaining zoysiagrass praise its performance.
There are two practical scenarios for establishing seeded zoysiagrass, the first of which is planting on bare soil where there is no existing vegetation to remove prior to establishment. This is usually the case during the construction of a new golf course or teeing ground . A second scenario is preparation of a seedbed in an established cool-season turf, which provides more options during the renovation process . Regardless of site preparation, most zoysiagrass cultivars prefer slightly acid soils with pH from 4.5 to 6.0 (26), though Meyer grows best in soil with pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.0 (20).
Zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) is a warm-season turfgrass species that provides an excellent golfing surface in the transition zone of the US that can be used for tees, fairways, roughs, and bunker faces. Established zoysiagrass creates a uniform, dense, low-growing, high-quality turf with excellent heat, drought, pest, and wear tolerance compared to cool-season grasses, resulting in fewer inputs and lower maintenance costs (3,12).
Preliminary research in Indiana has also found that seeded zoysiagrass cultivars have excellent freeze tolerance, but seedlings could be subject to desiccation in western regions of the transition zone. Winter survival of seeded zoysiagrass does not appear to be influenced by seeding date , seeding rate , or nitrogen fertility (29).
It is not unusual for zoysiagrass to green up and be burnt back several times during the late winter or early spring due to late season frosts. Because of possible injury to the lawn and the potential fire hazard, do not burn off zoysiagrass to remove excessive debris. For more information on mowing, refer to HGIC 1205, Mowing Lawns.
Insect Control: Cold winter temperatures will usually keep insect problems in zoysiagrass at bay. As temperatures start to warm in late spring, monitor for mole cricket activity. If mole cricket activity is observed, apply a lawn insecticide if damage is excessive. If the damage is minimal, wait before applying an insecticide. This is not the best time to apply an insecticide for insect control because of cool soil temperatures and reduced insect activity. However, an early warm-up can lead to significant mole cricket activity. Heavy populations can be reduced through appropriately timed insecticide treatments during this period. For more information on mole crickets, see HGIC 2155, Mole Cricket Management in Turfgrass.
Broadleaf weed herbicides can be applied as necessary for control of chickweed, henbit, and other cool-season broadleaf weeds. Selective herbicides can also be applied during winter for control of annual bluegrass and other winter annual grassy weeds. Contact the local County Extension office or the Home & Garden Information Center for weed identification and control measures. See for HGIC 2310, Managing Weeds in Warm Season Lawns for more information.
If grubs (the white larvae of beetles, such as Japanese beetles) have been a problem in previous years, monitor the grubs by cutting a square foot piece of sod on three sides and peel it back. If more than six grubs are found under the sod piece, apply a lawn insecticide labelled for grub control according to label directions. For more information on white grub management, see HGIC 2156, White Grub Management in Turfgrass.
Aerification: Core aeration is the process of punching small holes in the turf and into the soil to alleviate compaction, thus allowing air to get to the root system. This will help to correct problems associated with poor infiltration and drainage. Once the threat for frost has passed, lawn aerification may be combined with dethatching to alleviate any soil compaction problems.
If possible, use a mower with a bagger to collect the clippings and remove any dead material left from winter dormancy. Alternatively, the lawn can be hand raked to remove the excessive dead leaf material from the lawn surface. Grass clippings decompose quickly and do not contribute to thatch.
A second application is needed approximately 8 to 10 weeks after the initial application to give season long control of annual grassy and broadleaf weeds. Apply a post-emergent herbicide as needed to control existing winter grassy and broadleaf weeds.