| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| • Right climate, right call: Kikuyu grass makes a durable, low-maintenance lawn in mild-winter, hot, dry regions like parts of California, Hawaii, and Australia. • A legal weed: Kikuyu is a federal noxious weed, so seed is sold only in limited areas such as Hawaii, Arizona, and southern California. • Hard to contain: Its vigorous rhizomes and stolons crowd out other plants and build thatch, so it needs edging and regular mowing to stay in bounds. |
Kikuyu grass is good as a lawn grass if you live in a climate with mild winters and regions with dry, hot weather, like parts of California, Australia, and Hawaii. It is also a good lawn grass if it is already growing in your yard.
However, seeding kikuyu is not practical in most areas. It is a noxious weed, so the government regulates it as a danger to the environment, wildlife, and humans, and turfgrass supplier West Coast Turf says it is sold only under limitations in Hawaii, Arizona, and southern California.
This guide covers why kikuyu may or may not be a good lawn grass, how to establish it, how to maintain it, and how to get rid of it.
If you would rather skip the upkeep, Lawn Love’s lawn mowing service connects you with local lawn care providers who handle it for you.
What is kikuyu grass?
Kikuyu grass is a fast-spreading, warm-season perennial grass native to East Africa and used as a durable, low-maintenance turf in hot, mild-winter climates. It belongs to the Poaceae plant family and was imported to the US from Kenya around 1915. It is well-suited for golf courses and erosion control.
For details, see the UC IPM kikuyugrass page.
Like Bermudagrass, kikuyu grows rapidly in warm temperatures. It thrives when it is between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit and can even tolerate heat as intense as 100 degrees. Unlike Bermudagrass, kikuyu keeps growing at cooler temperatures.
Kikuyu’s deep root system makes it drought-tolerant and quick to recover from injury. It does well in both moist and dry, hot environments, making it a popular lawn grass for areas like Australia, California, and Hawaii.
Because of its vigorous growth habit and tendency to invade other areas, it is a federal noxious weed.
The basics of kikuyu grass
Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) works well in the coastal and inland areas of Central and Southern California, the region it is best adapted to.
Kikuyu is nearly impossible to fully eradicate once established. If it has taken over about 40% or more of your lawn, maintaining it is usually cheaper and easier than fighting it.
You may have kikuyu grass growing and not know it. It has a coarse texture and noticeable seed heads. Kikuyu looks a lot like St. Augustinegrass. However, kikuyu grass can be distinguished from St. Augustinegrass by its flatter, pointed, and somewhat hairy leaf blades.
St. Augustinegrass leaf blades are smooth and creased with rounded tips.
Here are some basic facts about kikuyu grass:
- Classification: Warm-season grass
- Spreads by: Rhizomes and stolons (runners)
- Soil type: Adapts to many soil types, but prefers fertile, moderately drained soil
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0, but can withstand levels as low as 4.5
- Mowing height: 1 to 1.5 inches; needs frequent mowing
Read more: An Ultimate Guide to Grass Types
Why kikuyu is a good lawn grass
Kikuyu makes a good lawn grass because it is tough, drought-tolerant, and nearly self-sufficient once established.
Here are the benefits that win over homeowners:
- Adjusts to moderate shade: It has moderate shade tolerance, so it can survive on properties with some shade.
- Requires little fertilizer: Kikuyu needs minimal fertilization, especially when it is warm.
- Retains its color year-round in certain conditions: In some areas, like inland valleys and coastal regions of California, kikuyu may not go into winter dormancy and typically stays green year-round in warmer areas.
- Recovers quickly from wear: It bounces back fast from trampling by children or pets.
- Provides a dense, lush ground covering.
Why kikuyu may not be a good lawn grass
Kikuyu is not for you if you live in regions where it gets very cold. It is a warm-season grass, so it thrives best in the Southern United States and has low cold tolerance.
Here are more reasons kikuyu may not be a good lawn grass:
- Kikuyu is hard to contain: It spreads vigorously into flower gardens and garden beds, forming thick mats that crowd out other plants.
- Kikuyu yellows in insufficient sunlight: It turns yellow in heavy shade, and shorter winter days can also reduce its chlorophyll.
- Mowing requirements and thatch build-up: Kikuyu needs regular mowing to prevent overgrowth and thatch. It scalps when cut too short or too infrequently, so routine dethatching is needed. “Nobody warns you that it turns into a big, thick, spongy mattress of thatch,” says Mike Marlow, co-founder at Heroes Lawn Care in Omaha, Nebraska. “Your mower wheels sink right into it and the blades cut too low then leave ugly brown patches every time you mow.”
How do you establish kikuyu grass?
You can establish kikuyu 3 ways: seeding, transplanting rhizomes, or laying runners. Start by seeding with these steps:
- Install edging: Since this grass spreads so vigorously, install edging next to areas you don’t want kikuyu to invade. Edging helps stop the grass roots from extending too far underground. “To stop this aggressive grass from taking over your garden beds and creeping onto your driveway, bury a heavy-duty plastic or metal root barrier at least 30 centimeters deep and trim the edges with a sharp edger every week during peak summer growth,” Marlow says.
- Prepare the soil: Clear any weeds and smooth the surface so it is even.
