Best Fertilizer for Zoysia Grass You Can Buy in 2023 and Beyond!

Ask me what my ideal home looks like? Well, I’ll tell you!

My vision of an ideal home is a house (in case you don’t know, home and house are different in meaning) packed with necessary appliances and tools. Of course, I’ll need a lawn in front of my house filled with plush grass. Preferably, Zoysia grass as it gives any lawn an aristocrat feeling.

Herein lies a problem! Yup, you guessed it, Zoysia grass takes a long time to grow and flourish. I’d want a way to fasten the process a bit. Yup, I’m talking about applying fertilizers on my soil.

But there are hundreds if not thousands of fertilizers around. To make matters worse, every brand claims to be the best. How’d you know which is truly the best fertilizer for Zoysia Grass?

That’s why I thought of writing an article on this topic. Here, I’ll be recommending some of the products I’ve tried myself and got results! I’ll also be telling people about the factors I kept in mind while doing my research on these products. Prepare yourselves for a smooth ride.

What is Zoysia Grass?

Known for its resistance against heat, drought, and heavy foot traffic… Zoysia grass is a great choice for your lawn. It grows fast and doesn’t require high maintenance. With little care, it can totally change the aesthetic of your lawn or garden.

But before you choose, you have to take some matters into your consideration. Like, the place you live, its geography, your lawn care goals, and the way you use your lawn. Luckily, if all these things conjugate with Zoysia’s strengths, you’ll end up with a lawn that will be very pleasing to look at.

There’re two types of Zoysia grass. One is Emerald Zoysia and the second one is Meyer Zoysia.

The first one has thin leaves with sharp edges on the upper layer providing a fine texture. This type gives a lush aesthetic to your lawn. It can resist drought and shade like the other types. Meyer Zoysia is also very popular. Unlike Emerald Zoysia, it has a soft texture and light green color though.

Let’s assume you’ve made up your mind… you’ll use one of the Zoysia grass’ mentioned above. Even if it doesn’t take much to take care of these but still, there’re some things that you need to pay attention to like everything else in this world.

A friendly reminder: Nothing lasts if you don’t pay attention to its needs, especially plants. That’s where the subject of fertilizers comes into play.

Why Do We Need a Specific Fertilizer for Zoysia Grass?

It’s vital to apply the best possible fertilizer that you can manage for your Zoysia grass lawn to ensure it gets the proper nutrients it needs. Providing proper nutrition will keep the lawn in good physical shape and attractive.

Make no mistake, Zoysia can withstand extreme conditions and other stresses they may incur like mowing, weeds, insects, and diseases. Provided that they have appropriate fertilizers, of course. On the contrary, improper fertilization can do harm to your lawn and the environment.

If the amount of fertilizer is less than necessary, then there’s a possibility that you’ll end up with a yellowish-green and thin stand of grasses. It doesn’t require a wild imagination for that. If the fertilization isn’t right, your Zoysia grass carpet won’t be able to fight the stresses mentioned above.

On the other hand, if you happen to over-fertilize, you’ll get a lawn that’ll need more mowing and contribute to building up a thatch. It might also lessen the power to resist the hostile atmosphere that Zoysia grass is famously known for.

Some of the Top-Notch Zoysia Grass Fertilizers That I Recommend

So, it’s needless to say that to keep a lush, green lawn you have to fertilize it accurately and accordingly to its needs. These can come in a variety of choices for specific, long term, and systematic care. The best lawn fertilizer is what provides the best nutrients for your lawn.

In this article, I’ll try to help you get a better idea regarding which fertilizer you could use. Only then you can get on with your lawn project to give your surroundings a much better aesthetic.

Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Lawn Food

O.M. Scott, the founder of Scotts lawn care products began selling lawn seeds in 1868, in Ohio. Since then, this company has been doing this, making the whole lawn care subject a bit less frustrating and less stressful.

