6 states with a calendar

Zoysiagrass lawn care by state.

Every zoysiagrass seeding or planting window on this site falls in late spring, May to June; Alabama gives a feeding schedule only.

By LawnYear editorial team · Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 30, 2026Windows are read from the extension publications listed under Sources; the dates are approximate.

Approximate dates for your state. Check with your local cooperative extension office before you act.

Seeding and planting windows

Georgia names May and June as the best months to seed a new zoysiagrass lawn, with April and July possible, at 1 to 2 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Missouri says to sprig, sod or seed warm-season grasses from mid-May to early June, and notes that the popular 'Meyer' zoysiagrass is not available as seed.

How much nitrogen, and until when

Georgia gives 2 to 3 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft a year with May to August as the best months. Missouri gives 2 to 3 lb in 2 to 3 equal feedings until mid-August and says not to fertilize into September. South Carolina says to apply no nitrogen from January to April or from September to December.

Mowing and overseeding

Georgia gives 1 to 2 in and South Carolina 1.5 in for most cultivars. Georgia also says overseeding zoysiagrass with ryegrass is not recommended.

Kentucky, Maryland and Alabama

Kentucky plants zoysiagrass in late May or June, most often as plugs, and gives 1 to 2 lb of nitrogen a year in summer. Maryland plants in late May to early June, lists 1 lb of seed per 1,000 sq ft but advises against starting zoysia from seed (plugs or sod instead), and says no autumn fertilizing. Alabama's standard schedule is 1 lb in May and July, 2 lb a year, with 3 lb on the maximum schedule, and a mowing range of 1 to 2 in.

Zoysiagrass windows by state

For dates by ZIP code, use the lawn schedule by ZIP tool.

Georgia
- Seed: May 1 – Jun 30Best months for seeding a new zoysiagrass lawn are May and June (April and July possible): 1 to 2 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Overseeding with ryegrass is not recommended.
- Fertilize: May 1 – Aug 31Best months May to August (April and September possible); 2 to 3 lb N per 1,000 sq ft a year. Do not apply nitrogen in spring until soil at 4 in is constantly 65 F and rising.
- Weed control: Feb 1 – Mar 31Spring preemergent is best in February and March; April is possible.
- Mow: Apr 1 – Oct 311 to 2 in; raise 1/2 in in hot weather and remove no more than 1/3 of the height at once. The calendar marks April to October.
- Water: Apr 1 – Oct 311 inch per week if there is no rainfall (April to October on the calendar).
[1]University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (2023)(opens in a new tab)
Missouri
- Seed: May 15 – Jun 10Sprig, sod or seed warm-season grasses in mid-May to early June (interpreted as May 15 to June 10). The popular 'Meyer' zoysiagrass is not available as seed; it is sodded, plugged or sprigged.
- Fertilize: May 20 – Aug 15Start in late May to early June and apply 2 to 3 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in 2 to 3 equal feedings until mid-August (interpreted dates). Do not fertilize into September.
[2]University of Missouri (Integrated Pest Management), 2015(opens in a new tab)
South Carolina
- Fertilize: May 1 – May 311/2 to 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in early May after the lawn fully greens up (whole month shown). Do not apply nitrogen from January to April or from September to December. Dates are for South Carolina as a whole; coastal and central areas run earlier than the piedmont and mountains.
- Weed control: Feb 15 – Mar 31Preemergent herbicide: mid-February in coastal and central areas, mid-March in piedmont and mountain areas. End date is interpreted.
- Weed control: Sep 1 – Sep 30Preemergent herbicide in September, with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later.
- Mow: May 1 – Aug 31For most zoysiagrass cultivars a mowing height of 1.5 in is recommended.
- Water: May 1 – Aug 31When the whole lawn looks dry, apply 3/4 to 1 inch of water the next morning.
[3]Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2018(opens in a new tab)
Kentucky
- Seed: May 20 – Jun 30Establish warm-season grasses in late May or June, after the soil is warm and nights stay above 60 F (shown as May 20 to June 30, this site's reading of 'late May or June'). Zoysiagrass is most often plugged, using plugs about 2 in across.
- Fertilize: May 20 – Aug 31Late spring into summer is the best time to fertilize warm-season grasses (shown as May 20 to August 31, this site's reading). Zoysiagrass is 1 to 2 lb of nitrogen a year, in summer.
[4]University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (2016)(opens in a new tab)[5]University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (2014)(opens in a new tab)
Maryland
- Seed: May 20 – Jun 10Plant plugs, seed or sod in late May to early June, with late May best in central Maryland (shown as May 20 to June 10, this site's reading). The page lists 1 lb of zoysia seed per 1,000 sq ft but says starting zoysia from seed is challenging and not recommended because of cost, limited availability and unreliable germination; plugs or sod are the usual route.
- Fertilize: May 20 – Jun 30Fertilize in late May to June as needed once green-up begins (start date is this site's reading). A summer dose until mid-August is only for lawns planted at least a month earlier or with poor vigor, and there is no autumn fertilizing.
[6]University of Maryland Extension (2026)(opens in a new tab)[7]University of Maryland Extension (2026)(opens in a new tab)
Alabama
- Fertilize: May 1 – Jul 31Standard schedule: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in May and July, 2 lb a year. The maximum schedule is 3 lb a year, adding August (outside the window shown).
[8]Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University), 2023(opens in a new tab)

