Grow Your Garden with Kikuyu Grass – Healthy & Beautiful Lawns

What is Kikuyu Grass?

Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) is a warm-season turfgrass native to Kenya in East Africa. It is a hardy, drought-resistant grass that is popular for its quick establishment, dense foliage and deep green colour.

It is fine-textured grass used in residential and commercial lawns, parks, sports fields, and other landscaped areas. This grass is also a popular choice for golf courses. Kikuyu grass juice offers the medicinal value of healing wounds and reducing excessive bleeding.

This turfgrass can grow up to three feet in a single season, making it an excellent choice for quickly establishing a lush lawn. It is a good economical option for home lawns and larger spaces such as racecourses or parks and is also used as pasture for livestock grazing. For this purpose, it was introduced into Australia as a robust pasture grass for cattle.

Characteristics of Kikuyu Grass

Low Maintenance: Kikuyu grass is a hardy and drought-tolerant species, making it an ideal choice for those who don’t have time to tend to their lawns regularly.

Ease of Establishment: Kikuyu grass is easy to establish and can be grown from seed or by laying turf.

Quick establishment: Kikuyu grass is known for its fast growth and ability to establish quickly, forming a dense cover quickly.

Drought Resistant: Kikuyu grass is known for its drought resistance, making it an ideal choice for areas with low rainfall or dry climates.

Tolerance of heavy traffic: Kikuyu grass can withstand heavy foot traffic and frequent mowing, making it a popular choice for residential and commercial lawns, parks, sports fields, and other landscaped areas.

Adaptability to different soils: Kikuyu grass is versatile and can grow in different soil types, including those low in fertility or with poor drainage.

Weed Resistance: Kikuyu grass has a dense root system which helps prevent weed growth and also helps to retain soil moisture.

Shade Tolerance: Kikuyu grass can tolerate and even thrive in partial shade, making it an ideal choice for shaded areas.

While Kikuyu grass is widely used and well-regarded for its attractive appearance and durability, it does have some drawbacks. For example, it can become invasive in some areas and be challenging to control if it spreads beyond the desired scope. It is also a shallow-rooted grass susceptible to drying out during hot, dry weather. Despite these drawbacks, many gardeners and landscapers choose Kikuyu grass for its numerous benefits and ability to create a beautiful, low-maintenance lawn.

How to grow Kikuyu Grass

From turf:

When Kikuyu grass is grown from turf, it’s mandatory to plant it soon after purchasing. This is because the rhizomes can dry out quickly and become damaged.

Before planting, ensure using a top-quality turf underlay that accentuates grass growth effectively. Soak the turf every day for the first 10-14 days after installation, leading to the establishment of roots and keeping the grass greener for a longer duration.

From seeds:

Growing Kikuyu grass from seed follows a similar procedure as any other traditional grass. Preferably sow 10 to 12 grams of seed per 1 square metre for best results. After sowing, keep watering the seeds from time to time, allowing them to sprout.

Then germination would take nearly 10-14 days. This method of growing grass might be slow in the beginning, but once established, it thrives.

From cutting:

Kikuyu grass can be propagated by removing a cut, digging out some rhizomes and replanting them into your desired areas.

Prefer digging up the rhizomes during the spring season for optimal results. Ensure watering at regular intervals after replanting.

Kikuyu Grass Maintenance Tips

Water regularly: Kikuyu grass is drought tolerant but requires regular watering. In the beginning, soak the grass regularly and keep the soil wet. However, once established, water only when it’s dry. Avoid watering during the heat of the day when water is more likely to evaporate; instead, water in the early morning with a sprinkler. Don’t water during winter, as it makes the soil yellow quickly. Only water if the grass is dry and wilted.

Fertilise regularly: Fertilising your Kikuyu grass regularly will help promote healthy growth and maintain its vibrant green colour. It responds well to fertiliser with high amounts of nitrogen. Therefore, applying a slow-release fertiliser during the warmer months is recommended to ensure leaf growth doesn’t quickly get out of hand. The ideal timings to fertilise Kikuyu grass are in late spring, mid to late summer and late autumn. Ensure thoroughly irrigating your lawn after fertilising.

Mow frequently: Regular mowing is essential to keep your Kikuyu grass looking neat. During the summer season, it is advised to mow between 2-5 cm every 7-10 days. Use sharp blades for mowing so as not to damage too much grass. Don’t leave less than a ⅓ of the grass stalks to ensure grass grows back even healthier. During winters, mowing may not be mandatory but can be done every 4 – 6 weeks. Regular mowing will prevent the grass from becoming too long and matted.

Weed Control: Regular mowing and fertilisation of the grass will rapidly prevent weed growth, but you might still have to use weed control products to keep the Kikuyu grass lawn looking its best.

Aerate the soil: Over time, the soil in your Kikuyu grass lawn may become compacted, limiting root growth and making it difficult for water and nutrients to penetrate. Aerating the soil by making small holes will help to alleviate soil compaction and promote healthy root growth.

Why Choose Eureka Kikuyu Turf for your lawn

Eureka Kikuyu grass is an ideal choice for lawns due to its fast growth, hardiness, and resistance to disease and pests. It is also easy to maintain, as it requires minimal upkeep and is tolerant to drought and various climates. In addition, this grass is suitable for full sun and most soil types.

Now that you are informed about Kikuyu grass and its characteristics, growth process, and maintenance tips, it is time to purchase Eureka Kikuyu turf for a lush green garden that will impress everyone. This warm-season grass is perfectly suited for the Australian climate and will quickly grow into an incredible lawn. To ensure the best quality turf, purchasing the grass from an AusGap-certified supplier is important. Anco Turf is one such supplier that offers a 10-year product warranty, 45+ years of experience, Australia-wide delivery and service, and free advice. Contact Anco Turf at 1800 010 110 to get your Eureka Kikuyu turf and create the garden of your dreams.

FAQs

Is Kikuyu hard to maintain?

Kikuyu is a warm-season grass known for its ability to establish quickly. It’s a low-maintenance grass that doesn’t require much irrigation and tolerates heavy foot traffic. Frequent mowing is vital to keeping a Kikuyu lawn in good shape. Water when signs of wilt occur and feed the Eureka lawn at least once a season.

Where does Kikuyu grass grow best?

The ideal growing temperature for Kikuyu grass is 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, but it can manage in conditions much hotter. During winters, it becomes dormant and stops growing when exposed to frost. Kikuyu gains complete growth in fertile, light to medium-textured soil with moderate drainage and salinity levels. The soil’s pH level should be maintained between 5.5 – 7, though it can tolerate levels as low as 4.5.

How often should you mow Kikuyu grass?

Because of its rapid growth, Kikuyu requires frequent mowing, especially during the warmer months. It’s best to keep it between 30-40 mm throughout the year. In summer, mow every 7-10 days, while in autumn and winter, mow every 2-5, if necessary.

How long does it take for Kikuyu to spread?

When laid as turf, Kikuyu grass will establish quickly. When seeded, it will take longer for the seed to germinate and the grass to spread. Once established, however, growth is faster. A new turf lawn is usable faster than most other turf types, mainly when laid in the warm months of Australia, spanning from October until April.

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