Getting Rid Of Zoysia Grass?

Question:

We plant zoysia grass in places where other grass would not grow. Now it has taken over and spread into my flowers and is ruining my flower beds. How can I get rid of it?

Gary from NJ

Answer:

Gary,

Zoysia grass is one tough customer. It is especially invasive in cooler zones and planting it can become a costly and time-consuming mistake. The challenge to getting rid of zoysia grass is the rhizome root system-it runs deep. Killing the top foliage alone will do little to stop zoysia grass from spreading. One of the only chemical-free ways I know of getting rid of zoysia grass is to remove all of the infected turf (including a bit of topsoil) and wait to see if new grass shoots emerge. If none emerge after 2-3 weeks, you are probably in the clear and it is safe to re-seed or re-sod. If new zoysia shoots do emerge, you're going to have to remove even more sod.

You could also try digging in some root barriers to contain your zoysia grass to specific areas. These are going to have to go deep enough to contain the rhizomes-at last 8-12 inches deep.

Ellen