Question
My zoysiagrass is dying in spots.  I noticed it started happening a couple years ago and has progressively gotten worse.  The dead spot seems to spread each year.  The two spots are on a bank in my yard, so I've wondered if I'm not watering enough or if the soil is simply not good there.  I'd gladly send you a picture if it would help, but I'm not sure how to do that.  I really appreciate any advice you could give.

Answer
Hi Lee;
A picture really wouldn't show that much useful.
Grab a bit of the grass and tug on it. If it comes up with few roots or none, and especially if the root ends of the dead grass is a little slick or slimy, you have brown patch fungus.
It sounds like some kind of fungus anyway.
It could be that you have clay soil under there that doesn't let the water get to the grass roots.
Dig there and see how hard it is to get a shovel into the soil. Also after watering, dig to see if the water is getting through to the roots.
For these problems, Brown patch fungus, Fingicide.
The best organic fungucide is Horticultural Corn Meal. Apply ate the rats of 10 pounds per 1000 sq.ft, and water it in. with your regular watering.
Clay soil, Till in some berk mulch to loosen up the soil so water can get through to the roots Put about 4 inches of cedar bark mulch and till to 8 inches deep to make a 50/50 ration of bark mulch and existing soil. Then put some sofd on the area, and grow the lawn.
Now, there could be another reason.
You could be shallow watering.
If you water, especially with a sprinkler system, you are probably not getting enough water on the soil to soak deep enough.
You need to water till it soaks in at least 6 inches. this encourages a deep root system, and that helps protect against heat, cold and drought damage, and prevents thatch.
Most people water till they think they have given it a good drink, and they are only wetting the top 1 to 3 inches of soil. this only teases the grass roots, and makes them come to the surface to get water.
They get too close and get too the open air and die, or they get too hot from the heated soil, and die.
Hope this helps.
If you have any further questions,. write anytime.
Charlotte