Best Overall
Scotts Green Max Lawn Food
Best Bang For The Buck
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Lawn Food
Best Balanced Formula
Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK
We may earn revenue from the products usable on this page and participate in affiliate programs . find out More ›
aboriginal to Asia , zoysia is a warm - season turf grass unremarkably grown in the southern part of the U.S. , where summer temps well strain the century mark . It put up uttermost hotness , high humidity , and even flimsy drouth . In world-wide , most all - purposelawn fertilizer productsare also optimal for zoysia eatage because turf grass have similar nutritional needs .
Those looking to establish a new zoysia lawn or hike the health of an existing one can often do so by apply lawn fertilizer . Our favored fertilizer for zoysia grass is theScotts Green Max Lawn Foodfor its easy - to - utilise granular formula ; NPK proportion of 27 - 0 - 2 ; and 10,000 - square - foot reportage orbit . However , we found all the choose products on this list to be effective and reliable .
forwards , learn what character of plant food is suitable for use on a zoysia facing pages , and witness out why the following lawn - food products are among the best fertilizers for zoysia grass .
Product Comparison
Our Top Picks
To characterise for a spot in this lineup of the best fertiliser for zoysia skunk and be considered an asset toregular lawn tending , the following product had to conform to specific touchstone . They have a high nitrogen ratio than potassium or phosphorus , which is a must for any lawn fertilizer ; they are straight to use ; and they contain quality ingredients . The pursue lawn plant food variegate slightly in exercise and nutritionary ingredients , but each is a standout in its category .
For quick zoysia greening and a encouragement in growth , consider Scotts Green Max Lawn Food , which feature a mellow nitrogen 27 - 0 - 2 NPK proportion . In addition to the standard food , Green Max stop Fe , a micronutrient that helps lawn grasses green up quickly .
The manufacturer recommends using a drop spreader to apply this granulose merchandise for good results . When applied as directed , a 33.33 - pound bagful cover up to 10,000 square foot of lawn . Keep it off sidewalks and driveways , as branding iron lean to leave rusty stains on concrete and masonry . Brush off any errant production with a Scots heather pronto to foreclose maculation .
Get the Scotts Green Max plant food for zoysia grass atWalmart .
There ’s no need to pass a batch of special K to fee a zoysia lawn . Miracle - Gro ’s low-cost water - soluble fertilizer comes with a high-pitched - atomic number 7 NPK proportion of 36 - 0 - 6 , which helps pasturage develop a plentiful green coloration while boosting wellness and encouraging dense growth .
This option come in a 5 - Syrian pound handbag of weewee - soluble plant food . Just knock down a bag into ahose - end applicator , and link up the applicator to the end of a garden hose . When the body of water is turned on , the plant food is reduce and dispersed equally for spray over the lawn . A single box kickshaw up to 7,200 straight human foot and is meek enough to use every 2 to 3 calendar week if desired . It ’s a budget - well-disposed way of life to keep a zoysia lawn healthy and looking great .
Get the Miracle - Gro plant food for zoysia grass atAmazonorAce Hardware .
Those reckon to contribute a blanket range of nutrients to their zoysia lawn may revalue Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16 - 4 - 8 liquid plant food . It provides plentiful nitrogen and smaller amount of money of phosphorus and K to serve with root word growth and encourage plenteous color . The product also contains seaweed and Pisces the Fishes emulsions that may help equilibrise stain that lacks nutrient ( a soil test is recommended to be sure ) .
Simple Lawn Solutions is a hard liquid state , but there ’s no pauperization to worry about measuring or mixture . It come in its own atomizer dispenser that confiscate to a garden hosepipe for uniform distribution . One 32 - oz. bottle do by up to 3,200 square feet of lawn .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced plant food for zoysia grass atAmazon , orSimple Lawn Solutions .
Best Plus Weed Control
Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed 3
Dandelions and trefoil are no compeer for Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed 3 , which does double duty as a fertilizer and a pesky weed killer . Its high - atomic number 7 NPK ratio is 28 - 0 - 3 , making it well suitable for greening up lawn , include zoysia lawns , and encouraging the eatage to pass a fertile colour .
In increase to its nutritional content , Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed contain 2,4 - D , a selective herbicide that kills annual dope but wo n’t harm zoysia grass . The manufacturer recommends cut down the weed and watering it before applying this plant food — the 2,4 - viosterol herbicide adheres well to deaden folio blades , return it the most weed - vote down power .
One 14.29 - pound suitcase of granular Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed for zoysia dope do by up to 5,000 square foundation of lawn and is suitable for use in a broadcast or fall spreader .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Scotts Turf Builder fertilizer for zoysia grass atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orThe Home Depot .
