Kikuyu Grass

About Kikuyu Varieties

Kikuyu, a native of the highlands of East Africa, is now naturalised in many coastal and northern regions of New Zealand. It's the most vigorous of all lawn grasses, with stout stolons and rhizomes. For this reason, it has often been regarded as an undesirable nuisance in home gardens. But when kept within bounds, by mowing strips and judicious use of weedkillers, kikuyu makes an attractive, resilient, hard-wearing lawn that copes with environments where cool-season grasses struggle.

It stays greener in summer than cool-climate grasses, but may brown off in winter due to going dormant (this generally happens only for a short period). Kikuyu tolerates partial shade, growing well up to the base of trees. It revels in warm weather and tolerates spells of drought, but will benefit from watering in very hot, dry conditions. Kikuyu prefers frost free regions of New Zealand. The dense turf it forms resists weeds, insects and disease.

Kikuyu responds dramatically to nitrogen fertilisers. We recommend the use of slow release fertilisers, like Yates Lawn Fertiliser Quarterly or the gentle release of Yates Dynamic Lifter Concentrated Lawn Food.

Kikuyu seed was traditionally difficult to purchase for home gardeners in New Zealand, but it's now available from Yates, in your favourite local retail store.

In late spring or early summer, sow blends containing kikuyu and a 'nursery' grass (such as annual ryegrass) at 1kg per 66m², or as directed on the product label. As kikuyu seed is very fine, mix thoroughly before dispersion.

Fast-germinating ryegrass minimises soil erosion and reduces weed competition, while the kikuyu seedlings establish. Kikuyu germinates best when soil temperatures are above 21°C. The vigorous seedlings emerge in seven to twenty-one days. Runners can be planted in spring or summer, and kikuyu turf can be laid at almost any time of the year. Kikuyu can take its time to establish, so it may require patience at first.

Precautionary note - we don't recommend using Yates Weed 'n' Feed or Yates Turfix on your kikuyu lawn, as kikuyu is sensitive to selective weedkillers and can be damaged by application.