The necessary nutrients that your grass needs to repair the damage caused by summer heat, dehydration, and regular foot traffic are provided by this fertilizer. Not only it’s meant for repairing damage but also it prepares the grassroots to withstand rough winter conditions.

Speaking of which, fall is the perfect time to feed your lawn. Besides repairing the damage already done by winter, it’ll prepare your lawn for the next year by building strong and deep roots. To get the best results, try feeding once in early fall and 6-8 weeks later in late fall.

Timely and regular feedings ensure that your lawn stays beautiful while providing the necessary nutrients.  When you mow, it’ll help with the water absorption, given you water your grass regularly. Just make sure to do it between 6 and 10 am. During this time the evaporation rate stays at the minimum.

Hence, more water can reach the roots. The lifecycle will be greatly enhanced and will help the grass sustain against harsher climate adversities.

Scotts Turf Builder does have a feeding routine to help you out if this isn’t your area of expertise. First, early spring feeding. Feeding in this time helps the grass regain their natural green color right after the winter.

On the other hand, feeding in late spring will prepare the grass for the upcoming summer stress by thickening the blades on top and constructing deep roots below.

As time goes by, people will eventually have to deal with Fall. An early fall feeding restores the nutrients that were lost in the stresses of summer months. Always feed your grass when it comes out of dormancy. Lastly, the late fall feeding builds strong deep roots and eventually prepare the grass for the next winter.

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Now, before you start applying, measure the size of your lawn with care. It’ll determine how much fertilizer you’ll actually need. Now, applying it is very easy. It doesn’t matter whether your lawn is dry or wet. You also don’t have to water it. It would, however, give you more green color if you water it though.

Here’s a tip: For best results, you could try using Scoots Spreader.

We already know that Zoysia asks little of our time to manage them. Yet if the users use this to feed their lawn, it’ll hugely improve the ability of Zoysia grass to absorb more water and other nutrients than an unfed lawn.

Being known for its lawn care expertise, Scotts Lawn Builder has offices and research facilities all over the world. This is to make sure that their consumers get the best effective and cost worthy products for their garden projects. Which is why Scotts WinterGuard Fall Lawn Food is certainly a good choice if you ask me.

Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK – Lawn Food Quality Liquid Fertilizer

Nowadays, the market is flooded with various fertilizers of organic and man-made kind. But, made and manufactured in the USA, 16-4-8 Balanced NPK the perfect blend of key macronutrients, is one of the best fertilizers for Zoysia Grass that are currently available on the market.

This spray liquid fertilizer contains all the necessary nutrients for your plants including seaweed and fish. It’ll nourish them, prepare them for rough weather and give them a lively look of green.

16-4-8 is manufactured particularly in a way to make your turf green. Not only that, it’ll provide the necessary growth that the Zoysia grass need for their root support, health, and strength.

Designed to keep your lawn healthy, this nutritional supplement provides key nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. In another way, it’ll also work as a remedy for the deficiencies that are caused due to the lack of mentioned nutritional components.

Don’t get the wrong idea when I say, “Nutrients won’t be much of a help if your yard is already suffering from disease, fungus, insect concerns, or a weed infestation.” Nutrients “Do” help. But these issues need to be handled carefully and appropriately.

But if applied properly from the very beginning, then it’s very unlikely that your turf will suffer from the conditions mentioned above. After all, proper nutrients and a good soil environment are keys to preventing your lawn from those harms.

Just don’t forget to water your lawn regularly to ensure that the nutrients are absorbed by the leaves properly.

As a matter of fact, this ready-to-spray bottle system fertilizer enhances the soil if it’s not up to the mark for Zoysia grass or any other plants since you can apply it to any vegetation. Besides using it on your lawn, you can use it for commercial purposes as well.

In recent years, liquid fertilizers have grown very popular among consumers. Even if the plants can’t tell the difference between nutrients supplied by the granular and liquid fertilizers, still there’re some advantages of using liquid fertilizers, especially like 16-4-8 Balanced NPK.

