Seasonal Maintenance Guides for Your EMPIRE Turf® Zoysiagrass
MOWING
During the fall, mowing will occur less often—keeping your EMPIRE slightly higher will encourage deeper root growth for winter.
WATERING
Water less as temperatures drop—too much water will lead to disease. Water to prevent drought stress while grass is actively growing and after the beginning stages of dormancy to prevent dehydration.
FERTILIZATION
Fertilize your lawn with the Lawnifi Fall Fertilizer Box for optimal results. The Fall Fertilizer Box was designed to help your grass recover from the heat of summer and prepare for winter dormancy.
WEED CONTROL
Apply pre-emergent herbicides to control winter annual and perennial weeds like chickweed, henbit, Poa annua, crabgrass or goosegrass. Apply post-emergent herbicides only when weeds are present.
INSECT CONTROL
Check for and control any white grubs. Treat with an insecticide if needed. If you use a granular variety, water the lawn immediately after application to help soil absorption.
FUNGUS CONTROL
If large patch disease is a common problem in your EMPIRE, apply a fungicide at a preventative rate. If you use a granular variety, water the lawn immediately after application to help soil absorption. Consider mapping those areas because fungicide treatment can be expensive.
MOWING
When mowing during the summer, never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at a time. If you remove more than that, you will stress the grass and it may go brown for a short time. Taller blades provide more shade for your root system to stay cool and retain moisture during the hot summer days. If you are returning from vacation, you may have to mow multiple times to get the grass back to the desired height. Wait about three to five days between each mowing.
WATERING
Do not over water the grass. EMPIRE only needs about one inch of water weekly. Water for longer periods of time, less frequently and in the early morning hours. Take rainfall into consideration.
FERTILIZATION
For optimal results, feed your lawn monthly during the summer season by applying the Lawnifi Summer Box liquid fertilizer program.
WEED CONTROL
Apply post-emergent herbicides as needed to control summer annual and perennial broadleaf weeds. Crabgrass species, goosegrass, dallisgrass, purple and yellow nutsedge, annual sedge and sandbur can be controlled with post-emergent herbicides. If crabgrass and goosegrass are present, make a note to apply a pre-emergent herbicide next spring. Do not apply herbicides during a drought, when grass and weeds are not actively growing or when temperatures exceed 90 degrees. Consider spot treating weeds to avoid burning the grass during hot summer months.
INSECT CONTROL
Check for and control any white grubs. Treat with an insecticide if needed. If you use a granular variety, water the lawn immediately after application to help soil absorption. August is the best time to control grubs because they are small and feeding near the soil surface.
FUNGUS CONTROL
Treat with a fungicide if needed. If you use a granular variety, water the lawn immediately after application to help soil absorption.
MOWING
If you have a mature, established EMPIRE Zoysia lawn, drop your mower and give your lawn a “buzz-cut” in the early spring. Bag up all the material.
After your initial “buzz-cut,” begin mowing EMPIRE at the desired height. Mow EMPIRE mowed between one and two inches.
WATERING
Don’t overwater. EMPIRE needs about one inch of water a week, taking into consideration rainfall.
FERTILIZATION
For optimal results, feed your lawn monthly during the fall season by applying the Lawnifi Spring Box liquid fertilizer program.
WEED CONTROL
Apply pre-emergent herbicide. This will cut down on summer weeds.
FUNGUS/INSECT
Apply fungicide if needed. If you have had a fungus or disease in your EMPIRE in the past or have quite a bit of shade in the yard, you should apply a systemic fungicide to prevent future outbreaks.
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FALL
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MOWING
During the fall, mowing will occur less often—keeping your EMPIRE slightly higher will encourage deeper root growth for winter.
WATERING
Water less as temperatures drop—too much water will lead to disease. Water to prevent drought stress while grass is actively growing and after the beginning stages of dormancy to prevent dehydration.
FERTILIZATION
Fertilize your lawn with the Lawnifi Fall Fertilizer Box for optimal results. The Fall Fertilizer Box was designed to help your grass recover from the heat of summer and prepare for winter dormancy.
WEED CONTROL
Apply pre-emergent herbicides to control winter annual and perennial weeds like chickweed, henbit, Poa annua, crabgrass or goosegrass. Apply post-emergent herbicides only when weeds are present.
INSECT CONTROL
Check for and control any white grubs. Treat with an insecticide if needed. If you use a granular variety, water the lawn immediately after application to help soil absorption.
FUNGUS CONTROL
If large patch disease is a common problem in your EMPIRE, apply a fungicide at a preventative rate. If you use a granular variety, water the lawn immediately after application to help soil absorption. Consider mapping those areas because fungicide treatment can be expensive.
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+
SUMMER
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MOWING
When mowing during the summer, never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at a time. If you remove more than that, you will stress the grass and it may go brown for a short time. Taller blades provide more shade for your root system to stay cool and retain moisture during the hot summer days. If you are returning from vacation, you may have to mow multiple times to get the grass back to the desired height. Wait about three to five days between each mowing.
WATERING
Do not over water the grass. EMPIRE only needs about one inch of water weekly. Water for longer periods of time, less frequently and in the early morning hours. Take rainfall into consideration.
FERTILIZATION
For optimal results, feed your lawn monthly during the summer season by applying the Lawnifi Summer Box liquid fertilizer program.
WEED CONTROL
Apply post-emergent herbicides as needed to control summer annual and perennial broadleaf weeds. Crabgrass species, goosegrass, dallisgrass, purple and yellow nutsedge, annual sedge and sandbur can be controlled with post-emergent herbicides. If crabgrass and goosegrass are present, make a note to apply a pre-emergent herbicide next spring. Do not apply herbicides during a drought, when grass and weeds are not actively growing or when temperatures exceed 90 degrees. Consider spot treating weeds to avoid burning the grass during hot summer months.
INSECT CONTROL
Check for and control any white grubs. Treat with an insecticide if needed. If you use a granular variety, water the lawn immediately after application to help soil absorption. August is the best time to control grubs because they are small and feeding near the soil surface.
FUNGUS CONTROL
Treat with a fungicide if needed. If you use a granular variety, water the lawn immediately after application to help soil absorption.
-
+
SPRING
-
MOWING
If you have a mature, established EMPIRE Zoysia lawn, drop your mower and give your lawn a “buzz-cut” in the early spring. Bag up all the material.After your initial “buzz-cut,” begin mowing EMPIRE at the desired height. Mow EMPIRE mowed between one and two inches.
WATERING
Don’t overwater. EMPIRE needs about one inch of water a week, taking into consideration rainfall.
FERTILIZATION
For optimal results, feed your lawn monthly during the fall season by applying the Lawnifi Spring Box liquid fertilizer program.
WEED CONTROL
Apply pre-emergent herbicide. This will cut down on summer weeds.
FUNGUS/INSECT
Apply fungicide if needed. If you have had a fungus or disease in your EMPIRE in the past or have quite a bit of shade in the yard, you should apply a systemic fungicide to prevent future outbreaks.
