When to Plant Zoysia Grass in Texas for a Beautiful Lawn

When to plant zoysia grass in Texas? It’s ideal to plant it during the months of March, April, May, and alternatively (for north Texas) September until October. Despite how hot this Southern state can be, this type of grass can withstand extreme environmental conditions like high heat and drought.

That’s not all! There are different zoysia varieties that grow just right in Texas to form a lush and green ground cover. We’ll also share some tried and tested care tips to maximize the resiliency of this creeping grass genus. Find out more below.

Best Time to Plant Zoysia Grass in Texas

The zoysia grass planting schedule is pretty flexible due to how resilient it is, but there are limitations, which we’ll discuss next.

The climate in North Texas is notable because it’s relatively cooler than other regions in the state. If you’re not from there, the general rule for Texans is to plant zoysia after the last frost during spring, starting from the month of March and lasting until May.

While zoysia grass seed is pretty much drought-resistant, extended dry periods can lead to a dormant lawn that loses its emerald color, which is why you want to avoid planting during the hot months of summer, starting from June until August.

Winter months are also bad for zoysia because it is susceptible to frost damage and will turn brown when temperatures drop below 50°F.

However, you can plant zoysia in the fall, as long as temperatures reach 80°F and above during September and October or 60 days before the first fall frost.

With these guidelines in mind, it’s important to keep track of the frost dates in your city. We’ve gathered the relevant data for you. However, these dates only serve as estimates and are not foolproof.

Tips to Grow Zoysia Grass Successfully in Texas

1. Choosing a Site

1. Zoysia grasses can be grown in different soil types: sandy or clay, basic or acidic, but when it comes to the ideal pH level, aim for a range of 6 to 6.5.
2. In case your tested soil is below 6, amend it with lime.
3. As a warm-season grass, zoysia should be exposed to full sunlight (6-8 hours of it daily) or at the very least, partial shade, for maximum foliage growth.

2. Planting

Growing zoysia from seed may not be as common as other methods like using plugs or sprigging. However, you can opt for this medium if your variety is available as seeds (which is rarely the case).

Sow zoysia grass seeds into a new plot or overseed Zoysia in a thinning lawn by following these tips:

1. Loosen the soil with a rake (down to 1-2 inches) to make way for root development.
2. Spread the seed using a broadcast spreader. If you’re overseeding, apply a herbicide first and mow away the dead grass before spreading the seeds.
3. Germination time takes about 14 to 21 days, and you’d want to give the soil 1 inch of water every week.
4. The rule of thumb is to water deeply and infrequently. Doing this will help establish roots that are resistant to drought.

As for plugs, dig holes big enough to accommodate them and put the plugs into the soil with a spacing of 12 inches between plants.

If using sprigs, bury the bottom part of the sprigs (⅔ of them) in garden rows and leave six inches of clearance between stolons. Make sure the nodes touch the soil.

3. Varieties for Texas

1. Zoysia Cavalier
2. Zoysia Emerald
3. Zoysia Palisades
4. Zoysia Zeon

Conclusion

To summarize, spring and even early fall can be the answer to the question of when to plant zoysia grass in Texas. Even with its hardiness, make sure to avoid the extreme temperatures of summer and winter when planting zoysia, especially in southern states.

Now that you know the essentials to growing and taking care of this turfgrass variety, you should be all set to grow a lush and vibrant lawn for your home landscape.