You can use this type of fertilizer in several ways. For example, it can be either ground or foliar-applied. When you use foliar, your grass will absorb the nutrients through the leaves. It’ll make them use those nutritional elements more readily than if the ground is applied.

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Although, you have to remember that, foliar applications are a good way only to correct mid-season deficiencies or supplement soil-applied nutrients. Don’t use them when you’re seeding. Zoysia seed needs to germinate before ever applying fertilizer.

Let’s talk a little about the advantages 16-4-8 has as a liquid fertilizer. As it happens, less mobile nutrients like phosphorus can’t get closer than the individual granule containing them. In liquid form, they are more mobile in the soil water solution.

Also, roots can steer away from granular fertilizer containing high levels of nitrogen and potassium. Which in this case is known as rather ‘Hot.’ That’s why liquid fertilizers are often preferred for a start.

Lastly, granular fertilizer has nutrient components packed in each granule. While in liquid fertilizer such as 16-4-8 balanced NPK, the nutrient is identical in every drop. So, it will spread equally, making sure the nutrients reach every leaf at the same amount.

Applying this fertilizer monthly will make your lawn healthier and stronger. The organic kelp in this product will make your grass more resistant to heat and drought in summer which not many fertilizers can claim.

All these things considered, the Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK can become the missing piece you need to build a nice looking and healthy lawn without harming the environment.

Lawn Booster: Lawn Energizer Chelated Iron & Nitrogen Blend

To maintain a healthy-looking lawn, regular fertilizing is a must. To meet your needs, there’re plenty of choices available on the market surrounding fertilizers. In this case, if you want immediate results, then the Lawn Energizer can be a good choice. It’s a high-quality liquid Iron booster intensified with Nitrogen.

Also made and manufactured in the USA, this liquid fertilizer is a concentrated liquid nutrient medium that provides instantaneous feed to Zoysia grass both through soil and foliage. From immediately correcting deficiencies to creating a more resilient nature, this fertilizer does it all.

It provides a more consistent pattern while making nutrients more readily available to the roots without wasting much of the product. This fertilizer mainly focuses on boosting your turf and soil, as the name suggests, with energy to ensure optimum nutrient levels for maximum health, growth, and color.

For the best results, you should use Lawn Energizer with a regular fertilization program. Users can use it with the 16-4-8 Balanced NPK fertilizer. Together they’ll give your grass an enhanced shine. Now, by together…it doesn’t mean mixing them up.

Use one, then use the other. Give it some time. Then water your grass bed properly. Remember, this is in addition to the regular watering. Try applying the fertilizer before the day you’ll water your lawn. It gives your lawn time to settle in.

Letting the fertilizer sit on the grass blades for a little bit will help them soak in the nutrients better. Apply full water the next day. It’ll push things down to the soil and the roots. You should get nice results with this routine.

To add to this, applying Lawn Energizer is very simple. The bottle that covers 3,200 sq. ft. already has a little hose attached to it. This makes it very easy for the users to spray it out on to the yard.

The manufacturer which is a family company also makes gallon versions of this if you have a bigger yard or want to use them for commercial purpose.

Lawn Booster: Extreme Growth Booster

Energized with Fulvic & Humic acid, Growth Booster is a specifically designed phosphate concentrate. This fertilizer is a great go-to product to increase the size of your lawn both vertically and laterally.

This premium growth booster hugely increases seed germination. Also, it enhances cell division and elongation as well. The chlorophyll production & natural enzyme activities are also increased by using this fertilizer.

So, you can use it either to enhance the thickness of your grass or to speed up the growth rate for new sod or seeding. It works nicely with the existing minerals that are already in your lawn and soil to remedy any type of mineral deficiencies.

Speaking of deficiencies, if the leaf tip or edge’s color is anything other than natural green, such as purple, red, or extremely dark green coupled with reduced growth and density… You have a lawn that is suffering from phosphorus deficiency.

