Manila grass primarily spreads through stolons and rhizomes, forming dense stands that can overtake native vegetation. 

It is easily identified by its fine texture, slender, prostrate stems, and inflorescence made up of erect racemes of greenish flowers.

Manila Grass Classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Spermatophyta
• Subphylum: Angiospermae
• Class: Monocotyledonae
• Order: Cyperales
• Family: Poaceae
• Genus: Zoysia
• Species: Zoysia matrella
• Varieties: Zoysia matrella var. matrella, Zoysia matrella var. pacifica
• Common Names: Japanese carpetgrass, Matrella zoysiagrass, Manila templegrass, Temple grass, Korean LAwngrass, and Siglap grass.

Nativity and Distribution

Zoysia matrella is native to Southeastern Asia, Northern Australasia, and the Cocos island in the Indian Ocean.

Today is naturalized in many areas including:

• West Africa
• North America
• Caribbean
• South America

Physical Characteristics

• Leaves: Alternate, slender blades 2-10 cm long
• Fruits: Loosely overlapping yellow to purplish-brown spikelets
• Stems: Slender, prostrate 5-30 cm in length
• Flowers: Small greenish flowers on erect racemes
• Roots: Fibrous root system

Zoysia matrella is a warm-season, mat-forming perennial grass. It is slow-growing and has a finer texture than other Zoysia grasses.

It is easily identified by its slender, prostrate stems and inflorescence made up of erect racemes of greenish flowers.

The stems are slender, ranging between 5-30 cm in height. The leaves are alternate, light-green, arranged at 1.5-3 cm intervals along the stem and can be curled. Each leaf blade is about 2-10 cm long and 1-3 mm wide.

Manila grass produces small greenish flowers (2-3.5 mm)on spike-like racemes 6-35 mm long. The spikelets (usually 10-30) are loosely overlapping and yellowish to purplish-brown in color.

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle

• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Seeds: It rarely reproduces by seed
• Climate: Ideally grows in warm tropical climates
• Dispersal: Intentional sodding and animals

Z. matrella behaves as a perennial plant that thrives in warm tropical and subtropical climates with hot summers and mild winters. It goes into dormancy in freezing temperatures. 

Additionally, this turf is not recommended for cooler areas as it turns brown when hard hit by frost. Despite these shortcomings, manila grass is well-adapted to shade, high salinity, and drought. 

Since it is an ornamental turf grass, it is intentionally propagated through sodding and plugging. However, the seeds can be dispersed by animals, leading to the colonization of new areas.

Similar Plants 

• Zoysia japonica
• Zoysia tenuifolia
• Zoysia macrantha
• Cynodon dactylon
• Sporobolus virginicus

Uses

1. It is widely used as an ornamental grass for residential lawns and golf courses. 
2. It is grown as forage on sandy sites. 
3. It is used for grazing in coconut plantations.
4. The grass is grown for soil erosion control and dune stabilization. 

Impact on Farms and Environment

Manila grass is an important turf grass, popular for its fine texture and dense growth. It also assists in soil erosion control, improves soil structure, and is a good quality grazing forage. 

However, when it escapes to unwanted areas, Z. matrella is highly competitive and its dense growth can lead to the decline of native vegetation. 

Control

• Mechanical control: Digging to remove the stolons and rhizomes
• Chemical control: Apply a non-selective herbicides like glyphosate

Since the grass primarily propagates through stolons and rhizomes, the digging control strategy needs to consider their removal for effective control. Follow up the process with monitoring to eliminate new regrowth.

Spraying a non-selective herbicide like glyphosate in late summer and making repeat treatments for new sprouts is the best strategy to get rid of unwanted Zoysia matrella.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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Choosing the right southern grass variety is essential for maintaining a lush, green lawn or turf year-round. 

This article explores the most popular southern grass types in detail, their environmental adaptability, ideal use cases, and maintenance needs.

1.  Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon)

Best for: Residential and commercial lawns, golf courses, and athletics fields

Bermuda grass is one of the most popular grass types in the South, known for its fine texture, dark green color, and aggressive growth habits. It spreads quickly via rhizomes and stolons, creating a dense and durable turf.

This grass has high wear resistance but it also demands frequent maintenance. It requires full sun (at least 6–8 hours daily), frequent dethatching, mowing, and fertilizing, especially during its peak growing season. 

Bermudagrass is not shade-tolerant which means it goes dormant and turns brown in winter. It’s a popular grass for residential and commercial lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields.

2. Zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.)

Best for: Residential lawns, golf courses, and recreational parks

Zoysia grass is a slow-growing, dense grass that provides a lush, carpet-like appearance. It’s more shade-tolerant than Bermudagrass and has excellent drought resistance once established.

To keep it healthy, fertilize moderately and mow it to a height of 1.5–2.5 inches. The dense growth chokes out weeds, but it may also occasionally require dethatching. 

