!HELP! Zoysia roots only 1/2 inch deep

[mrmumbels]

I sodded with empire zoysia years ago and it was amazing all last

summer. I was mowing at 4 inches all summer and noticed there were many

areas that dried up very easily. I started mowing at 2 inches this year and

much of my lawn is always curled up and dry while other areas are beautiful.

I finally took a shovel out a few minutes ago and compared the root system

of the nice zoysia to that of the dried up never wanting to grow zoysia. The

good zoysia has roots going down about 6 inches. The bad zoysia has roots

maybe half an inch down. I noticed this cause i was pulling weeds and it

kinda seemed like pulling up on a carpet where the carpet lifts up a bit. I

figured since it was lifting up the roots must not be in good. It has been

1.5 years is there any way to get this stuff rooted in?
here's the link to pics

https://www.coffeebrandy.com/pics/zoysia

[Ric]

MrBumbles

Zoysia has not been a popular turf here in Florida until just recently. Therefore the average Lawn jockey has no Idea of how to treat it. Empire Zoysia is very prone to Pythium Root Rot. Fertilize Zoysia with high percentages of Potash and low Nitrogen percentage. Fertilizers with 1-0-3 ratios are best for Zoysia under stress. But IMHO you have a fungal problem. Tissue samples can be send to the U of F by your county extension agent to confirm my diagnosis.

[TRANSMAN]

Serious question for ric

MrBumbles

Zoysia has not been a popular turf here in Florida until just recently. Therefore the average Lawn jockey has no Idea of how to treat it. Empire Zoysia is very prone to Pythium Root Rot. Fertilize Zoysia with high percentages of Potash and low Nitrogen percentage. Fertilizers with 1-0-3 ratios are best for Zoysia under stress. But IMHO you have a fungal problem. Tissue samples can be send to the U of F by your county extension agent to confirm my diagnosis.

If i was having that problem i would just assume possibly ,the certain areas weren't getting as much water as the other health areas....

Now that your talking fungal infections would taking a chance changing the watering regiment cause the lawn to get worse from excess moisture and fungal growth??????

I know its probably a difficult question as FL ranges from decent soil to crappy sand in some areas (requiring testing to be sure ,as you've advised), but iv always had decent luck in crappy soil just adding some fertilizer and watering the heck out of the lawn.....

The new house i recently bought had horrible grass that i havent decided what to do with yet other then let weeds fill in for the time being...

However i noticed areas where i keep the dog actually are healthier ,and more deep rooted assuming her / (the dogs) peeing and pooing , that i then break up by watering with the garden hose , have added nitrogen to the sandy crappy soil.....:laughing:

Also is it possible trees or somthing are keeping certain areas to die off because lack of sunlight and photosynthesis???????

I know in the past iv had to thin some trees where grass died off , and nothing else would help , then the grass popped right up after the thinning and clearing....

Ohhh JW-Mentioning.....

I just noticed he posted a link to some pictures .....

That tree , or possibly 2 trees (with what looks to have that heavy moss growing on it)" i think" would block most sunlight , and i wonder if the dead areas are east and west of the tree , or between the 2 trees , and the tree / trees are keeping sunlight from hitting the grass..... I know that moss was killing the trees in 1 of my larger lots and had to be pulled off as it was killing the 300 year old oaks , and the grass when it fell off ,( IF it didnt get removed right away) , snuffing the grass.....

Doing what was needed to get sunlight on the lawn solved that problem....

REV.t-puppy-t

[Ric]

Mrbumble

Pictures are great, But they are not the same as feeling and smelling the plant or turf.

No roots, No water uptake. However your pictures show decent hydration of the turf. You may be over watering and helping the fungus spread. Remember the same mowing advantage of slow growing turf, is also a disadvantage for recovering turf. Don't expect a quick cure to your lawn problems. I suggest you find a one man lawn spray company that has the concern to care for your Zoysia. Sprayed systemic fungicides are foliar aborted and get into the plant. Granules must be up taken by the roots that don't exist. Healthy Zoysia should have preventative treatments of Fungicide. This can be done with granules.

PS I don't believe shade is an issue here. The pineapple palms do offer a lot of shade.

[accipiter]

It appears to be worse in low spots (and some tire ruts). I"m with member Ric. Would you suggest he return to the higher cutting height, Ric? I would think that would help, root growth being proportional to top growth. My thoughts are, the lowering of the cutting height may be part of the stressors that helped bring this on....?

[Ric]

accipiter

Remember the disease triangle. Presents of a pathogen, Favorable environment and a Susceptible Host. Wet Low areas and tire marks are more favorable environments for a pathogen. They also stress the turf. Pathogens are every where and the environment selects their volume. It is hard for me to diagnosis from a picture. I prefer to be there. But IMHO I still feel it is a fungus problem.

[GrassMaster]

Excuse me...

Guys, please stay on topic, save the bickering for E-mails or a one on one phone call.

[TRANSMAN]

Sorry GM

Guys, please stay on topic, save the bickering for E-mails or a one on one phone call.

Sometimes i find it hard to resist , even though i know this section isnt the right place....

The thing is i came on asking a legitimate question (very respectively) about fungus , and somebody tries to slap me down , then call me a sheet wearing racist in the same sentence where everyone can read it , so how much should 1 thin skinned person dish out without getting somthing back?????

Plus that person admits he doesnt come here to give helpful information to others unless its a holiday like their giving out charity or somthing....


With 2500 posts to their name ?????

So whats 95 percent of that persons posts for anyway , if there not to be meant to be helpful....

You know the answer.... There looking to make trouble....

I try to help others ,looking for nothing in return , and if you look through the years iv given my best when somebody had a mechanical problem or somthing i thought could be helpful....

Why would somebody else make 2500 posts , admit their not trying to help anyone , unless their just looking to make trouble??????

BTW:

I joke around with stevee-poo, and some may think were fighting .....:laughing:

We PM each other all the time and steeve asked me to always butt in on his threads just to keep the ball going , and get people to join in on the thread....

So i hope based on the private joking around with steeve-ee-poo it doesnt make it look like im a trouble maker , because we do that for fun and to get people interested when things appear slow.....

Said what had to be explained , and im now finished on this thread ......

Sincerely,REV.t-puppy-t