Besides these symptoms, there are several more that might indicate that your lawn is suffering from Potassium deficiency. The yellowing will appear burnt. The tips will be welted. Your grass will be less resistant against heat or cold, any extreme temperature. Also, your lawn will be more prone to stress and disease.

In both cases, you can use this Lawn Booster to treat nutrient deficiencies. As usual, after applying the fertilizer give your turf some time to absorb the nutrients by themselves.

Let them stay on the blade of the grass a while. Only after that, water your lawn sufficiently to further ensure that the nutrients are absorbed both by the roots and the leaves properly.

Now, if you use Simple Lawn Solutions 3-18-18, which is an ideal NPK lawn food, the blend will increase the mobility of phosphates. Not only that, it’ll become a highly responsive, efficient NPK as well. Ultimately, your lawn will have maximum growth both in terms of top and root.

Although, this fertilizer is used for commercial purposes. Still, you can use this product on your lawn. Ready-To-Use Hose End Sprayer makes it even easier for the customers to use.

Just like the previous product it also covers roughly an area of 3,200 sq. ft. they’re also available in bigger sizes like 1 gallon or 2.5 gallons.

Perfect for both summer and fall usage, this Lawn Booster Extreme says exactly what its name suggests. If used correctly, your lawn project will surely become a sight to see. It makes the grass greener and helps them grow quickly.

By making the roots strong, it ensures a good-healthy lawn while enhancing the soil underneath at the same time.

Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food, 12.5lb

Scott’s lawn care products have been in the business since 1868. Their Turf Builder Lawn Food strengthens the roots that can handle the stress caused by any sort of activity or weather. You can apply it any time, during any season and you’ll find yourself a nice-thick, green lawn.

If you look closely at the product, you’ll see that it says, the manufacturer at Scott’s starts with the fundamental truth: the lawn is alive. Their scientists embrace this very motto by developing technologies that benefit the lawn and fit your lawn care needs.

Formulated with exclusive Scotts(R) All-In-One Particles(R), it provides an even greening and feeding to your turf. Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Food helps thicken your grass to crowd out new weeds and increase your lawn’s resistance to help protect it against future problems.

This Turf Builder has the perfect combination of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium in it. Every single component fulfills different purposes. Such as, Nitrogen lifts the color of your lawn by making it greener and helping it grow.

While Phosphorous stimulates faster root growth and helps seeds sprout and Potassium helps the grass to withstand stresses like disease and drought.

By building strong and deep roots it improves the grass’ ability to absorb more water and nutritional components than the unfed lawns. As a result, your lawn will become healthier and good looking. Don’t worry, it’s guaranteed that applying this fertilizer won’t burn your grass at all.

Speaking of applying, it’s very simple and easy. You can apply it to both wet and dry lawns. But if temperatures are consistently exceeding 90°F, water immediately after application to reduce stress on your lawn. To get better results, you can also use a Scotts Spreader.

Knowing the exact size of your lawn is important for two main reasons. One, it’ll help you determine how much fertilizer you’ll need so that you don’t waste extra bucks. Two, you’ll be able to choose the best spreader type for the application.

Remember to apply only to actively growing grass. To help keep the water clean, don’t apply near water, storm drains, or drainage. Also, if there’s a chance of heavy rainfall, you better not apply any sorts of fertilizer.

Sometimes, choosing the perfect fertilizer for your lawn can be really difficult since the market is flooded with so many. In that case, you can trust the Scotts Turf Builder to take care of your lawn. It’s literally the best lawn fertilizer out there which will give your lawn all the necessary nutrients to keep it healthy and good looking.

The Andersons PGF Complete 16-4-8 Fertilizer

The PGF in the Andersons PGF Complete16-4-8 stands for Professional Grade Fertilizer. It takes all the research, top products, needed nutrients, and combines them into one product.

This fertilizer keeps your lawn and its roots optimally healthy by maintaining the proper nutrient level of your soil from spring to fall.

