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How do I kill a kikuyu lawn?
New to this . Have Kikuyu grass on my front lawn would like to get rid of it and have rye .Whats the best way to get rid of it before scarfying and top soiling . Also what’s the best grass for Northland area want to be able to cut it low and keep it healthy and green .
Kikuyu can be tricky to fully remove, and timing plays a big role in how effective your control is.
Glyphosate works by moving through the plant with its energy flow. During active summer growth, that movement is mostly upward, so you’ll often only knock back the leaf and stolons, not fully killing the plant resulting in to coming back.
The most effective time to spray is mid to late autumn. As kikuyu starts preparing for dormancy, it shifts energy down into the rhizomes, which allows the glyphosate to properly translocate into the root system and achieve a much better kill.
In most cases, you’ll need at least two applications. The first spray knocks it back, then follow up 10–14 days later to hit any regrowth. Heavier infestations may need a third pass.
Even when done properly, it’s common to see isolated runners pop up over time. The best way to deal with these is using a glyphosate gel and applying it directly to the leaf, so it can translocate through the plant without damaging the surrounding lawn.
Managing rye in Whangārei can also be a full-on challenge. It is manageable, but you’ll need to stay on top of preventative fungicides and be dialled in with irrigation. I’d make sure you’re 100% sure you want to make that switch and are prepared for what comes with it, if you don’t keep on top of the Kikuyu runners that come back, you’ll end up with a bit of a mess on your hands.
Personally, I’d be seriously considering just embracing the kikuyu. It’s well suited to the conditions, and once you start trying to remove it, it can turn into a bit of a mission and you’ll likely be dealing with it trying to come back for a long time.
If you’ve got your heart set on a cool-season lawn ETF may be a better choice.
@Jonny Hicks Ok so if I keep the kikuyu can you cut cut it short without it going patchy looking dead in parts. We didn't have much of a summer still went brown looking or does that come down to the fert you use
@Jonny Hicks I’ve bought NZLA Gold to clear Kik from my berm so it doesn’t carry into my main EFT lawn. Would this be an option?
@Phil.P thanks for the tip will give it a go