Zoysia grass is one of the favorite grasses of many gardeners to grow in the garden. They have strong vitality, good growth, and low maintenance costs.
Therefore, Zoysia is often chosen to plant in front of each house to create a beautiful lawn. However, Zoysia grass is a warm-season grass, so it will have a lot of variation in winter in terms of color, growth rate, and water requirements.
So many people ask a lot of questions about the dormant period of Zoysia grass. Does Zoysia grass go dormant? How will they work and how to maintain Zoysia grass?
To answer all these questions, we start to learn more information in the article below.
Does Zoysia Grass Go Dormant?
Before answering this question, you need to learn some basic characteristics of Zoysia grass to have a suitable care plan for each season.
1. Basic Characteristics Of Zoysia Grass
Zoysia grass is a warm-season grass, so it prefers sun every day and has a higher water requirement than other grasses.
This grass may grow slower than other grasses in the growth process but it produces a thick and sturdy layer of grass.
Zoysia grass is especially tolerant of heat and high temperatures in hot areas all year round. They can also live in partial shade and thrives in it still receives at least 4 hours of light per day.
Normally, Zoysia grass will grow quickly and become green in the late spring and summer months when temperatures are warm.
Zoysia grass is also less susceptible to weed attacks due to its thick and sturdy layer of grass that is woven together by its underground and aboveground root systems.
As fall begins, the temperature drops Zoysia grass will grow slowly and prepare for dormancy.
2. When Does Zoysia Grass Hibernate?
Normally, Zoysia grass belongs to the warm season variety, so it will thrive in the summer and hibernate in the winter when the temperature is low.
Also, another time many gardeners might spot dormant Zoysia grass is mid or late summer. During that time, high temperature and low rainfall, dry heat, and constant drought also cause Zoysia grass to hibernate.
However, this dormant state is only short-lived if your lawn is watered regularly and retains moisture in the soil. Once you start watering, the Zoysia grass will revive and become green again.
This is considered a phenomenon of Zoysia grass losing water due to extreme heat and drought for a long time.
Like all grasses, Zoysia grass hibernates like it’s dead. They won’t grow when temperatures are consistently below 60 degrees F. In late summer, when the temperature and light time drop, Zoysia grass will begin to slow down.
Zoysia grass will soon enter the period of storing energy to maintain the life of the roots instead of focusing on growing the leaves.
The lawn will turn brown or yellow like a lack of water or disease. However, this is a state in which Zoysia grass transitions to a low-energy stage, thus limiting photosynthesis to keep the leaves green.
Zoysia grass’s dormant period can be several months and they will begin to grow again in the spring when temperatures are warm again. The dormant state of Zoysia grass will cause the entire lawn to turn brown.
Read also: Does Grass Grow In The Winter In Florida?
How To Maintain The Lawn When It Hibernates?
Once the grass begins to hibernate, there is no need to perform maintenance tasks such as fertilizing, watering, or pruning as often. Let Zoysia grass hibernate because this is the stage when they are storing energy and maintaining life.
They will maintain root growth and will germinate again when temperatures are warm and weather conditions are favorable.
You must take care of and keep the Zoysia grass healthy before it hibernates and waits for a resurgence next spring.
In the middle and late summer, during droughts, Zoysia grass can also hibernate. Therefore, you should not apply high nitrogen fertilizers in the summer. Because nitrogen will promote Zoysia grass growth and cause stress on the lawn.
To ensure that Zoysia grass grows well and resists the summer heat, you should fertilize with a high iron content to maintain the green color and stability of the lawn.
In addition, you need a careful Zoysia lawn care plan to help keep the lawn healthy and maintain its energy after winter.
You need to check the moisture in the soil and aerate it to create a favorable environment for the roots to develop.
The roots of Zoysia grass need more space than other grasses. So, they can easily grow in size and bond with other bushes to create a thick and sturdy lawn.
You also need to water regularly during times of the high temperature and low rainfall. At the same time, regular pruning also helps Zoysia grass maintain its ideal hardiness.
In addition, you need to control disease, insect, or weed problems so that your lawn is disease-free when winter comes. A healthy lawn is sure to be revived and lush when spring returns.
Read more: Can You Mix Zoysia And Centipede?
Inference
Zoysia grass will hibernate in the summer or winter. Zoysia grass hibernates in summer when the temperature is too high and the drought is long.
So, Zoysia grass will hibernate to limit transpiration and moisture. They will become green again if watered in time.
Zoysia grass will also hibernate if temperatures are low and frost is covered. They will turn brown and maintain the energy to nourish the roots. Then, they will germinate again when the temperature is warm.
It is important for Zoysia grass maintenance that you have a careful care plan. A healthy Zoysia lawn will turn green after hibernation without any difficulty.