Fescue in Zoysia

The only way I know of getting rid of the fescue from the zoysia is to treat the area in the late winter with Round up type products. This must be done when the zoysia is FULLY DORMANT but the fescue has started its spring green up. This is a common method of controlling a cool season grass in warm season lawns.

Another option is to kill off the area now and then replug the area with zoysia to fill back in.

Hope this helps - Dennis
Johnson County Extension

I assume you want the zoysia?

if so

use a bulb planter to take plug cuttings from the zoysia. use the planter again to make a hole in the fescue area and put the zoysia plug in. once the plugs are established (couple of weeks) apply (here's a good use for it) a high nitrogen source like urea or warm season turf fertilzer to make it take off. Zoysia will usually take over the fescue in the long term.

The other way to deal with it, DO NOT DO THIS RIGHT NOW, is to wait until the zoysia is dormant but the fescue is growing. Then just hit the fescue with round up. Keep the weeds down in the spring while waiting and about this time of year do the plug thing above or zoysia sod, let it get establish, then feed it so it runs and fills in the area.

Zoysia seed is VERY expensive but that could be done in place of plugging or sodding once the soil is warmed. If you did the round up method and had to control weeds in the spring avoid crabgrass herbicide otherwise the expensive seed wont germinate.

I dont recommend fertilizers with much or any P at all (middle number) because it will make the established zoysia grow too many roots/runners and it could begin to choke itself out. Then you would need to rejuvenate the zoysia by hard verticutting/raking. This is a dirty and nasty job but if done right makes the zoysia sweet. Zoysia lawns should have this done periodically to be at peak.