Zoysia retains its color longer into the cool season and also tolerates moderate foot traffic, making it a favorite turf for residential lawns, golf courses, and recreational parks.

However, it is slower to repair damage and has a slower spring green-up than other grasses.

3. St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum)

Best for: Shaded residential and commercial lawns and coastal golf courses, depending on the variety.

St. Augustine grass is coarse-textured, popular for its rich green color and shade tolerance. It has good salt tolerance, making it a common turf in Florida and other Gulf Coast states.

The grass requires moderate maintenance, including mowing and fertilization. With proper care, it produces a thick turf that outcompetes other weed growth.

The lush green provides a tropical look and is often found in commercial and residential lawns and coastal golf courses.

One downside of St. Augustine Grass is that it’s susceptible to chinch bugs and fungal diseases.

4. Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum)

Best for: Residential lawns and roadside and highway shoulders

Where durability comes secondary to aesthetics, most turf managers prefer Bahiagrass. It is a tough, coarse-textured grass with excellent drought resistance.

Bahiagrass can grow in poor soils, including sandy soil, and only requires minimal maintenance. Due to its durability, it’s best suited for utility areas and rural properties.

5. Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides)

Best for: Residential lawns, vacation homes, and rental properties

Centipede grass is another slow-growing grass for homeowners who prefer simplicity over high-maintenance turf. It has a coarse texture and a light green color, making it a popular grass for areas where appearance matters but heavy foot traffic is moderate.

Nicknamed the “lazy man’s grass,” Centipedegrass is a low-maintenance turf that only needs minimal watering and fertilizer to thrive. 

It is commonly used in residential lawns (especially in the Deep South with acidic soils), vacation homes, and rental properties. Centipedegrass can also be grown on commercial lawns where heavy foot traffic is rare.

6. Carpetgrass (Axonopus affinis)

Best for: Shady and low-traffic residential lawns

Carpetgrass is a warm-season turf that thrives in moist, poorly drained soils. It has a coarse texture and lighter green color, often used in shaded, low-traffic areas. Carpetgrass is a lesser-known warm-season option that thrives in wet, low-lying areas. 

It’s not as drought tolerant as other southern grass varieties but has moderate maintenance requirements. Infrequent fertilizer and mowing, regular watering, and moderate overseeding in patchy spots are all it needs to thrive. 

The grass is used in low-traffic residential lawns, shady or wet lawns with poor drainage, and under trees or slopes where water tends to collect.

7. Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum)

Best for: Luxury residential or commercial lawns in coastal zones, resorts, and coastal golf courses

Seashore paspalum is a premium grass variety with a fine texture and deep green color that gives a lush, manicured appearance.

As its name indicates, it grows well in sandy soils and has high salt tolerance, making it a top choice for coastal properties. It does not tolerate drought, freezing, or shade.

This grass variety has high maintenance needs including abundant watering and regular fertilizing to maintain its optimal look. 

Seashore Paspalum is commonly used in luxury coastal resorts, residential and commercial properties near the coast, and golf courses. 

Each of the southern grass varieties has its strengths and ideal use case. Whether you’re managing a golf course, designing a residential landscape, or planning for commercial aesthetics, ensure that you match the grass variety with the right environment to enjoy a thriving long-lasting, healthy turf.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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Despite their similarities, these zoysia grasses have distinct characteristics in their texture and appearance, growth habits, and shade tolerance. These differences make them suited for diverse landscaping needs. 

For instance, Zoysia japonica exhibits a faster growth rate, making it an excellent choice for areas with high foot traffic. Zoysia matrella has a slower growth rate and is best suited where a high-maintenance turf is required.

In this article, we will examine the differences between Zoysia japonica and Zoysia matrella to help you identify the suitable turf for your environment and landscaping needs.

What Are the Differences Between Zoysia japonica and Zoysia matrella?

Z. japonica and Z. matrella are both warm-season grasses that form dense and resilient turfs, providing high-quality lawn surfaces.

However, these grasses are also distinct in several ways. 

Let’s highlight their key differences below:

• The first distinguishing feature is the leaf texture. Z. japonica leaves are stiff with a coarse texture and somewhat rough to the hand, while Z. matrella leaves have a softer and finer texture. 

• The two turfs also differ in their growth habits. Zoysia japonica has a faster growth habit, contributing to its quick lawn establishment and excellent weed suppression. Zoysia matrella has a slower growth rate, taking longer to fill in. 

• Regarding cold and shade tolerance, Z. japonica can survive under partially shaded areas (but may not be dense) and exhibits better cold tolerance, making it a good option for areas with colder winters. Z. matrella has better shade tolerance and can thrive in places with variable light conditions. However, it has a low tolerance to colder conditions and is prone to browning or dying in chilly winters.
• Due to their diverse cold and shade tolerance traits, Zoysia japonica is more adapted to a broader range of climatic conditions, while Zoysia matrella is best suited for tropical environments.

