Lawn & Turf Supplies Guides & Resources

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What is Kikuyu Grass?

Kikuyu grass is a short, green, clumpy grass that grows straight up and has blades on both sides of the leaf. Kikuyu grass is used as a ground cover in parks and other large plots of land to keep the ground moist. It can grow in poor soil and need less water than other types of plants. Kikuyu grass is also used to help prevent erosion and runoff because of its dense root system that helps anchor the soil. Kikuyu grass is usually found in warm and dry climates such as tropical, subtropical, arid and desert regions. It can grow on rocky hillsides, mountainous regions or areas with poor ground quality. Kikuyu grass is native to Kenya and India. The leaf blade is dense and the grass has seed heads on the tip that appear after a while. They are also ideal for livestock grazing and garden beds, and are drought resistant. These warm season grasses are also called Pennisetum clandestinum. It is popular on golf courses. Take a look at the [price per square metre here](/guides/lawn-turf-supplies/cost-of-buying-grass-per-square-metre). The ideal soil temperature for kikuyu grass is between 18 °C and 24 °C. The ideal soil pH for Kikuyu grass is between 6.0 and 7.5. Kikuyu grass needs good quantities of water - five inches per week or more during hotter months. This grass gives a good winter colour and is ideal for high foot traffic. ## Will Kikuyu take over other grass? Kikuyu grass is not aggressive, but it will choke out other grasses and weeds as it quickly spreads - this is why it is so useful as a ground cover in sports fields. So if you've established other grasses, Kikuyu runners will eradicate them. Kikuyu is often used to keep an area clear of undergrowth and seeds that might hinder the growth of surrounding plants. It can be used in flowerbeds, to make a wall around the garden or just to fill in the bare spots. Try applying fertiliser like nitrogen fertiliser or slow release fertiliser for the better growth. Kikuyu will take over many weeds and is an ideal grass to control weeds in the garden. ## Which is better, Kikuyu or Buffalo grass? Buffalo grass is very thick and grows fast in clumps. One of the best things about buffalo grass is that it needs less watering than other types of grasses. Kikuyu grass is also a good type of grass for use in dry areas because the plant demands less watering than some other kinds of lawns. Weeds are also easier to remove from Kikuyu compared to Buffalo and some other grasses [such as couch](/guides/lawn-turf-supplies/how-to-identify-couch-grass). Kikuyu tends to develop better around trees than other types of turf because its lower growth allows air flow between the tree trunk and roots. ## When to mow new Kikuyu grass Kikuyu grass should be mowed when it reaches a height of 1 to 1.5 in (2.5 to 3.8 cm). Regular mowing isn't important. Kikuyu will look best if it is mowed about once a week. Taller growth can be cut off periodically, but do not cut the grass too short because this could cause injury or stress to the plant. When the leaves begin to yellow, you should cut them off, which encourages new growth. Yellowing leaves are the results of disease or too much sunlight. ## How to get rid of Kikuyu grass Kikuyu grass can be removed with chemical products - they are effective and kill the grass plants quickly. If you do not want to use chemicals there are some other options that work well. Picking up Kikuyu by hand is the best way to get rid of it because it pulls the root out without damaging your lawn. In order to remove Kikuyu using this method, you have to dig down through the roots layer by layer until you reach the bottom.