Best For Soil Conditioner
The Andersons PGF Complete 16-4-8 Fertilizer
Zoysia weed grow best in land with a pH between 6 and 6.5 , but if your grounds is higher on the pH scale , fertilizing with a product that neutralizes pH might be a ripe mind . ( Rather than guessing at the pH grade , the effective course of action is to have the ground tested by a local prolongation agency or grime run outfit . )
The Andersons Professional PGF fertilizer contains humic acid , which helps neutralize pH levels in any turf case . In summation , the product features a 16 - 4 - 8 NPK ratio , so the forage will receive a healthy dose of nitrogen and small amounts of phosphorus and atomic number 19 . An 18 - pound bag of The Andersons PGF fertilizer will treat up to 5,000 square foot for up to 8 week , with seeable outcome in 6 to 14 days .
Be aware that this product can assist knock off the pH level , but depending on the soil trial resultant , it may not be sufficient for reducing it to an optimal spirit level for growing zoysia . A professional dirt test will be ask to determine that .
Photo: amazon.com
Get The Andersons fertilizer for zoysia grass atAmazon(18 pounds ) .
Best For Maintenance
Simple Lawn Solutions Lawn Energizer
Most of the time , high nitrogen is all that ’s necessary to encourage grass color and health , but that does n’t mean additional food wo n’t be good , especially if the soil is wipe out of innate food ( a soil test is the in effect mode to find out ) .
Simple Lawn Solutions Lawn Energizer take an added oomph of nutrients , including iron , magnesium , and manganese , which are trace mineral design to enhance soil . The branding iron and nitrogen content encourages a rich colour and full-bodied growing , while the other food may aid root increase and overall grass density .
The merchandise comes in a 1 - gallon concentrated liquid form and can be diluted and apply via a pump - type garden sprayer to spaces of up to 12,800 square feet . Note : While Lawn Energizer may hike up the health of slightly consume filth , it may not be sufficient for correcting significant soil trouble — only the result of a professional soil test will lease home landscape architect sleep together how to decently improve the soil .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Simple Lawn Solutions Energizer plant food for zoysia grass atAmazonandSimple Lawn Solutions(32 oz. ) .
Best Slow-Release
Milorganite 32 lb. Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer
Some lawn fertilizers should be applied every 2 weeks , but Milorganite Slow - Release Nitrogen Fertilizer dissolves gradually , so it keep on feeding the sess for up to 10 week . This product has a 6 - 4 - 0 NPK proportion and hold back branding iron to help super C up the lawn quickly .
A 32 - pound bag of Milorganite Fertilizer treats up to 2,500 straight substructure of lawn . If that seems like less coverage than other fertilizers , keep in mind that it work longer , so fewer eating are necessary throughout the summer . The grain preparation can be apply with a dip broadcaster or a broadcast broadcaster . To keep the Fe in the product from staining concrete , broom away any excess product that gets on sidewalks and patios immediately after program program .
Get the Milorganite fertilizer for zoysia grass atAmazon , Lowe’s , orAce Hardware .
Photo: amazon.com
Also Consider
Pennington 100536576 UltraGreen Lawn Fertilizer
The compounding of 5 per centum tight - acting atomic number 26 and 10.5 percentage slow - release atomic number 7 in this Pennington UltraGreen lawn fertilizer is just the ticket for enhancing lackluster lawn for up to 3 month . With an NPK proportion of 30 - 0 - 4 , there ’s plenty of nitrogen to go around , but it dissolves step by step over 3 month to keep pasturage consistently fed . The smoothing iron in Pennington UltraGreen is fast - acting and will facilitate grass develop a rich green colour in a few short day .
A 14 - pound bag of Pennington UltraGreen covers up to 5,000 square feet and can be applied by either a drop broadcaster or a broadcast spreader . Be indisputable to tangle away any product that gets on patios or sidewalks to prevent stain from the iron in the mix .
Get the Pennington plant food for zoysia grass atAmazon , orThe Home Depot .
Photo: amazon.com
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose the Best Fertilizers for Zoysia Grass
Lawn plant food products are straight , and most contain high N stratum , the most critical nutrient for greening up a lawn and boosting maturation . We looked extensively at dozens of lawn fertilizer products before selecting the ones in this lineup as among the sound for zoysia grass .
In general , most lawn plant food will be good wager for apply to zoysia grass because zoysia has the same nutritional needs as other turfgrasses . We looked at nationwide known society with prima reputations for gain quality lawn and garden product , such as Miracle - Gro and Scotts . Still , we did n’t mechanically excrete fertilizers from smaller or recess manufacturers if they contained lineament ingredients .
at long last , we looked at how slaked customers were with unlike lawn fertilizer products . In the last analysis , we consider product curb extra ingredients , although our focus was still on see to it that the product had adequate nitrogen .
Photo: amazon.com
What to Consider When Choosing a Fertilizer for Zoysia Grass
Keep a few basic factors in judgement when shopping for a zoysia fertilizer , including railway yard size of it and Cartesian product coverage rate , the overall wellness of the live soil , and the favorite software method acting . For the good results , test the soil before applying fertilizer . ground test kits are available online and from local lengthiness government agency , many of which permit users to ship sample distribution to a professional science lab for examination and soil amendment recommendations .
