Emerald Kikuyu Lawn Seed Mix

Emerald Kikuyu Establishment Guide

 

Emerald Kikuyu is a turf type Kikuyu that has a darker green colour and finer leaf texture than vegetative Kikuyu & other seeded varieties. Emerald Kikuyu is more cold tolerant than other warm season grasses and retains its green colour better in winter.  It also withstands heat and drought well and is not susceptible to many of the common turf pests or diseases. It has good tolerance of wear and quickly recovers from injury. Its fine dense habit means it provides an excellent turf for the home gardener.

 

Adaptation

 

Emerald Kikuyu is a warm season grass that grows best over summer when temperatures are in the range 15 – 40°C. Emerald Kikuyu has better winter colour retention than most warm season grasses and does not readily discolour with a single frost. The minimum temperature for growth is about 8°C (on established Emerald), well below that of most warm season grasses, such as Bermudagrass or couch grass Cynodon dactylon.

 

Emerald Kikuyu has excellent tolerance for sustained periods of drought, even on sandy soils. It tolerates moderate soil salinity and salt spray. It has good tolerance to waterlogging.

Emerald Kikuyu can be established on a wide range of soils. While it does best on well structured soils of high fertility, it can thrive on silty soils and sandy soils with moderate fertility. It can establish on very acidic soils (to pH 4.5) and soils with low phosphorous and potassium.

 

Emerald Kikuyu responds well to a fertilising of Buffalo Green or Golf Course Green Lawn fertiliser in spring and autumn.

Top runner normal Kikuyu

Bottom runner Emerald Kikuyu

  • First turf-type Australian bred seeded Kikuyu grass
  • Ideal for Australian conditions
  • Less invasive than other varieties
  • Establishes and covers quickly
  • Handles tough temperature, wear, shade and drought conditions
  • Ideal for over sowing
  • Contains unique organic wetting agent

 

Emerald Kikuyu Lawn Seed Mix can take 1-3 weeks to germinate (depending on soil temperature). Because of this we have mixed the Kikuyu with a “mother crop” which will germinate very quickly.  This will help crowd out any weed seeds that germinate, and slowly but surely the Kikuyu will grow and slowly over-run the mother crop (which will eventually die) and you end up with a beautiful emerald green kikuyu lawn. Keep top 2cm moist at all times during germination. Best time to sow Emerald Kikuyu Lawn Seed mix is Spring, Summer or early Autumn.  Can be sown 12 months of the year provided ground temperatures are around 21-23C.

It is very important to start cutting the 'mother crop' as soon as it reaches approx 5 cm.  Keep this cut to around 2.5 cm.  This will allow the warmth and sunlight into the 'thatch' to bring on the Emerald Kikuyu.  If you let the 'mother crop' get too high, then this will shade the Emerald Kikuyu and slow its establishment.

Available in 500g, 1kg & 2.5kg packs

1kg covers 50sqm 

 Note: Make sure you mix the Emerald Kikuyu Lawn Seed Mix with Munns Superstart Lawn Starter Fertiliser as directed on packaging for best results.

 

Emerald Kikuyu Lawn Seed Mix seeded in Victoria July 2008, photo taken December 2008

CT5000 (Munns Emerald Kikuyu) is provisionally protected under the PBR Act 1994. Unauthorised commercial propagation, or on sale, conditioning, export, import or stocking of propagating material of this variety is an infringement under the PBR Act 1994.