Overseeding Bermuda Grass With Zoysia

Pull the plug on zoysia grass plugs.

Overseeding bermuda grass with zoysia. Do not use any type of pre emergent or weed and feed weed control for at least 90 days before. Besides the lower cost of seeding zenith zoysia there s the time factor. It is a hybridized grass seed combining zoysia japonica and zoysia tenuifolia to create fine texture more rapid growth and cold tolerance. Zoysia grass is capable of growing in moderate shade while bermuda grass struggles when not grown in full sun locations.

Overseeding a lawn with zoysia is challenging. Emerald zoysia is a warm season grass prized for its tolerance of heat cold drought and foot traffic. On old neglected lawns rather than ripping them out sometimes renovation is called for and overseeding is one method used to accomplish this. Bermuda grass requires full sun but zoysia grass grows in full sun or partial shade.

Both grasses prefer soil ph between 5 5 and 7 0 and need 1 inch of water every week during spring and summer. Overseeding a lawn is a project that should be undertaken every four years to keep the lawn dense and healthy. Prepare the lawn before seeding by mowing your bermuda grass about 1 inch and by raking the lawn vigorously with a metal tined rake. Sow 6 8 pounds of annual ryegrass per 1000 square feet and broadcast a complete lawn fertilizer than contains a slow release form of nitrogen if you have not done so already.

That said bermudagrass is the only warm season grass that can usually overcome the stresses of overseeding. I live in north atlanta and planted some empire zoysia plugs in my bermuda lawn about 2 months ago. I also have problem with scattered bermuda in my zoysia grass. The only think i have found is acclaim by bayer.

It does not kill the bermuda. Read more on why we don t sell zenith zoysia as plugs. Zoysia generally requires 10 fewer mowings per growing season than the average bermuda grass lawn. Zoysiagrass grows too thickly to allow ryegrass seed to penetrate to the soil and germinate.

It is hardy in united. Zoysia is a tough grass that requires a clean cut to look good. Ezf posted 03 july 2010 19 23. Enjoy the golden brown of your zoysiagrass and don t overseed with rye.

If your existing bermuda grass lawn is partially shaded overseeding with shade friendly zoysia may help to keep your entire lawn green and attractive through much of the year. However it does retard its growth while the zoysia get a better hold. Why we don t like zoysia plugs. Always use sharp mower blades for best results.

Don t use a pre emergent herbicide.