Cost of Grass in Australia

Deciding which turf to use is largely dependent on location and particular climatic conditions. Grass lawns have a great curb side appeal and there are many different types of grasses to suit different applications and needs. Deciding which turf to use is largely dependent on location and the particular climatic conditions, so not all types of turfs are suitable everywhere. Popular types of lawn grass in Australia include varieties of Bermuda, Couch, Centipede, [Buffalo](/guides/lawn-mowing-services/what-is-buffalo-grass) and Kikuyu. You can typically buy these grasses by cubic metre or by the bag. Bermuda grass is the most popular variety and this species is particularly useful because it requires minimal maintenance once it has been established. Bermuda grass also grows well in areas that experience high rainfall, which means that you don’t have to water your lawn as often. ## Types of grass Types of turf can include allergen turf, Buffalo, Palmetto, instant turf (artificial turf). Zoysia, Walter soft leaf, Sir Walter, Kikuyu, and more. Average to [low maintenance turf](/guides/lawn-mowing-services/low-maintenance-grass) products for lawns and or a garden can include [Kikuyu grass](/guides/lawn-turf-supplies/what-is-kikuyu-grass), Sir Walter, Buffalo and more. All these grasses have different maintenance requirements. They vary on the basis of price, turf installation, soil requirements, drought resistance, installation complexity, heat build up, shade tolerance and more. ## Cost of grasses Most turf varieties are available per square metre. Some average prices are below. - $25 to $32 per square metre price range for Sir Grange. - $13 to $16 for Sir Walter and Tif Tuf. - $10 to $15 price range for Fescue turf. - $8 to $11 for Nullarbor Couch. - $8 to $10 for Eureka. ## How much is a roll of grass? Grass rolls are essentially flexible sheets of grass that can be rolled out over the ground and secured with pins or pegs. The cost will depend on the size of the roll as well as what it is constructed out of. A pallet of roll-on turf should cost between $4 to $11 per square metre. Some turf suppliers perform a turf delivery at a rate of $18 to $34 per square metre. A single piece of roll will be costlier, so calculate the area before beginning the installation project. ## How much does 50 square metres of turf cost in Australia? It depends on how much work you want to put into laying it. It also depends on if you're willing to purchase a decent quality sod that will ensure the lawn will survive and grow for years, or whether you are going to save money by purchasing cheap grass seed. The best way is to have the sod professionally laid, but even then there's still room for savings. If you lay your own turf then you can probably cut costs but this will take more effort from yourself and is certainly something only an experienced gardener would attempt. Below are some examples of the price of a square meters of natural turf for different qualities of grass. Quality turf ranges from $10 to $25 per square metre. This means that 50 square metres of turf will cost between $500 to $1,250. Turf rolls are usually available in a bundle of 60 square metres. Instant turf costs around $30 to $50 per metre. This means ($30\*50) to ($50\*50) = $1500 to $2500 for 50 square metres. These prices are without delivery charges. ## How do I prepare my yard for new grass? You need to remove any obstructions such as rocks, shrubs or fallen tree limbs. The soil should also be prepared to give the grass a strong start by mixing in fertiliser and lime. Correct watering is important because seeds planted during dry weather will not germinate properly. Raking or using a leaf blower to remove all leaves will help with this step. If you are installing a roll of grass, first prepare the soil by digging up and turning it to a depth of 6 inches. Then, add two to three inches of topsoil or compost, followed by an inch or two of peat moss. Compact this layer with a plate compactor after installation and then start to roll the turf. Lastly, add more topsoil or compost. ## What is the cheapest grass to buy? Below are some turf examples for a budget-wise lawn, as they require low maintenance and hardly ever need to be re-seeded. They still produce an attractive lawn, but will not cost you a lot. - Bermuda. - Centipede. - Dwarf buffalo grass. Other types are listed below, but these require a little more care and maintenance. They can be found for the same price as the higher-maintenance varieties. - Kentucky Bluegrass. - Buffalo. - Zoysia. ## How much does turf cost per square metre? The first thing that you need to do is figure out how much the lawn area is. This can be done by using a tape measure or a laser level tool. You will want to figure out how many square metres are in your lawn, and once you have this number, it's relatively easy to find out how much turf costs per metre. ### Kentucky Bluegrass One square metre of Kentucky bluegrass for lawn should cost approximately $25 to $31 per square metre. ### Warm season grasses Warm season grasses such as Zoysia and Bermuda usually come in rolls that need to be measured out beforehand for the lawn. They cost around $25 to $35 per square metre.

Cost of Buying Grass Per Square Metre

The cost of grass per square metre ranges from $2 to $30, depending on the type of grass you buy and your location. Buying the right kind of grass seed and fertiliser, watering regularly and mowing on a regular basis is important to keep your lawn at peak condition. Lawn mowing services often charge an hourly rate that includes other gardening services such as weeding or trimming bushes so less work means less cost. Based on the lawn turf and its type, typical turf prices per square metre are as below. - Buffalo turf (Sir Walter) around $14.5 per square metre. - Zoysia (Sir Grange) around $25 per square metre. - Kikuyu (Eureka) around $10.5 per square metre. - Couch (Nullarbor) around $9.65 per square metre. - Tif Tuf (Bermuda) around $14.2 per square metre. ## How much is synthetic grass per metre? Synthetic grass is a viable alternative to real grass if you're unable to grow it in your garden. It's made of PVC or polypropylene and it doesn't need mowing or watering like real grass. This type of lawn requires a more initial investment but you don't have to worry about accidentally burnt patches or drought damage. High-quality [synthetic turf](/guides/lawn-mowing-services/cost-of-artificial-grass) is weatherproof, stain-resistant and UV protected. Landscapers typically put sand beneath turf during the installation. Instant turf is priced around $55 per square metre. - $55 per m2 for installation costs or repairs around Victoria and Western Australia. - $90 per m2 for installation in New South Wales. ## How many square meters of grass on a pallet? One pallet can cover around 60 square meters. One row of artificial turf is 1,5 metres wide and the roll length can be 25 metres long. You can also buy grass in pre-cut sections typically sized between 1 metre to 1.5 metres in length depending on the type of grass and turf you want to install. ## What are the best types of grass to buy? Turf varieties can include [Buffalo](/guides/lawn-mowing-services/what-is-buffalo-grass), Empire Zoysia, Walter Soft Leaf, Palmetto, Couch and Sir Walter. The difference between each piece is typically drought resistance, shade tolerance and looks. ### What's the difference between Kikuyu grass and Bermuda grass? Many thought it was simply a matter of looking at how green the blade is on a particular species, but there's more to growth than just looks. Here are the basics (for a standard-sized suburban yard). ### Bermuda grass Durable in winter and able to withstand extreme temperatures. Bermuda grass grows fast and thick and is ideal for areas where high traffic occurs because its root system is so dense, it's difficult to tear up even in sub-zero temperatures. ### Kikuyu grass Durable in summer, [Kikuyu grass](/guides/lawn-turf-supplies/what-is-kikuyu-grass) is resistant to drought and mildew, which makes it great for low-water areas because it can cope with a lack of moisture. However, the downside is that its growth slows down when there's not enough rain. So don't expect your lawn to grow fast during dry periods as it will look like an empty brown field until the grass starts to green up again. Also good for shady areas because it does well in partial sunlight, but bad if you plan on hosting lots of outdoor events because this type of grass doesn't hold up under heavy traffic.