This is a premium fertilizer that is made with the NS-54 formula. It has phosphate, nitrogen, and potash in it. All these components provide a healthy and vigorous turf. The Anderson PGF also contains micronutrient iron and other essential nutrients.

All these nutrients work together. By working together, they stimulate the growth and development of your lawn. It’ll keep all the possible deficiencies away that a typical lawn might face. At the same time, it hugely improves the initial color response for greener grass.

Perfect for all seasons, this fertilizer is free-flowing and dust-free, easy for application. You can use it every 6-8 weeks throughout the growing seasons between the soil temperatures of 55 Fahrenheit and 60 Fahrenheit.

During the cool seasons, apply at a medium rate. For me, it’d be 4.70lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. If the temperatures go beyond 85 degrees Fahrenheit, you should apply the fertilizer at a relatively low rate which is 3.10lbs per 1,000 sq. ft.

On the other hand, when it’s summer… you can apply this lawn food from high to medium rate, the way you see fit. Feed every 4-6 weeks during the period of active growth. Now, the same goes for summer feeding too which is, if the temperature goes beyond 85 degrees Fahrenheit, apply it at a medium rate.

Moving on… this lawn fertilizer is for nonagricultural use only due to the phosphorus it has. Besides, you can’t use this for routine maintenance of turf. But you can use it during the first growing season and on areas that are being repaired or renovated.

Just so you know, it can also be applied if the soil test performed on your turf indicates a phosphorus deficiency.

For normal use, apply to dry foliage and water in application with a minimum of 0.2 inches. It will help move particles into the turf canopy. Leave the clipping for at least one mowing after applying the fertilizer. This way you won’t be picking up any nutrient particles.

There’re not many lawn foods out there that contain the micronutrient iron. This component helps increase the greening process and prevent iron deficiency. It does have side effects though. For example, it may stain concrete and other surfaces.

So, you just have to be a little more careful that you don’t end up using more than it’s needed. But if you do, just remove them promptly by sweeping or blowing. Restrain yourself from washing off with water. It might contaminate the water source near your livelihood.

The Andersons PGF is all in one complete professional-grade fertilizer. From commercial purposes to taking care of your beloved lawn, this premium fertilizer does it all.

The best part is perhaps, it makes sure that even a homeowner like you and me, can use the same quality product that is used on golf courts and sports turf. To enhance our lawn both in terms of aesthetics and health this one is an optimal choice.

Things to Consider While Buying Fertilizers for Zoysia Grass on Your Lawn

Fertilizers are essential for your plants as they provide the necessary nutrients which help them to both survive and thrive. But you’ll be surprised to know that less than half of the country’s home gardeners use any kind of fertilizer on their lawns.

As a result, people don’t get their preferred results. On top of that, their lawn might be struggling with nutrients deficiencies, diseases, and insect problems. But if they were a little more careful these unwanted circumstances can be easily avoided.

In this part of the article, I’ll try to point out some basic grounds based on which you can choose the best fertilizer that can see to all the essential needs that your dear lawn has.

Answering Some of the Common Questions About Zoysia Grass and These Fertilizers

It might not be enough to just recommend the fertilizers and their attributes. Also, you might have some questions in your minds as well regarding this matter. Here, I’ll attempt to answer some of the popular questions that normally cross people’s mind when they want to choose the best fertilizer for their lawn.

Is Zoysia easy to maintain? If yes, then which vegetative of Zoysia grass is the best?

Another name for Zoysia is drought-resistant grass. This low maintenance grass can indeed withstand a lot of tough weather conditions and other stresses caused by regular activity. So, yes…it’s rather easy to maintain.

The answer to the second part of the question will vary from person to person. But in my opinion, if you want a top-quality lawn then you should go with Emerald Zoysia grass. They have a rather lower growth rate than Meyer Zoysia and mostly shade tolerant. So you won’t have to mow your lawn quite often.

