Zoysia grass is a creeping grass and it is native to south East Asia especially found in China and Japan. Zoysia is a tough grass that can withstand the most extreme conditions and can become very dense if the conditions are slightly favorable. Due to this reason, many people grow Zoysia grass in the golf courses or huge gardens, as they are drought resistant and require least amount of care. However, some soil types and weather conditions are unfavorable for these types of grasses due to which the grass turns out to be more yellow in color than green. Hence, some people wish to remove Zoysia grass but they are a tough grass and cannot be removed easily.
Steps to Get Rid of Zoysia Grass
There is one proven way to get rid of Zoysia grass and this is by using a herbicide called glyphosate. Glyphosate is the only agent that is known to act well against Zoysia grass but many people face the problem of re-growth of the grass. This is because they have not used the herbicide and the process is faulty. Here is how you can get rid of Zoysia grass.
Step 1: Wait For The Right Time 
This step is going to be important to you if you have more than one grass in the area. Mark the spaces that have Zoysia grass. You can do it by spraying the herbicide along the boundary of the area, which will kill some of the healthy grass also. Now you need to be patient when to attack the Zoysia grass. If you have other grasses in the area, cut it regularly as you would normally do but let the Zoysia grass grow to its full length. Zoysia grass is known to grow horizontally and not vertically and hence creating a boundary using the herbicide will ensure that the grass does not cross the boundary.
Step 2: Hit The Iron When It Is Hot
When the grass is thick and green, that is the best time to spray the herbicide. Spray in the entire region evenly along the boundary. The idea is that the herbicide should stick to the leaves for as long as possible. You can add some drops of dish soap to the mixture as it helps in sticking to the grass leaves longer. However, wear protective gear before using this herbicide, as it may be harmful to you if ingested. Once you have sprayed glyphosate evenly all along the region, wait for a few days for the grass to absorb the herbicide. After a few days, you will start noticing that the grass has started to turn beige in color. This means that the grass is dying. At this time, check for any green pastures in the area and spray glyphosate again on the green area if the need be.
Step 3: Run A Final Check After A Week
Once you have sprayed the herbicide in the area wait for about a week for the entire grass to die. After about a week, the entire region must have turned into beige. If there is still any green area then you will need to again repeat step one and step two. This is because as Zoysia grass grows horizontally, you cannot take the risk of avoiding even the smallest green pastures. Only when you are sure, then move to the next step.
Step 4: Rake Away The Grass
You can use a gardening rake or even a mower as long as you can cut the beige grass as close to the ground as possible. If you are using a mower, set the blade to the lowest setting so that the grass can be cut as low as possible. Additionally, your land mower should have a box attached to it and the cut grass should not fall on the ground again. Dispose the cut grass safely in a bag and do not use it as compost.
Step 5: Water The Lawn To Check For Any Survivors
Once you have cut the grass, it is important to water the area well. Zoysia grasses have very deep roots and they may be still alive. When you water the area, some of the Zoysia grass that is still alive underneath may emerge from the ground. You will have to wait for about 4 to 6 weeks to see any result. Mark the areas where you see the grass emerging out.
Step 6: Dig The Ground
This is where you need to get your hands dirty. Use a spade or a shovel to dig a few inches into the soil especially around the Zoysia grass. Take out all the roots and dead grass from the soil. It is a painstaking process but it would work wonders if you do not want the grass to come back. Dispose all the dead grass and the roots and do not use it as compost for the obvious reasons. Now wait for about 2 to 3 months before you can plant any thing in the area.