How to Identify Couch Grass

Couch grass has creeping stems which can grow up to 20cm per week if conditions are favourable. Couch grass is a perennial grass that spreads widely using underground runners. Couch grass can rapidly form large spreading colonies in lawns but it also invades ornamental beds as well as vegetable gardens and wild areas where it spreads through ground cover vegetation. Couch grass has creeping stems which can grow up to 20cm per week if conditions are favourable. Couch grass spreads widely through ground cover vegetation using long underground runners that develop at nodes along the length of the main stem. Underground runners continue to grow during dry weather because the plant draws up water from a large region of the surrounding soil. Couch grass has flattened seed heads, with the seeds dispersed by wind. Seeds remain viable for several years in soil seed banks if conditions are suitable, although germination rates tend to decrease as time goes on. Couch turf has a fine leaf and good shade and drought tolerance, and drought tolerance. The turf is soft to touch and ideal for areas like golf courses and other sports fields. Couch has good water efficiency and is ideal in areas with water restrictions. ## What is the difference between Couch and Kikuyu grass? The two types of grass look similar, however couch grass has flattened seed heads as opposed to Kikuyu grass which has cylindrical seed heads. If you were to inspect Couch grass and Kikuyu grass together you would notice couch has a "fuzzy" appearance whereas [Kikuyu is very sleek and smooth](/guides/lawn-turf-supplies/what-is-kikuyu-grass). Another way to differentiate between the two grass is from the leaves. Couch usually grows in mixed stands with long grasses and as a result, its leaf appears very long and slender to maximise sunlight absorption. Kikuyu is usually a stand-alone and its leaves appear stubby and thick. Couch has the ability to tolerate sunlight and the colour usually won't fade. ## How do you kill Couch grass? Couch grass cannot be killed with just one treatment, you must maintain regular control to ensure Couch does not re-establish in the lawn. Couch grass is hardy and always attempts to come back from the roots. Their growth habit can be controlled if Couch grass roots are uprooted. Couch grass lawn can be treated with selective herbicides such as Glyphosate. It is important not to use Glyphosate when there are few leaves on the plant otherwise the chemical will drift on to neighbouring areas that you may wish to keep. Couch responds well to Roundup treatment in spring when most of its energy has been redirected into new growth after winter dormancy, making it a good time for controlling Couch. The manufacturer instructions must be followed carefully when using any chemical product or risk damaging your lawns. ## How do I prevent Couch re-establishing? To control future growth of couch in your lawn, you must treat regularly - a minimum of twice yearly treatments or more. Couch grass' growth can be easily spread from lawn to lawn by people walking through it and is often moved around by pets so it's important to keep an eye out for new patches that need treating. By feeding the lawn correctly with high nitrogen fertilisers and watering regularly you can encourage a healthy lawn. ## Are there different types of Couch grass in Australia? Couch grass is part of the Poaceae family which includes over 5,000 species worldwide, most of which are native to Australia. The difference between them is that some varieties are perennial and others annual. Perennial couch grasses can establish in an area and regenerate themselves year on year and can withstand drought. Annual couch grasses can establish in a region and regenerate themselves for only one season. There are more than 15 species of Perennial Couch in Australia, all of which fall under the genus "Agropyron". The annual species of Couch in Australia fall under the genus "Elymus". All couch grasses can spread quickly and it is one of the grass varieties that can reduce weed.