What is the perfect time for applying fertilizer? Before or after the rain?

First things first, apply fertilizer during the active growing season. You don’t need to water it in. However, it’s better to apply before the rain. As a result, the nutrients will be absorbed by the leaves and the roots properly.

You can water it afterward to push down the fertilizers further. But maintain a proper watering schedule. If there’s a possibility of rainfall, don’t apply it.

Is it safe to use and pet friendly?

Most of the fertilizers are quite safe to use. They’re also pet friendly. But keep the product out of reach from kids. Some fertilizers do have some strong chemical components. Just be extra careful by not allowing your kids or pet to play around right after applying.

For example, some products may contain micronutrients like iron. It can stain your concrete and other surfaces. Try to sweep it out or remove it, if you end up putting it not where it should be. But don’t use water to clean it off.

Rest assured, it won’t harm other plantations if used accidentally. So, your flowers and other vegetation are completely safe from it.

How often should you apply?

This answer is determined by the current condition of your lawn. Apply every four weeks if you’re having a hard time keeping your lawn green. On the contrary, an already green lawn needs applying fertilizer every two months until winter.

Refrain yourself from over-apply. Because of the common ingredient, nitrogen can make the grass not taking the other nutrients. The tendency of taking in nitrogen over other nutrients can stunt the growth of Zoysia grass.

Some Tips to Help You Make the Best Out of Your Zoysia Grass Lawn

We know that Zoysia is famous for especially its low maintenance nature. They don’t take much of your time. But still, you have to spend some time maintaining it or your lawn will lose its charm.

Mowing is very important. The minimum height recommended for the grass to grow before you start mowing is 1.5 inches. Be careful not to cut off more than one-third part of the leaf. It’s better if you use the method of catch and remove clipping. Don’t forget to check whether your mower has sharp blades or not.

Well known for its ability to withstand the extreme environment like drought, Zoysia grows at a maximum rate if watered regularly once a week. In case your city experiences 1 to 2 inches of rainfall every week, then extra irrigation isn’t needed. In short, avoid overwatering.

We went over the matter of applying fertilizer already. But for the sake of this part of the article and to remind you again, I’m going to mention this one last time.

That is, only apply during the growing season. To make sure the ultimate growth of Zoysia lawns, it’s crucial to use the right fertilizer. Pre-emergent prevents the growth of weeds and allow germination of seedlings while post-emergent will destroy the real herbs.

If you’re using granular fertilizer then scatter 2-4 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. of your lawn. Don’t apply fertilizers to a wet turf as it might contaminate the local water source.

If your lawn faces unwanted weed problems you should use herbicide. Also, you can seek help from the local nursery center or an agent of the State Cooperative Extension service for the identification of weeds and controlling pests.

Just in case, if you overfeed your Zoysia grass. Then you might expect your lawn to be affected by Zoysia patch disease, also known as Rhizoctonia fungus. Rusting of the leaves is also another common disease of this type of grass lawn.

There’re other problems related to the soil of your turf. A soil test should identify them. Other soil prone problems may occur due to the existence of some insects such as Grubs and Billbugs, etc. In this case, dethatching is the best option. Try using a commercial machine to see through this problem properly.

Before We Part Ways

I didn’t really leave much to talk about regarding the maintenance and the sustenance of Zoysia grass. The fertilizer you use should be based on the necessity of the vegetation and the results that you hope to see.

To conclude, all I can say is that, with your little yet regular care and attention Zoysia can really grow and give your lawn a nice look. But it needs those care and attention right from planting to maturity. But let’s face it, I’ve brooding on about this information long enough.

Still, the last bit of advice would be to maintain a proper fertilization time table to supply the sod with necessary nutrients, strengthen its stem and root structure, enhance the soil, and to keep your Zoysia grass lawn weed and disease free.

With all that said, hope I could help you out in having a better understanding of the products. I earnestly wish that you become able to get the best fertilizer for zoysia grass for yourself.