Kikuyu Grass in Australia

Kikuyu is an extremely vigorous grower that can invade garden beds, paths, and neighbouring properties if not regularly maintained. Its aggressive stolons and rhizomes allow it to spread rapidly during warm months across most of Australia. While this vigour is beneficial for self-repair and wear tolerance, it requires consistent edging, mowing, and border management to keep it contained.

Kenda Kikuyu is an improved cultivar that offers a finer leaf texture, deeper green colour, and better resistance to disease compared to common Kikuyu in Australian conditions. It also produces less seed head, resulting in a neater appearance during summer. Common Kikuyu is cheaper but coarser, and tends to produce more thatch build-up over time.

During the active growing season (October to March) in Australia, Kikuyu may need mowing every 5-7 days due to its rapid growth rate. In autumn and spring, fortnightly mowing is usually sufficient. Maintain a height of 30-40 mm and never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade in a single cut to avoid stressing the lawn.

Kikuyu grass enters dormancy when soil temperatures in Australia drop below 10-12 °C, causing it to turn yellow or brown. This is more pronounced in southern states like Victoria and Tasmania. The lawn is not dead — it will recover and green up quickly in spring once temperatures rise above 15 °C. Avoid over-watering during this dormant period as it promotes disease.

Install a physical root barrier (at least 200 mm deep) along property boundaries to block Kikuyu's aggressive underground rhizomes. Regular edge trimming with a sharp edger every two weeks during summer helps control above-ground stolons. If Kikuyu has already crossed into garden beds, carefully apply a glyphosate-based herbicide to the runners, taking care to avoid desirable plants.