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.
During the fall mowing will occur less often—keeping your zoysia slightly higher will encourage deeper root growth for the winter.
WATERING
Water less as temperatures drop—too much water will lead to disease.
FERTILIZATION
For optimal results, feed your lawn monthly during the fall season by applying the Lawnifi Fall Box liquid fertilizer program.
WEED CONTROL
If you haven’t had past problems with winter weeds, you can forgo herbicide in the fall. If you do get winter weeds, apply a pre-emergent herbicide for prevention.
FUNGUS/INSECT
Apply fungicide. This will help the grass enter colder months in healthier condition.
If you have had fungus before, you may need multiple applications in affected areas. Treat with broad-spectrum insecticide if needed. If you use a granular variety, water the lawn immediately after application to help soil absorption. Make sure it offers control for billbugs.
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.
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.
During the fall mowing will occur less often—keeping your zoysia slightly higher will encourage deeper root growth for the winter.
WATERING
Water less as temperatures drop—too much water will lead to disease.
FERTILIZATION
For optimal results, feed your lawn monthly during the fall season by applying the Lawnifi Fall Box liquid fertilizer program.
WEED CONTROL
If you haven’t had past problems with winter weeds, you can forgo herbicide in the fall. If you do get winter weeds, apply a pre-emergent herbicide for prevention.
FUNGUS/INSECT
Apply fungicide. This will help the grass enter colder months in healthier condition.
If you have had fungus before, you may need multiple applications in affected areas. Treat with broad-spectrum insecticide if needed. If you use a granular variety, water the lawn immediately after application to help soil absorption. Make sure it offers control for billbugs.
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.
About 1 inch a week total irrigation spring & summer.
Water deeply, frequently, and in early AM.
WEED CONTROL
Pre-emergents prevent weeds from germinating.
Post-emergents kill weeds after they germinate.
A thick, luch lawn is the best deterrent to weeds.
DISEASE CONTROL
Overly wet grass + shade = fungus problems.
Apply systemic fungicide to prevent fungus outbreaks.
Use multiple fungicide applications to treat affected areas.
INSECT CONTROL
Use a broad spectrum insecticide that controls chinch bugs.
For a once-a-year treatment, July & August are good months.
If using a granular insecticide, water in after application.
Look for insect damage on grass blades and/or roots.
A WORD OF CAUTION FOR NEWLY SODDED LAWNS
A pre-emergent contains a chemical that prevents a weed from putting down roots. Because it is a root inhibitor, it can also negatively affect your new lawn, which is trying to establish itself by putting down roots.
If you successfully killed and removed your old lawn, including all the weeds in it, your newly sodded lawn should have relatively few weeds. It is suggested that you hand pick weeds out of your newly sodded lawn for the first season.
