“Kikuyu is value for money”
Botanical Name: Pennisetum clandestinum
Kikuyu
Warm Season Grass
Kikuyu is immensely popular for its low water use, hardy wear and tear, and value for money. The runners, with their deep root system, will however find their way under garden edges and pop up in your garden beds. Kikuyu is commonly found in backyards, nature strips, public areas, ovals, and schools.









Best installed | All year round |
Drought Tolerance | Kikuyu is very drought tolerant, requiring very little water once established. |
Fertilising | Kikuyu should be fertilised in April, September & November. Water in well. |
Hard Wearing & Self Repairing | Kikuyu is extremely hard wearing, rapidly self-repairs. |
Leaf | Tall medium size |
Mowing Height | Low to medium If kept mowing height low, the turf will have little thatch. |
Summer Colour | Light to medium green. The more you fertilise, the darker it will become. Kikuyu may become lime green if lacking in fertiliser, yellow if lacking water. |
Root System | Deep Deep watering (lots of water at one time less regularly) promotes the root system to go lower into the soil profile. |
Runners | Kikuyu is a very invasive grass. The turf runners grow under the ground as well as on the top of the ground. In summer Kikuyu will need to be mowed weekly. |
Sun vs Shade | Full sun and some shade |
Weed Control | Hand picking any weeds by their roots, is ideal. Broadleaf sprays control clover, bindi and broadleaf weeds. Before using any chemical, always read the product label for full directions, application, safety directions and guidelines. |
Winter Colour |
Kikuyu will continue to grow very slowly over winter. Kikuyu in Victoria over winter, may lose its lush green colour, becoming a lighter colour. In very cold winters will turn yellow/brown, resulted from the frosts burning the turf’s leaves. If you do get a heavy frost you can help to stop it from burning the lawn by giving quick water in the morning to wash the ice off the leaves. Once the weather warms up in Spring, you will mow the dead leaves off leaving behind a green lawn. |
Best installed | All year round |
Drought Tolerance | Kikuyu is very drought tolerant, requiring very little water once established. |
Fertilising | Kikuyu should be fertilised in April, September & November. Water in well. |
Hard Wearing & Self Repairing | Kikuyu is extremely hard wearing, rapidly self-repairs. |
Leaf | Tall medium size |
Mowing Height | Low to medium If kept mowing height low, the turf will have little thatch. |
Summer Colour | Light to medium green. The more you fertilise, the darker it will become. Kikuyu may become lime green if lacking in fertiliser, yellow if lacking water. |
Root System | Deep Deep watering (lots of water at one time less regularly) promotes the root system to go lower into the soil profile. |
Runners | Kikuyu is a very invasive grass. The turf runners grow under the ground as well as on the top of the ground. In summer Kikuyu will need to be mowed weekly. |
Sun vs Shade | Full sun and some shade |
Weed Control | Hand picking any weeds by their roots, is ideal. Broadleaf sprays control clover, bindi and broadleaf weeds. Before using any chemical, always read the product label for full directions, application, safety directions and guidelines. |
Winter Colour |
Kikuyu will continue to grow very slowly over winter. Kikuyu in Victoria over winter, may lose its lush green colour, becoming a lighter colour. In very cold winters will turn yellow/brown, resulted from the frosts burning the turf’s leaves. If you do get a heavy frost you can help to stop it from burning the lawn by giving quick water in the morning to wash the ice off the leaves. Once the weather warms up in Spring, you will mow the dead leaves off leaving behind a green lawn. |
Best installed | All year round |
Drought Tolerance | Kikuyu is very drought tolerant, requiring very little water once established. |
Fertilising | Kikuyu should be fertilised in April, September & November. Water in well. |
Hard Wearing & Self Repairing | Kikuyu is extremely hard wearing, rapidly self-repairs. |
Leaf | Tall medium size |
Mowing Height | Low to medium If kept mowing height low, the turf will have little thatch. |
Summer Colour | Light to medium green. The more you fertilise, the darker it will become. Kikuyu may become lime green if lacking in fertiliser, yellow if lacking water. |
Root System | Deep Deep watering (lots of water at one time less regularly) promotes the root system to go lower into the soil profile. |
Runners | Kikuyu is a very invasive grass. The turf runners grow under the ground as well as on the top of the ground. In summer Kikuyu will need to be mowed weekly. |
Sun vs Shade | Full sun and some shade |
Weed Control | Hand picking any weeds by their roots, is ideal. Broadleaf sprays control clover, bindi and broadleaf weeds. Before using any chemical, always read the product label for full directions, application, safety directions and guidelines. |
Winter Colour |
Kikuyu will continue to grow very slowly over winter. Kikuyu in Victoria over winter, may lose its lush green colour, becoming a lighter colour. In very cold winters will turn yellow/brown, resulted from the frosts burning the turf’s leaves. If you do get a heavy frost you can help to stop it from burning the lawn by giving quick water in the morning to wash the ice off the leaves. Once the weather warms up in Spring, you will mow the dead leaves off leaving behind a green lawn. |