IBC 1000 L accessories 
Heating jackets 
Fittings 
Drums, jerrycans & fittings 
Seeds 
Plant protection & biocides 
Garden 
Green spaces & municipal 
Barbecue, fire pit & fireplace 
Cleaning & care 
Refrigerants & air conditioning 
Watering 
Kikuyu: a solution for drought-resistant turf
After several summers marked by drought and water restrictions, many lawns never fully recover. Kikuyu then comes up in conversation, presented as the grass that survives anything. That is partly true, and it is precisely that part you need to understand: what it really withstands, what it cannot take, and in which regions it delivers on its promise.
Why an ordinary lawn no longer lasts the summer
A traditional ornamental lawn relies mainly on perennial ryegrass and meadow grass: species with shallow roots that draw water from the top few centimetres of soil. Once that reserve runs out, the plant burns. Without watering, it does not always come back.
Drought-tolerant grasses work differently: either deep roots, or spread by rhizomes and stolons that let the mat rebuild itself from protected underground organs. Kikuyu belongs to this second family, and that is what explains its reputation.
What kikuyu takes, and what it cannot
Kikuyu, Pennisetum clandestinum, comes from the highlands of East Africa. It is built for heat and water shortage. It has, however, no tolerance for cold: that is its limit, and it is a strict one.
Be wary of the very precise cold thresholds found online: they vary with the variety, the age of the lawn and how wet the soil is when the frost arrives. Hold on to the principle instead: kikuyu is a grass for mild regions. Winter yellowing is normal and reversible; frost settled in for several days is a genuine risk.
Yellow is not dead: understanding dormancy
This is the most common misunderstanding. A kikuyu lawn turning yellow in a dry summer or a cool winter is not dying: it is going dormant. It stops growing, sacrifices its foliage and keeps its reserves in its rhizomes. With the first rain, or the return of warmth, it greens up again.
In practice, that means a dormant kikuyu lawn asks for nothing. No rescue watering, no fertiliser, no mowing. It is exactly what you want from a lawn during a water restriction. In exchange, you have to accept a lawn that is not green twelve months a year.
If permanent green is your main criterion, kikuyu is not the right choice, even in the south. Look instead at a fescue-based mixture such as BHS Rustic SUD grass, formulated for the Mediterranean climate: it needs a little water, but holds its colour far longer.
Is your region suitable?
This is the question to settle before buying anything. The criterion is neither summer heat nor soil type, but how harsh your winter is.
| Situation | Kikuyu? | What we advise |
|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean coast, Corsica | Yes | Its natural home, where it performs at its best |
| South-west France, southern Atlantic coast | Yes | Well suited, winters are generally mild enough |
| Rhone valley, inland south-east | With caution | Possible, but watch for valley frosts |
| Central France, Loire valley | Risky | A hardy fescue-based mixture will be safer |
| North of the Loire, eastern France, mountains | No | Winter will get the better of it, even well established |
A simple test: if palms, olive trees or oleanders survive your winter outdoors unprotected, kikuyu will too. Otherwise, consider the alternatives.
Alternatives according to your climate
Kikuyu has no monopoly on drought resistance. Depending on your region and constraints, other solutions may suit you better.
In practice: BHS Rustic SUD to create a lawn in a warm region, BHS Overseeding GRE5 to repair summer damage without turning the soil (it germinates in 5 to 8 days), and for tropical species cynodon dactylon or dichondra repens. Our comparison of tropical grasses sets out their respective strengths and limits.
Switching from an ordinary lawn to kikuyu
Replacing an existing lawn with kikuyu takes a little method: you cannot sow kikuyu over a lawn already in place, it would not establish.
The full sowing method, with detailed timing and the mistakes to avoid, is covered in our dedicated article: how and when to sow kikuyu grass.
Maintenance in a dry region
Once established, kikuyu asks less of you than any ordinary lawn - provided you drop two habits: the close cut and frequent watering.
| Season | Watering | Mowing |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Depends on rainfall, rarely needed | Every two to three weeks, at 8 cm minimum |
| Dry summer | One generous watering a week, or none if you accept yellowing | Once a month is enough |
| Autumn | None | A final cut before the cold, not close |
| Winter | None | None: let the foliage protect the soil |
Watering rarely but deeply beats watering often and shallowly: it drives rooting downwards, where moisture persists. On poor or sandy soil, a spring fertiliser application supports regrowth - our guide to lawn fertilisers sets out the formulations and rates.
Frequently asked questions
Can kikuyu really go without watering? At maturity, yes, in most southern regions. It gets through summer dormant and greens up with the rain. But in the weeks following sowing, watering remains essential.
What happens after an unusually cold winter? The foliage burns and regrowth is later. If the rhizomes have frozen, some patches will not return: spring overseeding is usually enough to fill them.
Is kikuyu more resistant than cynodon? The two are comparable against drought. Kikuyu is more vigorous and more invasive, cynodon takes a closer cut. The choice depends mainly on how the ground is used.
Should I water it during a hosepipe ban? No, and that is precisely the point. An established kikuyu lawn withstands a complete watering ban: it yellows with no lasting harm.
How long before it is genuinely resistant? Allow one full season to establish, and two years to reach full resilience. The first summer after sowing is still one to watch.
In short
Kikuyu is one of the best answers to drought for a garden in a mild region. It gets through summer without watering, takes foot traffic and repairs itself. Its only real limit is cold: north of the Loire or at altitude, choose a hardy fescue-based mixture instead.
Our kikuyu seeds are available in a 300 g box for 25 sqm and a 1.2 kg pack for 100 sqm. The full range, including mixtures for cooler regions, is in the turf seeds category.
Share this content
