Growing kikuyu

This grass type is resilient, rewarding and ideal for many applications. It is also widely adaptable, performing well in most parts of Southern Africa.

Kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus, previously Pennisetum clandestinum) originates in the East African highlands, which is home to the Kikuyu people. It is a turf grass, with matted roots and a grass-like or herbaceous habit.

Grasses are monocotyledons and, as the name implies, have only one seed leaf or cotyledon. Additional leaves develop in a two-ranked arrangement, with each successive leaf attached at a 180° angle to the previous leaf. The leaves are green, flattened or upwardly folded along the midrib, 10mm to 150mm long, and 1mm to 5mm wide. The apex of the leaf blade is obtuse.

Production areas in South Africa include Gauteng, KwaZuluNatal, Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. Kikuyu is used in private and institutional gardens, in school grounds, on golf courses, and in many other environments.

TEMPERATURES

Turf grass seed germination and growth are restricted to a specific range of temperatures. Turf grass species are broadly categorised as warm-season (27°C to 35°C) or cool-season (16°C to 24°C). They are best adapted to air temperatures between 6°C and 24°C. Warm-season turf grasses, including Bermuda grass, grow best at air temperatures from 27°C to 35°C. Warm-season turf grasses lose their colour and are dormant during the cold winter months. As lawn requires a large volume of water, sufficient rainfall is needed to maintain grass health. Grass typically goes dormant during winter, and turns brown during hot, dry summer months when its water requirement is reduced.