hi guys joe here from lawn solutions
australia
in this video series we have been
providing you with a full overview of
the turf varieties commonly found in
australia
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in this video we talk about the turf
variety kaiku
kaikuyu grass is native to the highland
regions of east africa
and is most well known for being a
highly invasive and aggressive grower
with the ability to perform in most
australian climates
kaikyu can stand up to a wide range of
conditions
kaikuyu can be a good economical option
for both home lawns
and larger spaces such as race courses
or parks
and is also used as pasture for
livestock grazing
it was introduced into australia for
this reason as a robust pasture grass
for cattle
kaikuyu thrives in sunny aspects and
full sun
areas it provides a strong dense root
base
which helps it to stand up to hot summer
days providing acceptable drought
tolerance
kikuyu spreads vigorously through
rhizomes and stylons
making it the perfect option for larger
areas and erosion control
however due to its strong vertical and
subsurface growth habits
it can easily invade and spread
throughout your garden and becomes very
difficult to control
kaikuyu can grow in a wide range of soil
types
but performs at its best in fertile
light to medium textured soil
with moderate drainage and salinity
levels the ideal soil ph for kaikuyu is
5.5 to 7
but it can tolerate levels as low as 4.5
being a warm season turf variety
kaikui prefers growing temperatures
between 15 and 25 degrees celsius
but can managing conditions much hotter
during winter
kaikoura will go to a certain level of
dormancy and will stop growing when
exposed to frost
kakuyu is not a great performer in low
light
or shaded areas and will require at
least five to six
hours of direct sunlight in order to
thrive
although a kaikoura lawn's initial cost
is lower than other varieties
it's important to consider the long-term
maintenance and upkeep costs
associated with this type of grass being
mindful
of correct and efficient irrigation
practices will help you to maintain a
healthy kaikyuuyu lawn
if watering is necessary once
established water only when there are
signs of grass drying out
for example wilted leaves do not water
in the cooler winter months unless there
are signs of the above
irrigation is needed deeply soak the top
100 millimeters of soil
generally 30 minutes with a standard
sprinkler will be enough
water early morning for improved
efficiency and plant health
kaikuyu will require frequent mowing
throughout the warmer months
due to its aggressive growth habits it's
important you mow regularly to ensure
you don't remove
more than one third of the leaf in one
pass ensure that mower blades are sharp
to prevent tearing of the leaf
never remove more than one third of the
leaf blade at any one time unless
dethatching
dethatch if required in late spring for
best results
kaikuyu is known to be highly responsive
to nitrogen
and can see a strong flush of leaf
growth when high levels of nitrogen are
applied
it is for this reason that we recommend
applying a slow release fertilizer over
the warmer months
so the leaf growth doesn't get out of
hand apply slow release granular
fertilizer
at a rate of 20 to 25 grams per square
meter
or two to two and a half kilograms per
100 square meters
for best results fertilise at least
three times per year
important dates a late spring mid to
late summer
and late autumn always irrigate your
kaikyuuyu well after applying fertilizer
on new lawns apply fertilizer after you
cut your lawn at least once
most domestically available chemical
weed and pest control products
can be safely used on kikuyu lawns
however most wintergrass killer products
are not safe for use on kaikuyu
and past pale and killer products
containing dsma
are approved for spot treatment only it
is always best to read the label
and check with your supplier for
recommended products before
any application if you think kaikuyu is
the right choice for your lawn
you can't go past australia's number one
kaikyu grass
eureka cartoons get in touch with your
nearest lawn solutions australia member
for more information
thanks for watching and we hope to catch
you next time
you