4 common grass types and how to care for them

ABOUT KIKUYU Kikuyu was imported to South Africa in the 1950s from Kenya and is used to grow sports fields, because of its fast-growing tempo. Kikuyu grass became very popular across South Africa, professionally and domestically. Until today, Kikuyu (named after a tribe in Kenya) is still the most popular and affordable lawn, because of this reviving quality. The downside of Kikuyu is, because it comes from a semi-tropical and warm climate, it cannot handle shade or semi-shade areas. It also needs more water than other grass cultivars, considering its fast-growing tempo.

Kikuyu MAINTENANCE The watering of Kikuyu can be neglected from time to time or even if it’s left to turn brown or dry out, once you start watering it, it will revive itself in about a month and become green again. The growing tempo of Kikuyu slows down slightly during wintertime, but not that much compared to the cultivars indigenous to South Africa. The more you mow your Kikuyu lawn, the thinner your grass blades become and the finer your texture will be. Kikuyu is normally a very soft and comfortable lawn to walk, lie or play on and is bright green in colour.

KIKUYU Features • A vigorous grass, bright green in colour • Domineering and hard-wearing • If cut regularly, produces an excellent lawn • Quick cover • Coarse leaf texture • Grows in a variety of soil types • Needs regular mowing • Cannot handle heat with humidity • Needs full sun • Goes dormant on the Highveld in winter • Requires a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day to thrive

ABOUT LM LM Berea has a reputation for the highest shade tolerance out of all the species. LM Berea likes the leaf to have some length and this lawn is great for semi shaded areas and around pools as it has a very soft spongy appeal, this grass has a very soft blade and is a lighter shade of green than most lawns. LM Berea has a medium traffic tolerance and like buffalo should never be mowed too short. As it is also a creeper it can be combined with a grass such as Kikuyu to fill in the shady areas. It is also a fast grower and although it slows down in winter it will still grow in this season.

LM MAINTENANCE LM grass can be planted in the semi-shade and sunny side of your garden but is very sensitive to frost if it is in the open. LM grass is a surface runner and cannot be cut too short. It cannot withstand too much traffic and is much more sensitive than Kikuyu.

LM FEATURES • Indigenous • Bright green in colour • Full sun and semi-shade • Soft feel • Slow growing – less mowing • No top dressing required • Cannot handle extreme traffic • Shallow rooted • Cannot handle frost for long periods

ABOUT Evergreen Evergreen mixture is a mixture of summer and winter growing grasses to maintain a better cover all year round. It is contended that turf mixtures stand up to harder wear and there is less chance of destruction due to disease. Only top-quality varieties with similar leaf textures are used.

Evergreen MAINTENANCE Mixtures are less susceptible to diseases and can handle traffic better than pure cool season grasses. Never remove more than one third of the blade length when mowing. Evergreen grass requires considerably more water and maintenance than Kikuyu for instance.

Evergreen FEATURES • Blend of Fescue and Rye • Tuft Grass • Indigenous • Dark green colour • Medium leaf texture • Green throughout the year • Requires approximately 25mm of water per week consistently • Does well in sun and semi-shade if maintained correctly • Suits a wide range of soil types • Cannot grow from sprigs • Moderate wear ability

ABOUT Tiffsport With a sod density that is three points higher than comparable Bermuda grasses, Tiffsport is a superior choice for athletic fields, golf courses, lawns and landscaping. It has good lateral growth and sod strength and density, which make it very traffic tolerant. These features also result in rapid grow-in and repair, better playing conditions and improved resistance to divot injury in golf.

Tiffsport MAINTENANCE Management of Tiffsport is like that of Tiffany (419). However, raising the height of cut before frost, starting in September will improve winter survival. Tiffsport becomes dormant after frost. Mow at least weekly or more to prevent scalping. Tiffsport can be planted as sod or sprigs. Sod can be installed during most months of the year. It is important to irrigate the sod as it is laid down.

Tiffsport FEATURES • Stiff, upright leaf blades give better ball lie in cut fairways and roughs • Superior turf density – 3-point advantage over Midiron, Quickstand, Vamont and common Bermudas • Performs well with low nutrition and requires minimal management • Good lateral growth, resulting in rapid grow-in and repair • Superior traffic tolerance • Better cold resistance, colour and vigour than Tiffway • Denser turf than Tiffdwarf or Tiffgreen • Low maintenance and fertility requirements • Does not attract tawny mole crickets