How to deal with a mixed variety lawn

If you have inherited or ended up with a lawn full of different varieties of lawn you have an invading grass issue. With so many different lawn varieties on the market your lawn can quite easily become invaded; seeds can be blown into your yard, grasses can invade through fences from the neighbour’s property, a left over from a previous lawn, or it can be brought in on equipment – such as a lawn mower used on a few different yards. It can be upsetting when an invading lawn variety causes your well-kept lawn to suddenly appear motley and aesthetically displeasing.

If the invasion is small you can simply pull out the invading grass variety by hand – this is often the most effective and easiest way to remove it.

Buffalo grass invading – if Buffalo grass is the variety invading an application of a broadleaf herbicide might just do the trick – it will kill the Buffalo lawn and any weeds at the same time, without damaging your lawn variety such as Zoysia or Couch.

Kikuyu grass invading – The usual culprit for invading other lawn types is the Kikuyu – it’s extremely fast growing and is easily dispersed by the wind. The biggest issue is when Kikuyu invades Buffalo as their leaves are a similar width allowing the Kikuyu to hide and grow for a long period of time before it is noticed. Often before the Kikuyu invasion is noticed and dealt with it has taken over half of the lawn. To rid your Buffalo lawn of Kikuyu, Glyphosate poisoning is required. Keep in mind that Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide meaning that it will kill any plant or lawn that it comes in contact with:

1. Stop mowing to allow the Kikuyu to grow high and over the Buffalo, making it easier to identify
2. Prepare the Glyphosate mixture in an open container that is unlikely to tip over
3. Place newspaper or similar under the container in case of accidental spills
4. Grab a pair of rubber gloves and a paintbrush up to 30mm wide
5. Wearing the gloves, separate out the Kikuyu by hand and paint the long blades with the Glyphosate mixture

Within 1 to 2 weeks the unwanted lawn should begin to die. Check for any healthy invading lawn variety and re-treat as required. You can begin to mow again within two weeks as the poison will have worked its way through the unwanted lawn. Throw the lawn clippings from the first two or three mowing into the rubbish – do not put them in the recycling bin, compost pile or any garden beds. Continue to monitor for any missed lawn variety invaders and remove them by hand so you don’t end up with another full-blown invasion requiring lawn wide treatment.

If you happen to need a whole new lawn just contact the team at Daleys Turf for more information and advice.