State	Windows and notes	Sources
Georgia	Seed: May 1 – Jun 30Best months for seeding a new zoysiagrass lawn are May and June (April and July possible): 1 to 2 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Overseeding with ryegrass is not recommended. Fertilize: May 1 – Aug 31Best months May to August (April and September possible); 2 to 3 lb N per 1,000 sq ft a year. Do not apply nitrogen in spring until soil at 4 in is constantly 65 F and rising. Weed control: Feb 1 – Mar 31Spring preemergent is best in February and March; April is possible. Mow: Apr 1 – Oct 311 to 2 in; raise 1/2 in in hot weather and remove no more than 1/3 of the height at once. The calendar marks April to October. Water: Apr 1 – Oct 311 inch per week if there is no rainfall (April to October on the calendar).	[1]University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (2023)(opens in a new tab)
Missouri	Seed: May 15 – Jun 10Sprig, sod or seed warm-season grasses in mid-May to early June (interpreted as May 15 to June 10). The popular 'Meyer' zoysiagrass is not available as seed; it is sodded, plugged or sprigged. Fertilize: May 20 – Aug 15Start in late May to early June and apply 2 to 3 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in 2 to 3 equal feedings until mid-August (interpreted dates). Do not fertilize into September.	[2]University of Missouri (Integrated Pest Management), 2015(opens in a new tab)
South Carolina	Fertilize: May 1 – May 311/2 to 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in early May after the lawn fully greens up (whole month shown). Do not apply nitrogen from January to April or from September to December. Dates are for South Carolina as a whole; coastal and central areas run earlier than the piedmont and mountains. Weed control: Feb 15 – Mar 31Preemergent herbicide: mid-February in coastal and central areas, mid-March in piedmont and mountain areas. End date is interpreted. Weed control: Sep 1 – Sep 30Preemergent herbicide in September, with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later. Mow: May 1 – Aug 31For most zoysiagrass cultivars a mowing height of 1.5 in is recommended. Water: May 1 – Aug 31When the whole lawn looks dry, apply 3/4 to 1 inch of water the next morning.	[3]Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), 2018(opens in a new tab)
Kentucky	Seed: May 20 – Jun 30Establish warm-season grasses in late May or June, after the soil is warm and nights stay above 60 F (shown as May 20 to June 30, this site's reading of 'late May or June'). Zoysiagrass is most often plugged, using plugs about 2 in across. Fertilize: May 20 – Aug 31Late spring into summer is the best time to fertilize warm-season grasses (shown as May 20 to August 31, this site's reading). Zoysiagrass is 1 to 2 lb of nitrogen a year, in summer.	[4]University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (2016)(opens in a new tab)[5]University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (2014)(opens in a new tab)
Maryland	Seed: May 20 – Jun 10Plant plugs, seed or sod in late May to early June, with late May best in central Maryland (shown as May 20 to June 10, this site's reading). The page lists 1 lb of zoysia seed per 1,000 sq ft but says starting zoysia from seed is challenging and not recommended because of cost, limited availability and unreliable germination; plugs or sod are the usual route. Fertilize: May 20 – Jun 30Fertilize in late May to June as needed once green-up begins (start date is this site's reading). A summer dose until mid-August is only for lawns planted at least a month earlier or with poor vigor, and there is no autumn fertilizing.	[6]University of Maryland Extension (2026)(opens in a new tab)[7]University of Maryland Extension (2026)(opens in a new tab)
Alabama	Fertilize: May 1 – Jul 31Standard schedule: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in May and July, 2 lb a year. The maximum schedule is 3 lb a year, adding August (outside the window shown).	[8]Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University), 2023(opens in a new tab)

Approximate dates for your state. Check with your local cooperative extension office before you act.

Sources

The dates and figures on this page come from these publications.

[1]
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Zoysiagrass Lawn Calendar (September 2023); months rated B best, P possible, M marginal.Publication year 2023 · Read 2026-10-29
[2]
University of Missouri (Integrated Pest Management) ↗ (opens in a new tab)Seeding and Fertilizing Missouri Lawns: One Size Does Not Fit All (2014, revised 2015).Publication year 2015 · Read 2026-10-29
[3]
Clemson Cooperative Extension (Home & Garden Information Center) ↗ (opens in a new tab)HGIC 1217, Zoysiagrass Yearly Maintenance Program (revised 2018).Publication year 2018 · Read 2026-10-29
[4]
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service ↗ (opens in a new tab)AGR-50, Lawn Establishment in Kentucky (2016); seeding times and rates (in pure live seed) for cool-season grasses and planting time for warm-season grasses.Publication year 2016 · Read 2026-10-30
[5]
University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service ↗ (opens in a new tab)AGR-212, Fertilizing Your Lawn (2014); nitrogen timing and rates by grass and maintenance level, and the April preemergent timing for crabgrass.Publication year 2014 · Read 2026-10-30
[6]
University of Maryland Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Lawn Maintenance Calendar (2026); seasonal timing for tall fescue, fine fescue and zoysia, page updated March 16, 2026. Gives seasons and months, no nitrogen rates.Publication year 2026 · Read 2026-10-30
[7]
University of Maryland Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Starting a New Lawn (2026); seeding rates per 1,000 sq ft by turf type, page updated March 16, 2026.Publication year 2026 · Read 2026-10-30
[8]
Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University) ↗ (opens in a new tab)ANR-0239, Home Lawn Maintenance (2023); Table 2 monthly nitrogen schedule by grass and Table 1 mowing heights.Publication year 2023 · Read 2026-10-30