The common problem.

Member of the Poaceae family. Form: Grass Origin: Native to tropical east Africa Weed Type: Weed, Noxious Weed, Naturalised, Introduced, Garden Escape, Environmental Weed, Cultivation Escape Kikuyu is a very common weed or problem in most gardens throughout not only Victoria, but all over Australia. This grass loves the Australian climate and absolutely thrives is the warmer months, being a warm season grass.

Kikuyu is a perennial ground-hugging grass which spreads by runners. It is cultivated for pastures, lawns and playing fields and is a common weed of gardens and roadsides. It is recognised as a weed in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. It is not known to produce viable seeds in South Australia but persists and spreads from deliberate plantings and sites where garden waste is dumped. It was used for erosion control on Montague Island off the south coast of NSW but became so dense that it impeded nesting and access to burrows of the Little penguin (Eudyptula minor). The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has initiated a major control program.

This weed problem can be controlled or maintained simply by physically removing the grass as soon as it is detected, or once it has gotten out of hand a little more it can be sprayed using a regular poison from your local hardware store.

References: Randall, R. P. (2002). A Global Compendium of Weeds. R. G. & F.J. Richardson, Melbourne.

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