Standard lawn fertilizers typically do not contain all the components necessary to correct significant soil problems . Rather , their primary role is to boost the color of the pasturage and make it grow faster .
Type
Fertilizer product for treating zoysia lawns are usable in three standard types : liquid , water - soluble , and farinaceous . Each has its benefits and considerations .
Soil pH
Zoysia grass originate well in various soil types , including sandy soil and loamy territory . It prefers a slightly acidic soil types from 6 to 6.5 on the pH scale . However , it will often tolerate slightly more alkaline or more acidic grease types ( within a 0.4 - point range ) if other need are meet , such as steady lacrimation and fertilizing . A few types of zoysia grass plant food cater pH - balance ingredients . Still , if the existing soil is over 7 ( too alkaline ) or under 5.6 ( too acidic ) , it may require the app of unlike amendments , such as sulfur or lime hydrate . The only way to sleep together for certain is to have the grease tested at a lab and then amended according to the recommendations before zoysia fertilisation .
NPK Ratio
On virtually all zoysia locoweed fertilizing products ( except a few all - born products ) , buyers will chance an NPK proportion that signify the amount of the three essential nutrients found in fertilizer : nitrogen ( N ) , phosphorus ( P ) , and potassium ( K ) .
Zoysia is like other turf grasses when it comes to an optimal NPK proportion . reckon for a proportion where the amount of nitrogen is higher than both phosphorus and K . For zoysia , a distinctive NPK proportion might be 15 - 1 - 5 , which indicates the product contains 15 parts nitrogen , 1 part daystar , and 5 parts potassium by volume .
Nitrogen is necessary for giving zoysia locoweed a racy green color and for advance intelligent increment . Some lawn plant food formulations may contain no phosphorus or K at all , in which case the package might learn 10 - 0 - 0 .
Photo: amazon.com
Organic vs. Synthetic
Most lawn fertilizers curb synthetic components , but a growing turn of manufacturers are produce all - rude fertilizers as consumer preference for eco - friendly product increases . Lawn grasses typically react the same room to the nutrient in either case of fertilizer , so the zoysia forage will benefit from both .
Application
Zoysia green goddess does n’t green up as early in the spring as cool - season Mary Jane , such as fescue , and the cosmopolitan ruler of thumb is to await to utilize fertiliser to zoysia until it ’s in full green . By waiting , the green goddess catch a fortune to green up naturally , which prompts its ascendant to heat up from winter and line on their own energy . This gives them a solid start to the growing season . After the zoysia is green , apply a atomic number 7 fertilizer will help it maintain rich color and boost growth .
Deciding when to feed zoysia also depends on the product . Some products call for applying plant food as often as twice a month , while others should be used just once per growing time of year . Additionally , see fertilizing the zoysia lawn one last clip in the fall . This will strengthen the grass and help it stay resilient and healthy during its upcoming winter dormancy .
FAQs
Zoysia is a audacious , racy type of grass that thrives in warmth , but it still requires some care to attain its full succulent potentiality and stay healthy all summertime long . Those learning how to care for zoysia grass will undoubtedly have some questions : What is the better fertilizer for zoysia grass , and what makes a zoysia lawn denser ?
employ plant food in mid to late fountain after the grass green up , then follow the manufacturer ’s instructions for subsequent applications , ranging from every 6 to 12 calendar week during the maturate time of year . A last software program in the fall before the eatage goes dormant is also a good idea to protect the roots of zoysia during its dormancy .
Yes , it ’s possible to overfertilize and weaken the grass by applying the plant food at a rate that exceeds the advocate rate or by using fertilizer more often than recommended .
Photo: amazon.com
Apply a lawn plant food that ’s high in atomic number 7 , such as NPK 15 - 0 - 8 . The high N will encourage a rich immature semblance . Users will also want to apply plant food to grass in the springtime when new seedlings are beginning to sprout to ensure they are hardy when in full grown .
Zoysia sess spreads by rhizomes that run beneath the soil . The healthier the grass is , the denser it will become . In improver to zoysia forage fertilization , mow the lawn regularly ( once or twice a week ) and water during times of drouth .
Zoysia can tolerate frequent rainfall and slim drought conditions , but it will rest the healthiest with even watering . Good zoysia grass attention include pee-pee sure the lawn has a lower limit of 1 inch of piddle per calendar week .
Photo: amazon.com
Zoysia is a low - growing weed that should be kept mowed at about 1 to 3 inches depend on the type of yard infinite and the sun picture . Those with a lot of sun exposure will want to trim their grass to a maximum of 1.5 inches , while those with fond shade will want to consider a 2- to 3 - in mowing height . This is also commodious for those who do n’t want to do a lot of maintenance since zoysia grass tends to get slowly .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
We ’ll help you congeal up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your patio , a raise bed , or an in - reason plot out back — and select the good plant for your soil and region .
