Do you have grubs or other bugs in the bad area?

What about watering practice?

Chemical or organic program?

Those were very effective pictures. Thanks for the link.

First of all, I'm no zoysia expert but are you sure that's zoysia?

Secondly, if you are not on an organic program, I think that would cure all your ills with the least amount of cost and hassle. You could possibly have bugs in your yard that are working on the roots, or I suspect a fungus. To cover both cases, I would spray the yard with molasses at a rate of 3 ounces of molasses per gallon of water to cover 1,000 square feet. Then I would apply ordinary corn meal at a rate of 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. You can reapply either one whenever you want, but you should not have to reapply the corn meal again until Memorial Day. These materials are not expensive, do not smell bad, and will not hurt anything (like pets or kids that might be rolling around in it). The corn meal will take care of any fungus you have (except rust and red thread, which you do not have), and you don't have to figure out which fungus it is first. Corn meal takes three full weeks to show results, and with a slow growing zoysia, it could take much longer to really show results. The molasses is used here in Texas to prevent root knot nematodes. It feeds the soil bacteria and somehow they will kill and prevent reinfestation of the RKNs.

By the way the corn meal is a fertilizer and a fungus control. You will not need to apply anything else at all, nothing, until Memorial Day. One thing you should notice with the corn meal is that your grass is much darker green than your neighbor's grass. Most people think that is pretty cool.

You should be able to get ordinary corn meal (NOT corn gluten meal) at any feed store, but be sure to call ahead. If they do not have it, be sure to ask who they know who might have corn meal. As a last resort, you can get corn meal at the grocery store. Look for the largest bags you can get. Usually grocery stores catering to the Hispanic community will have 25-pound bags. Do not get the ready-to-make tortilla mix. It is already mixed with other stuff.

Your alternative is to try a chemical approach. My biggest problem with using chemicals to kill fungus is that the label tells you to do it on a day where the temp will not exceed 80 degrees, the soil is moist, rain is not expected, and Jupiter is aligned with Mars and at least two other planets. That day NEVER happens in San Antonio. Once I tried corn meal, all my problems went away and then some. It is my fertilizer and my fungus control. I use it on all the major federal holidays (easy to remember).

If i'm bagging my clippings won't all the corn meal get sucked up? I think i'm going to try the natural way as you explain. I seems so much easier

Why are you bagging your clippings? You are taking nutrients and food away from the grass. They should always be recycled back into the soil.

"Why are you bagging your clippings? "

In most cases, mulch mowing is the best approach. Zoysia is an exception to that, though. Mulch mowing usually not only does not contribute to thatch, but reduces it. With Zoysia, mulch mowing can make thatch worse.

I should probably clarify that my comment on thatch wasn't meant to imply that this specific problem is a thatch problem. I just wanted to point out that, although mulch mowing is usually the best thing to do, it can cause problems with Zoysia.

Some time ago, I posted a rather absolutist statement about mulch mowing. I was told that I was incorrect WRT zoysia. I did a few searches so I could support my position and learned that mulching can increase thatch in a zoysia lawn.

Bpgreen,

Sorry I was not trying to discredit your advice; your point is valid with respect to Zoysia. My point is Thatch or Fertilizer type is not the problem here in my opinion, it is water related possible coupled with irregular soil type in the yard.

I've looked a lot into zoysia when I had considered getting them for my lawn and apparently the severity of thatching problem vary from one to another cultivar. I have never really seen that problem at my mom's although it is mostly st augustine grass. I have no idea which zoysia it is (toro or meyer?). I think the fine bladed type is more prone to thatching problem than coarse type like Palisades and Empire.

bpgreen,

Tell me some more about the relationship between mulch mowing and thatch with zoysia. We don't have much of it up here so I almost never deal with it.
Is thatch an issue with organic zoysia lawns as well?

Most likely from overfertilizing and overwatering.

Deklap, I don't have zoysia either. I think it would only be green for a couple of months at the most around here.

I just remember posting that mulch mowing never causes thatch and somebody (I think it may have been quirkyquercus) told me that zoysia was an exception. I read up on it to show him that he was wrong and found many references to mulch mowing contributing to thatch in a zoysia lawn. I didn't save any of the links and don't remember all the details, but I found enough to support QQ to amend my "never" regarding mulch mowing and thatch.

If I remember correctly, I was able to find a lot of information about it using Google.

Zoysia is a very tough grass and breaks down very slowly, unlike just about all other varieties. Some varieties like Belaire and El Toro are notorious for thatch problems because they grow the fasted, while Meyers and Matella are slow growers and do not thatch as quickly.

The key to proper Zoysia lawn care is not to over fertilize as this will certainly lead to more frequent thatch problems. First application is in the spring after about 50% green up, and again 8 weeks later. For folks in the north you are done after two apps. For those in the south you get 3 apps 8 weeks apart. If you live in an area where Zoysia is green all year round you get a 4th app, and let it rest Dec, Jan, and Feb.

To answer the bag clippings question is yes for Zoysia. Eventually any Zoysia lawn needs to have thatch removed. Depending on conditions, type of grass that can be anywhere from every year to every third year.

i've changed my watering schedule and it's been getting a little hotter around here. It's looks as if the lawn is starting to get a bit greener but i'll only know in a few months. The thing with this zoysia is that when it's in the low 80's and down it doesn't grow fast at all. Last summer when it hit the 90's I was mowing all the time and could barely keep up with it. So i figure once it hits the 90's the good stuff will start taking over the bad stuff and eventualy it'll all be green again. I'm also about to switch over to an organic program.

mrmumbels, I'm no Zoysia expert either, but I read somewhere that the soil in Florida is not conducive to Zoysia, relating to fungal disease, nematodes, and will eventually get kill.

