Kikuyu Grass

Kikuyu is vigorous and recovers quickly from wear, so it suits sunny family gardens with lots of foot traffic. Buffalo has a broad, soft leaf and copes better with partial shade, but it recovers more slowly from heavy wear. The comparison table on this page shows how all four varieties compare.

LM Berea and Buffalo are the usual choices for gardens with shade from trees or buildings. No lawn grows well in deep, all-day shade, so in very dark spots consider artificial grass, paving or a pebble bed instead.

Keep foot traffic light for the first two to three weeks while the roots grow into the soil. Water deeply and regularly during this time. Once the lawn has rooted (a gently lifted corner won't pull up), you can use it normally and start mowing.

Most lawn problems start with the soil. Clearing old grass and weeds, levelling, preparing and compacting the soil, and laying the rolls tightly with staggered joints help the lawn root quickly and evenly, without dips, gaps or yellow patches.