• Finally, in terms of maintenance, Z. japonica is easier to maintain than Z. matrella. It requires less watering and fertilizing and has fast wear recovery. With its slow growth and refined texture, Z. matrella requires intensive maintenance, including regular watering and precise mowing, to maintain its health and aesthetic appeal.

Bottom Line

Zoysia japonica and Zoysia matrella are versatile turfs that provide beautiful lawns. While Z. japonica is easier to maintain and is adapted for various conditions, Z. matrella is ideal for warmer climates and where the goal is to achieve high-quality lawn aesthetics.

Armed with these detailed differences between the two zoysia grass varieties, you can now easily distinguish them and make the right choice for your landscaping needs.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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Besides killing weeds, you can also practice proper lawn management. This can help to control or prevent weeds from infecting your Zoysia grass, leading to a beautiful-looking yard. 

Below is everything you need to know about Zoysia grass weeds and how to kill them without damaging your turf. 

What types of weeds can you find in Zoysia grass? 

Before looking at control solutions, knowing the types of weeds you are dealing with on your lawn is important. Below is a look at some of the common weeds in zoysia grass: 

• Dandelion 
• Crabgrass
• Clover 
• Goosegrass
• Plantain 
• Yellow Nutsedge 
• Chickweed 
• Groundsel 
• Spotted knapweed 
• Chickweed 
• Ground-ivy, and more. 

NOTE: In some cases, Zoysia may choke out some of these weeds, meaning you don’t need aggressive control solutions.

Natural ways to kill weeds in Zoysia grass

These are the most effective natural methods for eliminating weeds that have taken over your Zoysia grass.

1. Mechanical weed control 

Mechanical weed control is one of the oldest and most effective ways of eliminating weeds. This involves pulling the weeds by hand or tools like hand weeders, gardening knives, hoes, forks, trowels, and more. 

Mechanical weed control will get rid of crabgrass in a Zoysia lawn. Other shallow-rooted roots that are easy to pull out include chickweed, clover, groundsel, and plantain.  

2. Using a vinegar, salt, and dish soap solution 

One of the most effective weed killers is the vinegar, salt, and soap solution. Mix one tablespoon of liquid dish soap, a cup of salt, and a gallon of white vinegar to make this solution, then spray the weeds. 

The vinegar and salt in the solution will draw water from the weeds, causing them to dry up. In addition, the dish soap will act as a surfactant, allowing the solution to stick to the weeds. 

The vinegar, salt, and dish soap solution will kill annoying weeds like clover. However, it is non-selective; it will kill every plant it comes into contact with, including your Zoysia lawn. 

Therefore, carefully spot-treat the weeds to kill clover but not zoysia grass

3. Using boiling water

Boiling water is another excellent natural solution for killing weeds. The piping hot water will kill any part of the weed it comes into contact with, which can then cause the entire plant to dry up. 

The best part about using boiling water to kill weeds in your lawn is that you won’t add harmful substances to your grass. 

However, you should be very careful when applying the water, as it will also kill any part of the Zoysia turf it comes into contact with.  

4. Using a baking soda solution 

Baking soda is another readily available home remedy for eliminating weeds. Mix one and a half cups of baking soda in a gallon of water to make this weed killer, then spray the weeds. 

The baking soda solution will dry out the weeds, causing them to die. In addition, baking soda is alkaline, which can help to kill fungus in zoysia grass. 

One drawback of using baking soda is that it is a non-selective contact herbicide; thus, you must be careful not to spray the solution on the zoysia lawn.

Chemical solutions to control weeds in Zoysia grass

Chemical weed control involves the use of store-bought herbicides. Some of the chemical herbicides you can use to kill weeds in your Zoysia lawn include: 

1. Selective herbicides 

Selective chemical weed killers are designed to kill a narrow range of weeds without harming surrounding useful plants.

Therefore, using a selective herbicide to kill weeds in Zoysia grass will help to remove pesky weeds without destroying your lawn.

Examples of selective herbicides include broadleaf weed killers. These are excellent for eliminating clover, dandelion, plantain, and other broadleaf weeds from your lawn. 

2. Broad Spectrum Herbicides 

Broad-spectrum herbicides are designed to work on a wide range of weeds. Therefore, they are non-selective and will usually kill every living plant they come into contact with. 

Therefore, when using such herbicides, you must carefully spot-treat the weeds on your lawn. This will ensure you only kill the weeds without harming your turf. 

3. Contact Herbicides  

Contact herbicides are weed killers that only work once they come into contact with the plant. Therefore, you need to apply them directly to the target weeds on your lawn. 

Most contact herbicides are non-selective and will kill any plant they come into contact with. Therefore, you should only apply them to the target plants to avoid damaging your Zoysia grass. 

