Page 31 - Landscape-Issue127

WATER WISE

Using Kikuyu the Water Wise way

Lawn and other turf grasses are often seen as high water Water wise watering for kikuyu
users, especially in the spring and summer seasons before • Avoid watering kikuyu when it is dormant.
the rainy season has started. But, can lawn be used in • Wait for the rains to start before awakening your
a water wise way? Water Wise explains the wise use of kikuyu from its dormant state.
water with kikuyu. • Newly installed kikuyu will require more water during
its settling or establishment period.
Kikuyu • In summer, water the grass in the evening when there
Pennisetum clandestinum, commonly known as kikuyu, is is less evaporation.
the most widely used lawn grass in South Africa. It is native • Use a trigger nozzle if watering kikuyu with a hose.
to east Africa and has an aggressive growth form, which • Educate your corporates and other clients why you
means it can become invasive and take over indigenous are implementing those changes.
grasses. Kikuyu is drought tolerant, inexpensive, and easy
to maintain because it can grow in areas where most Advantages of kikuyu
grasses cannot. However, it is sometimes considered the • Fast growing.
highest user of water in comparison to other commonly • Grows in full sun and in most soils.
used turf grasses. • High-traffic resistant and persistent growth form.
• Survives long dry periods and is drought tolerant.
Kikuyu is mostly used as an instant lawn for sports fields, • Better frost tolerance than some warm season
golf course construction, and rehabilitation. It has a mat grasses.
root and a herbaceous growth habit. It doesn’t grow well • Very effective for erosion control in ornamental
in shaded areas. landscapes.
• Rapid summer growth rate with high yield potential.
Dormancy in lawn • Very competitive; suppresses weeds.
Dormancy refers to a period where growth of the grass
temporarily slows down, and grass goes into a resting Disadvantages of kikuyu
state for one season. Kikuyu always goes dormant during • Requires regular mowing.
winter, where the grass will turn brown. However, brown • High evapotranspiration rate.
kikuyu grass does not mean it is dead; it has simply gone • Can become invasive and difficult to control.
dormant.
There are many other simple ways you can save water.
Dormant kikuyu does not need to be watered. Lawn in Visit the Water Wise website by going to the Rand Water
a state of dormancy is simply ‘resting’ and conserving website and clicking on the Water Wise
energy for the new growing season. Dormancy is a natural logo for more information.
way for lawn to conserve moisture and nutrients in cold
and dry seasons. Always be Water Wise!

021 788 1202 www.capecontours.co.za
www.randwater.co.za and click on the Water Wise logo
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON WATER WISE, PLEASE CONTACT US ON: 0860 10 10 60