Ching bugs attack St. Augustine, Florida has plenty of it. It might attack Zoysia as well. I suspect that the short root system on that part of your yard has a problem with the soil, wether too sandy, ching bugs, or any other desease, it disturbing the grass from growing the way the rest of the yard is, and the result is grass that it's barely hanging on to life.

My guess is top dress the area with some topsoil or compost, fertilize it, water it, then wath it for the next 4 weeks and see what results you get.

That's my best guess.

I hope it helps.

I have ultimate flora zoysia and have almost an identical condition (I'm in Orlando). I don't think what you have is a fungal condition but a nutrient deficiency. Brown patch and dollar spot are more clearly defined in the turf. I had my ph tested and my soil was around 4.8-5.2, way to low. I ammemded the soil (per the do it yourself lawn and pest store instructions) and that helped. But, I still have areas of weak roots and hampered growth. I'm anxious to see your soil test results and would like to get mine tested as well. I suspect a phophorus deficiency. Good Luck!

stopped by the extension today with a few grass samples. Had them take a look under the microscope. She said i had some fungus spores. i was told by a pathologist to zoom into these and i coudl tell hat fungus it was but the scope wasn't strong enough to see that close.

She said my soil was beautiful compared to most around here.

soil tests should be in this week.

Sprayed down some immunox today to kill off some fungus.

2 years later and my lawn has the same problem. No roots at all :(

Well, I'm a bit late probably, but thought I'd share my experience. I'm in Pensacola, and installed el toro zoysia 3 months ago. In the areas that did not seem to be rooting, I put down some corn meal and some alfalfa pellets. Talk about greening up, and getting roots!! I probably overfertilized it, but I'll deal with the thatch later; right now, I'm just glad it's very green, very thick and beautiful, and growing deep deep roots. The organic method is the way to go! Oh yes, those recommendations about molasses and sugar, those seem to help too. Don't give up on zoysia....it is THE most beautiful grass for Florida!!

Hello

I just installed one pallet of Empire Zoysia today. It covered a huge brown out in my lovely St. Aug. So now half of my front yard is St. Aug and the other Empire Zoy. I also planted some on the shady side of my home but i separated the sod from each other by the witdth of the sod. I want to see if it grows in shade and fills in . I also dug out a 3x3 spot in the middle of a ST. Aug-Carpet weed area bordered by a P-77 bermuda side. I really want to see if the Zoy. spread or maintians or is over-run.

I planted solid Empire around my house and in the back yard I checkered it, so it will fill in. Since the spring, for the most part, it has spread about one to two inches. So it is a slow spreader. On the north side of my house, there is a tree, heavy shade, the Empire zoysia grows well there. I have not fertilized and do not plan to till next fall. Trying to starve out the last of the bermuda.

botanicalbill, have fun with that bremuda. It's tough to get rid of in the Zoysia. Possible but not fun.

It seems the zoysia is spreading and rooting a lot faster since I sparyed with bifenthrin (bug spray). I had bill bugs bad in a few spots that did not allow the grass to root. Since Ive sprayed, the grass has spread. As for the bermuda, its thinning out.

turfqueen, are you the pensacola girl from turfgrass.com?

mrmumbels: what did you ever find out from the soil samples you submitted for testing? I'm curious to know if my suspicion was correct.

That was way back but the soil samples came out good. Here they are...

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I realize that this test result is from 3 years ago. Since then, have you applied sulfur (S) to lower your soil pH and improve the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil? Has your turf's condition improved in the last 3 years? Just curious. I never saw an outcome to your original post.

I have an update here. If the search function worked at all this would be easier.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/lawns/msg0521135432317.html?32454

I installed Empire Zoysia on March 25th and it's beautiful - I live in central Florida - I Read in this forum that corn gluten meal will solve the a fungus problem - The problem is that I can't find anyone that sells this product around here. (Orlando 8o miles North) Any other suggestions? Also someone said that molases and water controls bugs? Is that right? Also, I had sedge weed and bought 1.3oz of ProSedge $75, but does makes 40 gallons. I sprayed where I had a heavy concentration
of sedge weed and in two days it was history. looked for Sedge Hammer but couldn't find it -- looks like pro-sedge replaced it. Anyway it works real good and fast - Didn't touch the empire Zoysia.

par72, be sure to read closely. The material that works to treat fungus is ordinary corn meal, not corn gluten meal. You can find corn meal at the grocery store if nothing else. Don't get the flour that is used to make tortillas. It is usually adulterated with baking powder or other shortcut materials for baking. You want pure ground corn.

Molasses can be used to improve the soil in many ways. It has been recommended against root knot nematodes in Florida and Texas. Otherwise a general organic program helps to control bugs by not killing or chasing away the predators. When you stop using chemicals, you see a return of toads, birds, lizards, and other critters who help keep your garden free of bugs. Of course if you have cats then all bets are off.

Installed 8k sq ft Zoysia Ultimate Flora 1 year ago in June. The first 5 months I used commercial fertilizer per the tests results. I then used cracked corn as corn meal was unavailable locally. It works wonderfully in about 3-4 weeks. I have used some molasses but I need to go over the whole lawn area again. The molasses treated areas turned very dark green, probably because of the iron in it. I find that pulling the weeds is just a little longer to do but much cheaper and they are very easy to see in the lawn. I have been cutting 2 3/4" and catching because the clippings are so fine and take a long long time to decay. I use them for mulch in flower beds and it lasts great.