Kikuyu Grass | Turf Variety Series (Pennisetum Clandestinum)

Everything you need to know about Kikuyu Grass | Turf Variety Series (Pennisetum Clandestinum)

In this video series we have been providing a full overview of the main turf varieties commonly found in Australia. Thank you to everyone who has been watching along and subscribed. If you have liked these videos and want to see more, please subscribe if you haven’t already.

In this video we talk about the turf variety Kikuyu.

Kikuyu grass is native to the highland regions of East Africa and is most well known for being a highly invasive and aggressive grower. With the ability to perform in most Australian climates, Kikuyu can stand up to a wide range of conditions.

Kikuyu can be a good economical option for both home lawns and larger spaces such as racecourses or parks and is also used as pasture for livestock grazing. It was introduced into Australia for this reason, as a robust pasture grass for cattle.

Key Characteristics of Kikuyu Grass

Kikuyu thrives in a sunny aspect and handles full sun. It is able to establish a strong, deep root base which helps it stand up to the hot summer days and provides acceptable drought tolerance.

• Strong, deep root base
• Poor shade tolerance
• Highly invasive, quick repairing
• Acceptable drought tolerance

Kikuyu spreads through vigorous growth by both stolons and rhizomes, making it a common option for larger areas and for erosion control. However, due to its strong vertical and sub-surface growth habits, it can easily invade and spread throughout your garden and becomes very difficult to control.

Kikuyu can grow in a wide range of soil types, but performs at its best in fertile, light to medium textured soil with moderate drainage and salinity levels. The ideal soil pH for Kikuyu is 5.5-7.0, but it can tolerate levels as low as 4.5.

Being a warm season turf variety, Kikuyu prefers growing temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius but can manage in conditions much hotter. During winter, Kikuyu will go into a certain level of dormancy and will stop growing when exposed to frost.

Kikuyu is not a great performer in low light or shaded areas and will require at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight in order to thrive.

Kikuyu Grass Maintenance

Although a Kikuyu lawn’s initial cost can be lower than other varieties, it is important to consider the long-term maintenance and upkeep costs associated with this type of grass.

Irrigation

Being mindful of correct and efficient irrigation practices will help you to maintain a healthy kikuyu lawn.

• If watering is necessary once established, water only when there are signs of the grass drying out, e.g. wilted leaves
• Do not water in the cooler winter months unless there are signs of the above
• If irrigation is needed, deeply soak the top 100mm of soil - generally 30 minutes with a standard sprinkler will be enough
• Water early morning for improved efficiency and plant health

Mowing

Kikuyu will require frequent mowing throughout the warmer months due to its aggressive growth habits. It’s important you mow regularly to ensure you don’t remove more than one third of the leaf in one pass.

• Ensure that mower blades are sharp to prevent tearing of the leaf
• Never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at any one time unless dethatching
• Dethatch if required in late spring for best results

Fertilising

Kikuyu is known to be highly responsive to nitrogen and can see a strong flush of leaf growth when a high amount of nitrogen is applied. For this reason, we recommend applying a slow release fertiliser during the warmer months to ensure leaf growth doesn’t quickly get out of hand.
• Apply slow release granular fertiliser at a rate of 20-25g/m2 or 2-2.5kg/100m2
• For best results, fertilise at least 3 times per year. Important dates are late spring, mid to late summer and late autumn
• Always irrigate your kikuyu well after applying fertiliser
• On new lawns, apply fertiliser after you have cut your lawn at least once

Weed and pest control

Most domestically available chemical weed and pest control products can be used on kikuyu lawns. However, most Winter Grass killer herbicides are not safe to use on Kikuyu and the use of Paspalum herbicides containing DSMA are limited to spot treatment only.

It is always best to read the label and check with your supplier for recommended products before any application.

If you think Kikuyu is the right choice for your lawn, you can’t go past Australia’s number one Kikuyu Grass – Eureka Kikuyu. Get in touch with your nearest Lawn Solutions Australia grower for more information.

https://lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.au...