Kikuyu and its aggressive rhizomes

An invasive grass appears…

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Kikuyu invasion of weatherboards

Bill the Builder: Reason your shed is falling down is because it is has been invaded by kikuyu. See, it’s sent rootstalks right up the beam to the roof.

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Manny Pitt: What do you suggest?

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Bill: Tear out the shoots and spray at the foundation.

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Manny: Will that stop it? It’s in the lawn too.

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Bill: Not good news I’m afraid. Not only does it crawl up inside buildings, it throttles other plants. Even carries a poison, kills off some other species.
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Manny: We’re all going to die.

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Bill: Not unless you munch as much as a cow or sheep. Oxalates and nitrates in kikuyu damage the stomachs of ruminants.
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Voice-over
Pennisetum clandestinum originates in Kenya and has become a noxious weed in some places. Pulling it up will still leave rhizomes in the soil from which it will grow again. It can only be managed, yet some people see good in it. It’s cheap and makes a good lawn. Some golf courses even use it.

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