Munns Emerald Kikuyu Lawn Seed Mix (95% straight seed)

Emerald Kikuyu Lawn Seed Mix (95% straight seed) is ideal to use for lawn repair patches, over-sowing cool season grass lawns that collapse in the heat, or for new lawns where you prefer to have a higher percentage of Emerald Kikuyu lawn seed. 

Emerald Kikuyu Lawn Seed Mix (95% straight seed) is a turf type kikuyu that has a darker green colour and finer leaf texture than vegetative kikuyu and other seeded varieties. Emerald Kikuyu is more cold tolerant than other warm season grasses and retains its green colour better. 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.

Some benefits include:

• First turf-type Australian bred seeded Kikuyu grass.
• Less invasive than other varieties.
• Handles tough temperature, wear, part shade and drought conditions.
• Better winter colour retention than most warm season grasses and does not readily discolour with a single frost.
• Tolerates moderate soil salinity and salt spray.
• 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 water logging.
• 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.

What to expect

After 1 week

After 3 week

After 6 weeks

(Results may vary depending on soil temperature)

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 1cm 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 5cms.  Keep this cut to around 2.5cms.  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.

See below our recommended directions for application on new lawns and lawn repair. 

• Soil is to be evenly graded, well drained and level.
• Lightly rake the area one way to create furrows
• Mix lawn seed with Munns Superstart Lawn Starter Fertiliser, broadcast evenly over the area
• Lightly rake in the opposite direction.
• Keep the top 1cm of soil moist at all times during germination using a fine mist spray.
• Mowing your new lawn should take place at approx. 4 -5 weeks when seedlings are about 5 – 6cm high. After 5-6 weeks fertilise your new lawn with Munns Buffalo Booster, Buffalo Green or Golf Course Lawn Fertiliser.

• Cut existing lawn down hard.
• Using a steel rake disturb the soil by raking through the whole lawn.
• Mix with Superstart Lawn Starter Fertiliser and broadcast over the whole lawn. Then lightly top dress with a sandy loam no more than 1cm.
• Keep the top 1cm of soil moist at all times during germination using a fine mist spray.
• Mow when the Kikuyu is around 5 cm high, just taking off the tips. After the second cut lower the mower to 2.5cm this is important to allow the light and warmth into the Kikuyu so it will establish quicker. Keep cutting at this height.
• Fertilise every 3 months with Munns Buffalo Booster, Buffalo Green or Golf Course Green Lawn fertiliser as directed.
• The best time to sow is Spring, Summer or early Autumn with a minimum ground temperature of 23°C.