Is it Zoysia and Should I Kill it?

Back in 1992, we moved into this new home and the yard was a complete weed patch and the builder only seeded a small area extending out from the house. The other 1+ acre was weeds and some grass. I killed the entire 1.2 acres with Vantage and Round Up and re-seeded with a mixture various Tall Fescues ending up today with pic5. Since then I have kept 95% of the weeds out and have applied crab grass and grub control and fertilized twice a year. I have noticed what I think is Zoysia spreading in various areas. I first noticed it a few yrs back. For instance, grass10 is up front by the driveway. Grass11 is across the other side of driveway about 100 feet away near a tree. The largest area is seen in pics grass8,9. I am not sure if it is Zoysia. If it I, I don’t know how it got in my lawn and how it shows up in different areas.

I am wondering if it makes sense to kill it off since I spent the time getting my lawn in shape and maintain it or let it go? I assume it would spread more? I was thinking of killing the front by the driveway, grass10 and some of the larger area like grass9 and a bit each year as it is costly and time consuming to do many areas at once. I also have to prepare seed and area after a tree is taken out that is about 15 feet in diameter.

 

Zoysia is invasive so it can move in and take over. You have one advantage, though, in that it's a warm season grass whereas what you want, tall fescue, is a cool season grass. That means the grass you want will grow the most in the spring and fall but slow down in the peak of summer while the zoysia will be dormant until late spring and then again in early fall (often turning brown) and thrive in the peak of summer. So, while you can certainly try to kill the zoysia, you also make sure to water and fertilize only when the fescue is growing and not when the zoysia is growing and that will give another edge to the grass you want.

 

The photos are too far away to be able to identify the grass. There are numerous websites that will help you with identification. One thing to look for are horizontal runners just above the soil.

 

I will get a few closeup pictures.

I live in Md near Frederick (central MD).,
Our weather is so up and down, We set records this summer for rain.
needs mowed 2 - 3 times a week which is unheard of around this time in MD.

Are you saying not to fertilize it in eh fall and spring and the turf grass would then eventually take over? May be difficult considering i use a rotary spreader hitched to my tractor

I still don't know how it took hold in various parts of my lawn.
I found another patch (1 ft x 3 ft) out by my garden

 

No, a fertilizing schedule alone will not get rid of anything. But, you don't want to fertilize in the hottest part of summer when the grass you want is mostly dormant and the grass you don't want is actively growing as you'd be benefiting the thing you want to kill.

 

I fertilize in May and Sept here in MD.

Attached are a few close ups..left side is the fescue.

I have read that if this is Zoysia, it is hard to remove even using roundup..

 

You read my post backward, as you want to fertilize in the spring and fall and not the summer, like PD stated. You're in an area where both of those grasses are common but the zoysia is likely to take over if you don't keep after it.

 

ok,

to confirm,,this is Zoysia in the numbered photos..??

.i may try to take out 9,10, 11, and work the rest of the other areas each year,,,too large of an area to try to take out,,,neighbors may wonder why i am killing my lawn,,,,

 

We are not there. We cannot examine the grass in your lawn. You need to go online and find one of the many sites that helps you identify Zoysia grass and examine your lawn. There are several details you will need to look at closely to determine if you have Zoysia or something else like Bermuda.

 

A few other places identified it as Zoysia