Zoysia grass weed control requires a little patience and a lot of attention to detail. Warm season grasses often experience weed infestation no matter what the homeowner or groundskeeper does. With the warm weather, sunshine, and plenty of water, weeds are a virtual certainty in the summer.
So is there anything that can be done about weeds in the summertime? The short answer is yes, but it takes a multi-pronged approach to get weeds under control. Here is what Atlanta’s landscaping experts have to say about summer zoysia grass weed control.
A Healthy Lawn Is Your First Line of Defense
Getting your grass to be green, thick, and healthy is the first and most important step in a strong weed control plan. A lush lawn will shade weed seeds and prevent them from getting the sunlight and water they need to germinate. So no matter what is going on with your weed situation, it’s important to stay on top of your watering, trimming, and fertilizing schedule.
Mow Your Zoysia Grass Correctly
One of the most common mistakes people make is waiting too long between mowing sessions. You should never cut off more than one-third of your grass blades at one time. If you leave for vacation and come home to four-inch tall grass, adjust your mower’s blade height to only cut off about 1 ½ inches of the grass. Then, wait a few days before trimming it shorter.
When you cut too much of the grass blades, it hurts the grass plant’s ability to utilize water, nutrients, and sunlight. Distressed grass is not healthy, and it will become more susceptible to weed infestation as a result.
Don’t Forget to Aerate Your Zoysia Turf
Weeds are tough little fighters. That’s what allows them to grow in so many different environments, including full shade, full sun, and even in the cracks between sidewalk slabs. Unfortunately, most types of grass are not nearly as hardy as the weeds they fight for resources.
When your soil becomes compacted, your grass plants need you to perform core aeration. The weeds do a fine job of growing down into hard soil, but grass does not. Aeration allows more water and nutrients to get down to the Zoysia roots, and that promotes thicker, healthier turf that can fight off more weeds.
Pre-Emergent Weed Control for Zoysia Grass
A pre-emergent product prevents weed seeds from growing past germination. When the baby plant is disabled early in the growth cycle, you will see far fewer adult weeds in our lawn. August is a little early for applying pre-emergent weed control products. Autumn is when many weeds begin to create and drop seeds. Begin to think about using pre-emergent when the fall cool-down starts in September or October.
Broadleaf Weed Control for Your Zoysia Lawn
Applying broadleaf weed killer throughout the summer is a good way to keep adult weeds at bay. These products work by killing fully grown weeds. If you can eradicate them before they go to seed, it will help prevent them from creating a whole new generation of weeds.
Dandelions and clover are two of the most common and frustrating broadleaf weeds in our region. However, broadleaf weed control products will also work on grassy weeds like poa annua and crabgrass.
Pitfalls of Pre-Emergent and Broadleaf Weed Control Products
The key to using these types of herbicides is to follow the manufacturer’s application directions carefully. Lots of homeowners don’t understand how these products work, or what they should expect in the days following application.
In particular, broadleaf weed killers are commonly misused. When people don’t see results in 24 hours, they tend to re-apply the product. Putting too much of these chemicals on your lawn is a common cause of turf damage. This is why hiring a lawn care professional to handle your weed control strategy is a smart idea.
Kemko: Atlanta’s Lawn Care Pros
Need to take your weed control game to the next level, but scared to do it yourself? Maybe you’re already short on time, but you’re tired of coming home to a weed-infested yard. Kemko Lawn & Shrub can help. For over 30 years, Atlanta-area homeowners have trusted Kemko to handle their weed control and lawn care needs.
Our lawn care professionals are dedicated to complete customer satisfaction. We communicate with our clients to make sure they know what treatments we will do, and when we will perform them. Our team can help set up sprinkler timers and give advice about what nutrients your grass is lacking. Seasonal lawn care tasks are a breeze when you let Kemko handle them for you.
Call us at 770-466-6113 to schedule your zoysia grass weed control application.