How to get rid of kikuyu lawn?

janesmith

Hi, I'm putting a deck over a part of the garden that will include a 2m x 4m patch of a Kikuyu grass lawn.

What is the best way to get rid of / cover the lawn before putting the decking over it? 

I've used weed mat in the borders in the past, but the Kikuyu grass just comes right through it! 

Need some advice on a solution that is going to stop the grass growing through the deck once it's over it.

Thanks

EricL

Hello @janesmith 

Thanks for sharing your question about your kikuyu lawn. Kikuyu grass will die if you place your deck over it because it needs sunlight to survive. Without light, it will weaken and eventually die off. However, Kikuyu is tough and can spread aggressively, so if any gaps allow light to filter through, it may try to grow back.

Before building your deck, it’s a good idea to remove as much Kikuyu as possible by digging it up or using a herbicide like Yates 2.5L Zero Ready-to-Use Triple Strike Garden Weedkiller. If you prefer a non-chemical approach, laying down a thick weed mat or black plastic before construction will help prevent regrowth. Since Kikuyu has deep, creeping roots, checking around the edges of the deck occasionally will help stop it from creeping back.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric