• Zoysia grass should be watered in winter to prevent desiccation.Peter Dazeley/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Zoysia grass is a turf grass native to China and Southeast Asia. It is warm-season variety that can grow in poor-quality soil and is used throughout the southern regions of the U.S. north to Connecticut. Zoysia grass produces stolons and rhizomes. It can be used in shade in southern areas. It is drought-tolerant, salt-tolerant and wear-tolerant. Zoysia is also slow-growing, which makes it easy to maintain. Zoysia is used in areas where summer turf is required.
  
  

Color in Winter

• Zoysia grass can be used effectively for grass coverage in summer in northern areas, but it will become straw-colored or brown in mid-October, according to the University of Rhode Island. It will stay brown until warmer weather returns, unlike cool-season grasses that retain some green color throughout the winter. By mid-May it will begin to green up again. This dormant stage in winter makes zoysia vulnerable to damage from heavy traffic. It is also quite flammable when in this brown, dormant condition, and care should be taken where zoysia grass is close to buildings. Meyer and Emerald are the most cold-hardy varieties of zoysia grass. Zoysia can be lawn-dyed green for the winter months, if desired. Homeowners in some areas prefer over-seeding the dormant winter zoysia grass with a cool-season grass such as ryegrass to keep the lawn green over winter. Annual ryegrass grows quickly and makes for easy transition back to the zoysia grass in spring.
  
  

Watering Requirements in Winter

• Though zoysia grass is considered drought-tolerant, it can lose color during dry periods. If precipitation is low in winter, zoysia should be watered occasionally to prevent desiccation and loss of stand even though it is in a dormant state. Check soil moisture once a week, and water as necessary, especially in very cold or windy conditions. Water will protect the stems from freezing. Do not over-water, however. Zoysia grass does not like wet roots.
  
  

Fertilizing Requirements in Winter

• According to Texas A&M University, zoysia grass should be fertilized in spring, summer and fall. In regions where it turns brown and goes dormant, you should discontinue fertilizing until spring. The University of Missouri recommends omitting fertilizing zoysia grass in September because it can interfere with the natural hardening process in winter. Winter annual weeds tend to be more of a problem in zoysia grass than cool-season grasses, so spot-treat weeds before they invade large areas. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in fall to prevent winter weeds from proliferating.