Re: Kikuyu grass

Personally I like this grass as a subtropical, warm
season lawn for tough situations.  It is pretty common
here in Berkeley, and is much more drought tolerant on
zero irrigation than common Bermuda grass, remaining
green in our mild coastal climate all summer long.  In
my experience, with proper mowband of concrete or
brick edging, it is not overly invasive, and I can't
say I have ever seen it set seed in either mowed or
unmowed conditions here locally, nor is it overly
invasive under low water conditions.  It is a coarse
textured grass that will never look as green or soft
as tall fescue, but it certainly has more moxie in
surviving neglect and still looking good with
absolutely no water.  I would suspect that it will
need water periodically in southern California to
remain green, as you typically receive so much less
rain, and also hotter and drier conditions almost year
round.  It would be a concern if planted next to a
wild area or right along the ocean/wetlands, but I
think it might be entirely appropriate as a very low
water use, low care lawn around a Frank Lloyd Wright
designed house.

This grass is also very popular as pasture, home lawn
and golf course turf in South Africa, for many of the
same reasons that it is useful where water is
difficult or expensive to provide here...

--- N Sterman <TalkingPoints@plantsoup.com> wrote:

> I did some research after I sent that message this
> morning.  From  
> what i read, Kikuyu is widely considered as pest
> plant.  Here are  
> some additional sources:
> 
> Jepson Manual,
>
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?
> 
> 8738,9175,9176
> 
> 
> California Department of Food and Ag:
> http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ 
> ipc/weedinfo/pennisetum.htm
> 
> It has naturalized in a lagoon here in San Diego
> County: http:// 
> waynesword.palomar.edu/sanelij1.htm#P
> 
> According to the UCIPM, this grass spreads both by
> seed and by stem  
> parts, so if the gardeners mow the lawn at Barnsdall
> and then go to  
> another area of the park, they'll carry it on their
> mower blades and  
> on the soles of their shoes, as will other visitors.
> 
> This has clearly been the issue in Vista, California
> (a city in San  
> Diego County) as documented at
> http://www.highbeam.com/library/ 
> docFree.asp?DOCID=1G1:94765495
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Sep 20, 2006, at 9:15 PM, david bain wrote:
> 
> > Hi All,
> >
> > Here is a link to the UC Davis abstract:
> >
> http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7458.html
> >
> > Also-from the USDA:
> > http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PECL2
> >
> >> From the site:
> >
> > Noxious Weed Information:
> > Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov.
> >
> > California:
> > kikuyugrass                      C list (noxious
> weeds)
> > kikuyugrass                      Quarantine
> >
> > Seems like an odd choice to plant here in L.A.
> >
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> >
> > David
> >
> 
>
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