What is Kikuyu Grass?

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Kikuyu grass is a short, green, clumpy grass that grows straight up and has blades on both sides of the leaf.

Kikuyu grass is used as a ground cover in parks and other large plots of land to keep the ground moist. It can grow in poor soil and need less water than other types of plants. Kikuyu grass is also used to help prevent erosion and runoff because of its dense root system that helps anchor the soil.

Kikuyu grass is usually found in warm and dry climates such as tropical, subtropical, arid and desert regions. It can grow on rocky hillsides, mountainous regions or areas with poor ground quality. Kikuyu grass is native to Kenya and India. The leaf blade is dense and the grass has seed heads on the tip that appear after a while. They are also ideal for livestock grazing and garden beds, and are drought resistant.

These warm season grasses are also called Pennisetum clandestinum. It is popular on golf courses. Take a look at the price per square metre here.

The ideal soil temperature for kikuyu grass is between 18 °C and 24 °C. The ideal soil pH for Kikuyu grass is between 6.0 and 7.5. Kikuyu grass needs good quantities of water - five inches per week or more during hotter months.

This grass gives a good winter colour and is ideal for high foot traffic.

Will Kikuyu take over other grass?

Kikuyu grass is not aggressive, but it will choke out other grasses and weeds as it quickly spreads - this is why it is so useful as a ground cover in sports fields. So if you've established other grasses, Kikuyu runners will eradicate them. Kikuyu is often used to keep an area clear of undergrowth and seeds that might hinder the growth of surrounding plants. It can be used in flowerbeds, to make a wall around the garden or just to fill in the bare spots. Try applying fertiliser like nitrogen fertiliser or slow release fertiliser for the better growth. Kikuyu will take over many weeds and is an ideal grass to control weeds in the garden.

Which is better, Kikuyu or Buffalo grass?

Buffalo grass is very thick and grows fast in clumps. One of the best things about buffalo grass is that it needs less watering than other types of grasses. Kikuyu grass is also a good type of grass for use in dry areas because the plant demands less watering than some other kinds of lawns. Weeds are also easier to remove from Kikuyu compared to Buffalo and some other grasses such as couch.

Kikuyu tends to develop better around trees than other types of turf because its lower growth allows air flow between the tree trunk and roots.

When to mow new Kikuyu grass

Kikuyu grass should be mowed when it reaches a height of 1 to 1.5 in (2.5 to 3.8 cm). Regular mowing isn't important. Kikuyu will look best if it is mowed about once a week. Taller growth can be cut off periodically, but do not cut the grass too short because this could cause injury or stress to the plant. When the leaves begin to yellow, you should cut them off, which encourages new growth. Yellowing leaves are the results of disease or too much sunlight.

How to get rid of Kikuyu grass

Kikuyu grass can be removed with chemical products - they are effective and kill the grass plants quickly. If you do not want to use chemicals there are some other options that work well. Picking up Kikuyu by hand is the best way to get rid of it because it pulls the root out without damaging your lawn. In order to remove Kikuyu using this method, you have to dig down through the roots layer by layer until you reach the bottom.