So you’re ready to lay your lawn, but which lawn is best for you? While both LM grass and Kikuyu grass are excellent options commercially and domestically, there are quite a few things that should be considered before making a decision.
LM Grass
LM grass, or Richmond grass, is also known by its scientific name ‘dactyloctenium australe’ and is indigenous to South Africa. As one of, if not the most popular lawn grass in the country, it does very well in a variety of environments, from shady areas to full daily sun exposure, and boasts the highest shade tolerance among indigenous grass species. It is a perennial, creeping grass, earning its popularity as an evergreen lawn grass. It is also commonly used to stabilise sand, both inland and along the coast.
LM grass maintenance is fairly straight-forward. The root system is shallow, meaning the grass cannot be cut too short. There is a general rule of thumb when mowing LM grass: don’t remove more than 1/3rd of the blade at a time. Being a slow-growing lawn, with a moderate traffic tolerance, makes this grass easy to maintain and keep it looking perfect throughout the year.
When laying LM grass, it usually takes around 4 weeks to properly root, during which time it is best to leave your new lawn as undisrupted as possible. Try to limit traffic and avoid mowing until after the grass has rooted. After this establishment period, try to lift a few sections of lawn at random to see if they give you any resistance. If there is resistance, then the grass has rooted and you can finally give it that first mow!
Kikuyu Grass
Unlike Berea grass, Kikuyu grass was originally imported from Kenya, and was widely used on sports fields for decades due to its hard-wearing nature. Known scientifically as pennisetum clandestinum, Kikuyu grass is considered to be among the more affordable species thanks to its rapid growth and quick cover, leading it to be seen in various regions as a weed. This could also be because of its ability to grow in most types of soil types. It is, however, a little trickier to grow in certain regions as a semi-tropical species, originating in a warm climate area. This means that it typically requires at least 6 hours of sunlight everyday to thrive, and cannot adequately handle shade or semi shaded areas.
It does have a very quick revival rate. So even if you’ve forgotten to water your lawn for quite some time, it will revive itself within a month once you begin watering it again. That being said, Kikuyu grass does require more watering than other species as a fast growing grass. Consequently, it also needs to be mowed a lot more often than LM grass, typically once every two weeks for optimal maintenance. If you want your lawn to be in perfect condition, mowing once a week will give you the results you’re looking for.
Kikuyu grass is perhaps most known for its high traffic tolerance and ability to recover from heavy damage in a short amount of time. While it cannot withstand high temperatures coupled with humidity, and does usually go dormant in the winter, it always comes back with a little care, giving your lawn that lovely lighter shade of green it’s famous for.
In short, both species do well in most parts of South Africa, able to thrive and live up to their titles as South African favourites. It really comes down to the nitty gritty of lawn care; maintenance frequency, shade vs. sun, and traffic tolerance.