The above types of chemical herbicides can also be grouped into two categories: 

• Pre-emergent herbicides 
• Post-emergent herbicides 

Pre-emergent herbicides are applied to the Zoysia grass, where they kill the weeds before they start emerging from the soil. These herbicides can be selective or non-selective. 

On the other hand, post-emergent herbicides for zoysia grass are applied once the weeds have emerged. Likewise, they can be selective or non-selective. 

With pre and post-emergent herbicides, you must know when to spray zoysia grass for weeds for them to be effective.

For example, when using pre-emergent herbicides, you should spray your lawn in early spring or early fall to deal with weeds that germinate in summer and winter, respectively. 

On the other hand, you should apply post-emergent herbicides during summer, spring, or winter when the weeds appear on your lawn. 

In addition, most herbicides will come with more instructions on when to spray based on the weed growth stage, environmental conditions, and more.  

How to maintain Zoysia grass and prevent weeds

Instead of trying to kill weeds in Zoysia grass, you can maintain your lawn, thus preventing these pesky, unwanted plants from germinating. 

Below are some top weed prevention techniques you can employ on your lawn: 

1. Fertilize your lawn 

Regularly applying fertilizer to your lawn will ensure strong and vigorous growth for the zoysia grass. This will also make it harder for other weeds to invade your lawn and outcompete the grass.  

However, you should be careful not to over-fertilize your lawn as this can damage parts of the turf, leaving bare areas. Such areas would then be vulnerable to a weed invasion. 

2. Mow the lawn regularly

Mowing your lawn improves the health of your zoysia grass, making it harder for weeds to invade your turf.

In addition, mowing helps defoliate existing weed plants, reducing their vigor and seed production abilities. 

3. Use mulch 

Adding mulch to your lawn prevents sunlight from reaching the soil, thus blocking the germination of weed plants. 

The mulch material also acts as a physical barrier to sprouting weeds. 

4. Water your lawn 

Watering your lawn will improve the health and vigor of your zoysia grass, making it easier to fight off weeds. 

In addition, watering your lawn deeply and at irregular intervals will promote the growth of deep sod roots, preventing weeds from taking hold in the soil. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

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This carpet-like layer is soft enough to walk on barefoot, hence the reason why most people prefer to have Zoysia grass in their yards.

Zoysia grass also chokes out weeds by forming stolons that spread rapidly, occupying the entire space around them. The grass will develop deep and dense roots that crowd out weeds while replacing other existing grass.

Will Zoysia grass crowd out weeds?

Zoysia grass chokes out weeds and takes over other grasses by interlocking and spreading across the garden. Once it has grown and is firmly established, Zoysia extends out faster and more widely than it grows upwards.

While expanding sideways, it forms a thick dense carpet-like layer, which will choke any existing grass. At the same time, zoysia grass grows closely together, with its deep roots spreading out, leaving no space for other weeds to sprout.

NOTE: If you spot some weeds growing aggressively through the Zoysia grass cluster, consider using these weed removal techniques.

How to get zoysia to spread faster

Zoysia grass develops thick and deep roots. Before you plant the grass, ensure the ground is not hard. If not, dig deeper to loosen the soil to improve the rate of germination.

Secondly, Zoysia needs direct sunlight to grow low and tight and spread faster. When you plant it under a shade, it may die or become bushy, preventing it from spreading faster.

Finally, ensure to fertilize the grass with diluted fertilizer to prevent the chemicals from damaging it.

Pros and cons of zoysia grass

The advantages of planting Zoysia grass in your lawn as opposed to other types of grass include:

• Zoysia grass can withstand high as well as very low temperatures. It is not affected by snow or hot weather. It is worth noting that the grass can withstand high temperatures of up to 120 degrees in drought and low temperatures of up to -30 degrees in winter.
• Zoysia is the best grass to choke out weeds due to its ability to form thick and deep roots and spread outwards faster. It keeps your garden aesthetically beautiful and eliminates the need for chemicals to eradicate weeds.
• It is low-maintenance. Zoysia spreads across more than it grows tall, meaning less mowing is needed compared to other grasses.
• The grass is tough and hardy. It also forms a dense layer that can withstand heavy traffic. It can repair itself and regrow after it has been damaged, making it ideal for any type of playground.

There are not many disadvantages of zoysia grass, but the main ones include;

• The grass only does well in warm seasons and becomes dormant during cold seasons. Due to their dormant state in cold winter seasons, other grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, can invade your zoysia grass lawn during these seasons.
• Despite the fact that zoysia grass can survive drought season better than other types of grass, this is only up to a certain level. Extreme heat conditions or drought can kill the grass or cause it to become dormant. Zoysia grass will need at least ¼ inch of water to survive dormancy and at least ½ inch to stay green every week.

Carter

IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.

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