Growing Zoysia Grass in North Texas
Maintaining Zoysia grass in North Texas is easier when you understand its strengths and needs. At Green Top Lawn Care, our professional lawn care services are perfect to ensure your lawn stays lush. Zoysia is admired for its dense, carpet-like appearance and its ability to withstand moderate traffic, drought and high temperatures. While zoysia grows more slowly than Bermuda grass and can take some time to recover from damage, its soft feel, natural weed resistance, and lower maintenance needs makes it an excellent choice for homeowners who want a resilient, attractive lawn without the upkeep required by more demanding grasses. When properly maintained, zoysia lawns offer long-lasting beauty and durability.
What Is Zoysia Grass?
Zoysia grass is a warm-season turfgrass that originated in Asia and has been adapted for lawns, golf courses and sports fields across the United States. It’s known for its dense growth, fine to medium leaf texture, and deep root system that provides moderate drought tolerance. Zoysia spreads by both stolons and rhizomes, which helps it form a thick mat capable of crowding out many weeds. Like all warm-season grasses, Zoysia benefits from proper fertilization. Knowing the best time of year to fertilize your lawn can make a significant difference in its health and appearance.
Benefits of Using Zoysia Grass
Zoysia grass offers a unique combination of beauty, resilience and low maintenance, making it a top choice for homeowners who want a lush, durable lawn that thrives in our Texas climate.
Soft Texture and Visual Appeal – Zoysia is often chosen for its soft, carpet-like feel underfoot and its lush green color during the growing season. Its uniform growth provides a manicured, professional look for residential lawns.
Shade and Heat Tolerance – While no grass thrives in deep shade, zoysia tolerates partial shade better than Bermuda, making it a versatile choice for Texas yards with trees or mixed sun exposure. Its deep roots also help it handle hot summers with less frequent watering compared to other grasses.
Durability – Although zoysia spreads slowly, once established, it creates a durable lawn that holds up under moderate foot traffic. Families with children or pets often find it a good balance between beauty and functionality.
Weed Resistance – The dense growth habit of zoysia leaves little room for weeds to establish themselves, creating a naturally weed-resistant lawn when properly maintained.
Correct Maintenance of Zoysia Grass
To enjoy the full benefits of a zoysia lawn, proper maintenance is essential. This includes mowing, watering, fertilizing, and occasional dethatching or aeration.
When compared to Bermuda, zoysia grows slowly, which also means it requires less frequent mowing. Most varieties perform best at a mowing height of about 1.5–3 inches. Using sharp mower blades—or even a reel mower for finer varieties—will ensure a clean cut and healthy turf.
Fertilization should be moderate, with a focus on providing balanced nutrients rather than relying on heavy nitrogen applications. Too much nitrogen can certainly cause excessive thatch buildup and stress. Many homeowners choose professional lawn care services to determine the best fertilizer blend and application schedule for their soil and variety of zoysia, often pairing it with effective weed control services to keep their lawn thick, healthy, and free of invasive plants.
Watering is another essential factor. Zoysia lawns typically need about 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation. Watering should be done deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth, and always in the morning to reduce disease risk.
What Climate Is Best Suited for Zoysia Grass?
Zoysia thrives in the hot, humid summers typical of North Texas, and its cold tolerance is better than that of many other warm-season grasses. This makes it a strong option for homeowners who want a lawn that can survive the state’s temperature swings.
This grass grows best in full sun but performs better in partial shade than Bermuda grass. For yards with both sunny and shady areas, zoysia provides a more consistent appearance throughout the landscape. However, in areas of heavy shade it may still thin out, making St. Augustine grass a better alternative for deep shade conditions.
Zoysia Grass Experts Serving North Texas
Green Top Lawn Care specializes in zoysia grass maintenance in Euless and the surrounding cities. If you’d like to know more about the care and maintenance of zoysia grass in Texas, get in touch with us. Call (817) 684-4044 or request a free lawn care quote today.
