[Brl2833]

About 1/3 of my back lawn is zoysia and the rest is fescue/rye mix. The whole lawn is full sun. I want the zoysia to take over. I live in the KC, MO area and our zoysia isn't fully active until Memorial Day. Besides plugging, what should I do to help the zoysia take over? The only applications I have done this year are two rounds of Dimension without fertilizer and broadleaf control via Speedzone.

Should I be fertilizing during the summer? Should I mow at a different height?

Thanks.

 

[gatormac2112]

Why do you want the zoysia to take over? If I lived farther north than Alabama I would be over on the cool season grass forums. Zoysia is thick and hard to mow sometimes and wears on equipment faster than other grasses. That far north I think zoysia wouldn't be green as long as a cool season grass would be. If I were you I would get rid of the zoysia and try to copy what @wardconnor is doing. I envy the deep color and striping of a well manicured cool season lawn.

Just an opinion of a zoysia owner.

 

[Greendoc]

x2. I would be in seventh heaven if I never had to deal with another Zoysia lawn. Cool season grasses give you options. Mow with a rotary, it looks ok with no consequences. Mow low with a reel like @wardconnor does and it looks stunning. With Zoysia, choices are taken away. It has to be mowed low in order to be its best and be manageable long term. Mow with a rotary and you will look at shredded leaf tips and then thatch build up over time.

 

[jayhawk]

Kc is as hot as Atlanta so fescue isn't a layup there. I used to mow it on a Sears riding (in fact we had 2), when Dad wasn't watching ...highest gear! Looked like death every summer...not that we did anything beyond what mother nature gave us.

I'm the contraian I guess. Plug, cut low ...herbicide if you want it gone now.