Zoysia grass: Diseases and Remedies (Save your Plant Now!)

NOTE: In this article, Zoysia grass and Zoysia spp. may be used interchangeably; in fact, Zoysia spp. is the botanical name for Zoysia grass.

Zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.) is a warm-season grass that can be used to meet the needs of homeowners without the need for large amounts of fertilization. The best time to plant this grass is in the late spring to early summer.

Zoysia is slower to establish itself than other grasses because it spreads by strong branching rhizomes. In cooler winter months, zoysia’s narrow and sharply pointed blades will turn straw-like and brown, as they grow light to emerald green.

Why does my Zoysia spp. roots have rot?

Root rot on your Zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.) can be fatal if not treated with care. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you follow our guide to keep your plant alive if the symptoms occur: Root soft and blackened.
Zoysia

Why does my Zoysia grass have gray mold spots?

A particular fungus known as gray mold spots spreads quickly and frequently damages flowers. This fungus is probably to blame if you see any brown (or gray) spots. If you disregard these warning signs, your plant could die.

Our Solution

The solution is quite logical when you know the cause of the problem. Most of the time, it is due to overwater of the Zoysia spp.. We advise you to remove the infected parts of the plant, cut off the infected roots and leaves, then repot your plant using sterile potting soil and a clean pot.

Why does my Zoysia grass have leaf spots?

Leaf If your plants exhibit symptoms like rapid color changes in the leaves or leaves that wilt or droop, we give you all the information you need to recognize them and rescue your plants. For owners of Zoysia grass, this kind of illness is among the most distressing.

Why are my Zoysia grass leaves turning yellow?

This is probably the most common problem in the gardening world, yellowing leaves. There are 2 main reasons for this phenomenon, overwatering, or a lack of nutrients.

Reduce your watering frequency when you fear your plants are being overwatered, and follow these steps to determine whether they may be lacking in nutrients:

Here are some indicators of yellowing on the Zoysia spp. brought on by its numerous flaws:

  • Yellow patches between leaf veins on elder leaves are the first sign of magnesium shortage. Veins continue to be green while the leaf’s core turns yellow. The leaf’s edges yellow last.
  • Another indicator of iron deficiency is yellowing between leaf veins, but young leaves on plant tops and branch tips are first affected.
  • Sulfur shortage first affects the youngest leaves, turning them entirely yellow.
  • Potassium deficiency shows itself when leaf edges turn bright yellow, but the inner leaf stays green. Older leaves show symptoms first, and leaf edges soon turn brown.
  • A lack of nitrogen is indicated by a widespread yellowing. Older, inner leaves are the first to yellow. As the yellowing progresses, it eventually touches young leaves as well.

Our Solution

You only need to respond to the signs mentioned above. A gardening store expert will be able to provide you advice on how to purchase a specific soil to treat a potassium or nitrogen deficiency. Additionally, you can reduce how often you water your plants.

Is my Zoysia grass sunburned?

It is quite easy to find out if your Zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.) has been burned by the sun. Just like on us, your plant will change color in this case, it will start to turn yellow or white.

Sunburned

As we saw above, the leaves of your Zoysia grass can also change color if it receives too much water or insufficient light.

To find out if the yellow leaves have been sunburned, look at the part of the bottom that is tinted closer to the base. The yellow leaf is probably burnt and not something else if this portion stays greener.

Why are my Zoysia grass leaves turning brown?

The classic sign that a plant has been overexposed to direct sunlight and sunburned is the development of browning leaves. Rest assured that while this may probably save your plant from dying, it will adversely affect its growth.

Should I leave my Zoysia spp. in direct sunlight?

No! Don’t leave your Zoysia spp. (or Zoysia grass) in the sun if it displays the symptoms mentioned above; that’s why it’s in such a bad situation.

Our Solution

The remedy, as said in the paragraph above, is simple: just move your plant’s Zoysia grass out of direct sunlight. Your plant should swiftly re-grow with this strategy and appropriate watering.

Why are my Zoysia spp. leaves drooping or wilting ?

In most cases, this happens when your Zoysia spp. lacks water. This is especially the case for large plants, naturally they need more water than others.

Drooping

Whether your Zoysia spp. plant’s pot appears light, the soil and roots are likely fairly dry and need water, so you can readily tell if it needs to be hydrated.

Our Solution

In order to ensure that the roots of your plant receive the water’s benefits, you must first moisten the soil in the container if it is absolutely dry. One common error is to immediately drown the Zoysia grass after a dry period in the belief that it requires a lot of water.

This is true, but the easiest way to end it is to give too much water at once. Instead, you should water the soil properly, returning to a peaceful watering rhythm.

Caring Tips for Zoysia spp.

Water Occasionally

Water is essential to the survival of your plant, however, it is important to balance the rate of watering. As we explained above, overwatering could have fatal consequences for your Zoysia spp..

You can tell if your plant needs water by touching the soil; if it still feels damp, it’s usually preferable to wait a few more days.

Always keep temperatures stable

Maintaining a consistent temperature for your Zoysia spp. is also a good idea, especially if it is kept indoors. At GreenShack, we typically advise reserving a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees F. Of course, avoid positioning your Zoysia spp. close to air conditioners, radiators, or other sources of hot or cold air.

Keep your Zoysia grass Dust-Free

This one relates to indoor plants. Just like your furniture, dust collects on the leaves of your indoor plants. The issue is that this can block the photosynthesis process from starting, which would cause the plants to gradually lose their color.

For your Zoysia grass, this would be a true descent into hell, and it would also appease the pests.

To remove the dust, gently rub the plant’s leaves with a microfiber cloth. Dust can be removed more easily with a damp cloth, but stay away from corrosive substances like rubbing alcohol!

Keep drainage in mind

If you tend to overwater, you need to pay attention to your drainage, and we advise choosing a saucer and a pot with drainage holes if they are not already there.

In the meantime, if you don’t have holes in your pots, you can add volcanic rocks (or any rocks with holes) at the bottom of your pot, this way it will create a channel so that the water doesn’t stay in your skin too much (to avoid that roots start to rot!)