Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT VARIETY OF PLUGS DO YOU SELL?
Lawn.farm sells 3 different varieties of grass plugs. Our inventory includes 3 different varieties of plugs. Zenith Zoysia, Tahoma 31 Bermuda and TifBlair Centipede.
DO YOU SHIP YEAR ROUND? WHEN CAN I EXPECT MY PLUGS?
We do ship year round. Our Zoysia and Bermuda plugs are grown in climate controlled greenhouses. This means that they are ready to plant at arrival. We ship Monday-Friday (excluding holidays) and most orders are delivered 2-4 days after placing the order. Centipede plugs are offered seasonally from May-October.
CAN I PUT MY GRASS PLUGS INTO AN EXISTING LAWN?
For the most part, yes. Bermuda is a very aggressive grass in regards to growing speeds. If you plant Zoysia and Centipede in an established Bermuda lawn, the Bermuda will out compete the other varieties of grass. If you have another type of grass already established, the plugs will be ok. Just remember that the existing vegetation and the plugs are competing over the same resources (fertilizer, water, sunlight, etc.)
HOW MANY PLUGS WILL I NEED?
Warm Season Plug Planting Diagram
This depends on two things: the area that you are intending to plant and the density you’d like to plant the plugs. First, calculate your total square footage. Measure the length and width of the area and multiply the two numbers together to get the total square footage of the area.
We usually recommend a density of 1 plug per square foot (which should take about a year to fully establish in the transition zone, shorter if you are further south). If you know your square footage, use our plug calculator to determine the number of plugs to order.
HOW OFTEN WILL I NEED TO MOW?
One of main benefits for Zoysia and Centipede grass is that it doesn’t need frequent mowing. In fact, you might only need to mow your Centipede and Zoysia once every two weeks to once a month when it’s established. Bermuda grass will need mowings 2/3 times in a 7 day span during peak growing seasons (June-August).
WHAT’S THE BEST MOWING HEIGHT?
Set your mower blade to anywhere from 1.5 inches to 2 inches. We feel this is the ideal height range for our Zoysia and Bermuda grass. Centipede grass can be cut from 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches.
WHAT TYPE OF MOWER SHOULD I USE?
Reel or rotary, it is up to you. Warm season grasses do exceptionally well with reel mowers, but rotaries work fine too. Just make sure the blades are sharp as you want to cut your grass, not tear it.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO PLANT WARM SEASON GRASSES?
The best time is during the warmer months of the year. The best time to plant it is from late spring, about when you’d plant a vegetable garden, until one month before the first frost. Warm season grasses go dormant after the first frost so we recommend installing it before this so it has time to establish before winter.
I’VE HEARD THAT ZOYSIA IS PRONE TO THATCH. IS THIS TRUE, AND IF SO, HOW CAN I AVOID IT?
Just about all grasses will develop thatch over time and especially if not properly taken care of. With Zoysia, thatch can develop if it’s not mowed frequently enough and if it’s over-watered and over-fertilized. Mow your lawn at the recommended frequency and follow guidelines for watering and fertilizing, and you’ll have a happy, healthy Zoysia lawn with little thatch.
That said, your Zoysia lawn will eventually develop thatch. When it gets to over 1/2 inch thick, you should remove it with a combination of topdressing and dethatching. If you do have to dethatch, use a vertical mower or aerator. Power rakes are not effective on Zoysiagrass.
HOW MUCH WATERING WILL I NEED TO DO?
Established grasses need very little water. During an extended drought it might turn brown but it will not die. We recommend watering on an “as-needed” basis, or just when the grass shows signs of getting stressed out—it might turn a dull bluish-gray color and the leaves might roll or wilt.
When your grass needs water, water it deeply. Apply enough so that the soil is wet to 6 to 8 inches deep.
DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PESTS WITH WARM SEASON GRASS?
Zoysia and Bermuda are tough grasses and is pretty tolerant of most insects and diseases. That said, even the toughest grass can develop problems if not taken care of correctly. Following recommendations for mowing, watering, and fertilizing is the best way to keep your Zoysia grass lawn happy and healthy. If problems do arise, work to identify them quickly—you might need to contact your local county extension agency or do some Internet research for this—and take the appropriate measures. If the problems are caused by incorrect cultural practices (this is almost always the case), correct them. The biggest issue concerning Centipede grass is over fertilizing.
ARE THESE GRASSES REALLY WEED FREE?
All 3 of these are dense growing grass and competes for root space meaning that most weeds won't survive. It is still beneficial to apply a pre-emergent for at least the first two growing seasons. Remember, these plugs have to fill in and weeds getting in the way will slow that outward growth. Check out Our Blog for a post about Zoysia grass safe weed treatments!
Lawn.farm sells 3 different varieties of grass plugs. Our inventory includes 3 different varieties of plugs. Zenith Zoysia, Tahoma 31 Bermuda and TifBlair Centipede.
DO YOU SHIP YEAR ROUND? WHEN CAN I EXPECT MY PLUGS?
We do ship year round. Our Zoysia and Bermuda plugs are grown in climate controlled greenhouses. This means that they are ready to plant at arrival. We ship Monday-Friday (excluding holidays) and most orders are delivered 2-4 days after placing the order. Centipede plugs are offered seasonally from May-October.
CAN I PUT MY GRASS PLUGS INTO AN EXISTING LAWN?
For the most part, yes. Bermuda is a very aggressive grass in regards to growing speeds. If you plant Zoysia and Centipede in an established Bermuda lawn, the Bermuda will out compete the other varieties of grass. If you have another type of grass already established, the plugs will be ok. Just remember that the existing vegetation and the plugs are competing over the same resources (fertilizer, water, sunlight, etc.)
HOW MANY PLUGS WILL I NEED?
Warm Season Plug Planting Diagram
This depends on two things: the area that you are intending to plant and the density you’d like to plant the plugs. First, calculate your total square footage. Measure the length and width of the area and multiply the two numbers together to get the total square footage of the area.
We usually recommend a density of 1 plug per square foot (which should take about a year to fully establish in the transition zone, shorter if you are further south). If you know your square footage, use our plug calculator to determine the number of plugs to order.
HOW OFTEN WILL I NEED TO MOW?
One of main benefits for Zoysia and Centipede grass is that it doesn’t need frequent mowing. In fact, you might only need to mow your Centipede and Zoysia once every two weeks to once a month when it’s established. Bermuda grass will need mowings 2/3 times in a 7 day span during peak growing seasons (June-August).
WHAT’S THE BEST MOWING HEIGHT?
Set your mower blade to anywhere from 1.5 inches to 2 inches. We feel this is the ideal height range for our Zoysia and Bermuda grass. Centipede grass can be cut from 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches.
WHAT TYPE OF MOWER SHOULD I USE?
Reel or rotary, it is up to you. Warm season grasses do exceptionally well with reel mowers, but rotaries work fine too. Just make sure the blades are sharp as you want to cut your grass, not tear it.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO PLANT WARM SEASON GRASSES?
The best time is during the warmer months of the year. The best time to plant it is from late spring, about when you’d plant a vegetable garden, until one month before the first frost. Warm season grasses go dormant after the first frost so we recommend installing it before this so it has time to establish before winter.
I’VE HEARD THAT ZOYSIA IS PRONE TO THATCH. IS THIS TRUE, AND IF SO, HOW CAN I AVOID IT?
Just about all grasses will develop thatch over time and especially if not properly taken care of. With Zoysia, thatch can develop if it’s not mowed frequently enough and if it’s over-watered and over-fertilized. Mow your lawn at the recommended frequency and follow guidelines for watering and fertilizing, and you’ll have a happy, healthy Zoysia lawn with little thatch.
That said, your Zoysia lawn will eventually develop thatch. When it gets to over 1/2 inch thick, you should remove it with a combination of topdressing and dethatching. If you do have to dethatch, use a vertical mower or aerator. Power rakes are not effective on Zoysiagrass.
HOW MUCH WATERING WILL I NEED TO DO?
Established grasses need very little water. During an extended drought it might turn brown but it will not die. We recommend watering on an “as-needed” basis, or just when the grass shows signs of getting stressed out—it might turn a dull bluish-gray color and the leaves might roll or wilt.
When your grass needs water, water it deeply. Apply enough so that the soil is wet to 6 to 8 inches deep.
DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PESTS WITH WARM SEASON GRASS?
Zoysia and Bermuda are tough grasses and is pretty tolerant of most insects and diseases. That said, even the toughest grass can develop problems if not taken care of correctly. Following recommendations for mowing, watering, and fertilizing is the best way to keep your Zoysia grass lawn happy and healthy. If problems do arise, work to identify them quickly—you might need to contact your local county extension agency or do some Internet research for this—and take the appropriate measures. If the problems are caused by incorrect cultural practices (this is almost always the case), correct them. The biggest issue concerning Centipede grass is over fertilizing.
ARE THESE GRASSES REALLY WEED FREE?
All 3 of these are dense growing grass and competes for root space meaning that most weeds won't survive. It is still beneficial to apply a pre-emergent for at least the first two growing seasons. Remember, these plugs have to fill in and weeds getting in the way will slow that outward growth. Check out Our Blog for a post about Zoysia grass safe weed treatments!