- Spread the seeds: Wet the area and spread the seeds consistently over the soil.
- Irrigate: Water after laying the seeds. Keep seeds moist until they are established. It takes about two weeks or less for kikuyu grass seeds to germinate.
You can also transplant rhizomes or lay runners. In spring, dig rhizomes from an existing kikuyu patch and replant them where you want the lawn, or push runner nodes slightly into the soil so they make contact. Irrigate generously either way.
Estimated cost: Costs depend on variety, quantity, and seller.
On Amazon, a pack of about 20 to 40 seeds can cost as little as $7, while a 100-seed package runs about $15.50. Expect to spread roughly two handfuls of seed per square meter. Your local garden center or nursery may carry runners.
When to plant kikuyu grass
A kikuyu lawn can be established at any time of the year. The optimal time to seed is from early spring to early fall when the soil temperature is more than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tip: Kikuyu seed is expensive, so it is typically mixed with annual ryegrass, with ryegrass making up 85% to 90% of the blend. The ryegrass keeps kikuyu’s spread in check, then goes dormant and dies at the end of summer, leaving kikuyu as the main ground cover.
How to maintain a kikuyu grass lawn
Kikuyu’s heavy thatch and fast growth make mowing, watering, and dethatching the core tasks. Here’s how to handle each.
Mowing
Kikuyu needs frequent mowing to stay in bounds. Left uncut, it grows 4 to 6 inches and forms a dense mat. To prevent overgrowth and decrease the risk of thatch accumulation, mow it at 1 to 1.5 inches.
“I mow every seven days and keep it short. Then once a year, in late spring when it starts warming up, I run a scarifier right through the lawn,” Marlow says.
Irrigation
Although kikuyu is drought tolerant, it needs a lot of water to establish. To encourage drought resistance in established kikuyu, water deeply and infrequently so the roots grow deeper in the soil.
Watering early in the morning or late in the afternoon reduces evaporation and helps the grass get the moisture it needs. You can read our guide on the best time to water grass for more irrigation tips.
Fertilization
Use 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, applied lightly during active growth in early spring and late summer into fall.
Choose a balanced fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) to build a healthy root system and vibrant green growth. Need help choosing? See our guide on the best lawn fertilizers.
Dethatching and aeration
Dethatch kikuyu regularly to remove its heavy thatch buildup, then aerate so the roots can absorb air, water, and nutrients. The best time to do both is spring or fall when the grass is actively growing.
Treating diseases and insects
Kikuyu grass rarely has serious problems, but watch for leaf spot, dollar spot, and winter fusarium, plus cutworms, lawn grubs, and armyworms. Treat any problem with a product labeled for use on kikuyu grass.
Controlling weeds
Control weeds in kikuyu as soon as they appear.
Apply pre-emergent herbicides sparingly to reduce the risk of injury to the grass, and follow the package instructions. A broadleaf weed herbicide can be used 3 to 5 weeks after the grass starts actively growing.
Marlow recommends a selective herbicide to protect your kikuyu grass.
“And if weeds start popping up, you have to be careful. Not every weed killer is safe on Kikuyu. So look for a selective one, with MCPA or bromoxynil in it. That knocks out the broadleaf weeds without hurting your lawn,” he says.
Read more:
How to control kikuyu grass
Kikuyu spreads by stem sections and seeds, often on lawn mowers and renovation tools. The best way to manage it as a weed is to stop it from reaching new areas.
Mechanical methods
Option 1: Dig up patches of kikuyu grass and dispose of them.
Option 2: Solarize infected areas by covering them with clear plastic when they are in full sun. Do this for about four to six weeks during the hottest part of the year.
Solarization may not be effective in coastal areas because of overcast skies and fog.
Chemical treatments
Option 1: Spot-treat kikuyu grass with post-emergent herbicides. Fluazifop and sethoxydim are options for homeowners. If you use glyphosate, apply it only to infected areas, because it will kill surrounding turfgrass and plants.
Option 2: Limit the growth of kikuyu grass seeds by applying pre-emergent herbicides in March. Products containing prodiamine or dithiopyr are available for home lawns.
FAQs
Yes, kikuyu grass is not toxic and makes a durable play surface that tolerates heavy foot traffic from children and pets, recovering quickly from wear. Its dense, cushioned mat holds up well to running and rough play.
It depends on your priorities: Couch grass has a finer, softer texture that suits showcase lawns, while kikuyu grows faster, self-repairs, and handles heavy foot traffic better for busy family yards. The tradeoff is that kikuyu needs more frequent mowing and spreads aggressively.
Kikuyu is wind-pollinated and does not produce showy flowers, so it is not a major draw for bees. Keeping it mowed removes the seed heads, further reducing any appeal to pollinators.
Make kikuyu lawn care easy
Kikuyu grass can make a tough, lush, low-maintenance lawn in the right climate, but its fast growth means frequent mowing, dethatching, and edging to keep it in bounds. That is a lot of weekend work.
Let one of Lawn Love’s local lawn care providers handle the mowing service and upkeep for you, so you can enjoy your kikuyu lawn without the hassle.
Main Photo: Kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum). Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org | Ipmimages
Related Posts:
