Kikuyu Lawn
Kikuyu
Kikuyu is a fast-growing, hard-wearing turf variety that is well suited to high-traffic areas. Known for its vigorous growth and excellent durability, it performs exceptionally well in well-drained, fertile soils and maintains good colour throughout the year.
With strong tolerance to cold conditions and light frosts, Kikuyu is a reliable choice for many Australian climates. Its rapid growth and ability to recover quickly from wear make it a popular option for large residential lawns, parks, sporting fields, and public open spaces.
Kikuyu thrives in full sun and requires a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day. Due to its aggressive growth habit and spreading runners, it is best suited to larger areas rather than small gardens, where it can encroach into surrounding garden beds if not properly maintained.
During the warmer months, regular mowing is required to keep the lawn looking its best. For those seeking a durable, cost-effective lawn that can handle heavy use, Kikuyu remains one of Australia's most popular turf choices.
Product Information
| Texture: | Medium to coarse. |
| Description: | A rhizomatous and stoloniferous prostrate species which forms a dense mat. Stolons are multi-branched with short internodes. Rooting occurs at the nodes. Leaf-blades 1.25 - 5 cm long, 3-4 mm wide, folded at first, then flattening. The leaf sheaths are yellow to green. Flowers are rare and appear on leafy, vegetative side shoots with only the stamens visible above the leaf sheaths. |
| Use: | Lawns, parks, cemeteries, golf course fairways, playing fields, airstrips, racecourses, and erosion control. |
| Mowing height: | Requires frequent mowing to maintain a tight sward. Scalps easily. Mow every 7-10 days in summer and less frequently in winter as the growth rate slows. Mow at 30 - 40 mm. Lower cutting heights require more frequent maintenance. |
| Method of propagation: | Vegetative - rolls, sprigs. |
| Preferred soil types: | Thrives on high fertility, well-drained soils. pH 6.5 is preferred but will tolerate acidic soils to pH 4.5. Not suited to heavy clays. |
| Comments: | Has a high nitrogen requirement and needs phosphorous levels at or above 15 ppm. High thatching tendency. Dethatch in late spring. Needs intensive management for high-quality lawns or fairways. If poorly managed, the surface can interfere with the ball roll on golf fairways. It can tolerate some waterlogging and inundation. It can be an invasive weed. Once established can be difficult to eradicate. Encroaches into adjacent areas such as garden beds and golf course bunkers. |
| Heat: | Poor tolerance to extreme heat. |
| Cold: | Growth declines below 7°C. Exposed foliage damaged by frosts at -2°C. But the plant will survive temperatures to -9°C. Good colour retention in winter. |
| Shade: | Tolerates partial shade. Does not grow well in deep shade. |
| Drought: | Prefers areas with reliable root zone moisture. Relatively poor drought tolerance is mitigated by the capacity to form a deep root system in suitable soils. |
For more information, download the technical data sheet below.
