Chemical control of weeds in zoysia grass lawns

Zoysia grass is found widely throughout China owing to its high environmental adaptability and ornamental value. It is used to make high-quality sports turf, and its tolerance to extensive management also makes it suitable for afforestation and slope protection. However, the quality of zoysia grass lawns can be affected greatly by weeds. Moreover, because the sowing time coincides with the vigorous summer growth period for weeds, zoysia grass seedlings are often outcompeted, which can result in the seedlings failing to establish. Therefore, it is important to develop effective methods of weed control for zoysia grass lawns. Chemical control is widely used because it is economical, efficient, and labour-saving. However, improper use of these herbicides can be harmful to zoysia grass and can cause environmental pollution. Based on related research and the authors’ experiences, this study summarises the most common weed species found among zoysia grass lawns in China and their occurrence regularity, as well as detailing the various chemical methods for weed control in the various growth stages of zoysia grass. It is hoped that this study can become a point of reference for reducing the harm that weeds cause to zoysia grass, leading to the establishment of higher quality zoysia grass lawns.