Andrew Mangwarara
FOR any greening effort to come to life, selecting a good lawn or turf to beautify the landscape is essential, and the onset of summer provides the ideal time to start.
To establish a thriving lawn in Zimbabwe’s climate, soil preparation is the crucial first step.
Dig the soil to a minimum depth of 20 centimetres, remove large stones and work the ground into a fine tilth that can easily anchor grass roots.
Before planting, incorporate well-sterilised manure to enrich the soil while eliminating weeds, pests and soil-borne diseases.
Zimbabwe offers a diverse range of lawn options tailored to different garden environments.
Durban grass (dactyloctenium australe), originally from South Africa, is an exceptionally versatile and soft option.
It stands out as the best shade-tolerant grass available while remaining durable in full sun.
It responds remarkably well to watering and fertilising, producing a vibrant green surface that grows slowly and is easy to mow.
Kikuyu grass (pennisetum clandestinum) is another popular full-sun choice, known for its robustness. However, because it grows rapidly – especially during the rainy season – it demands frequent mowing, as even brief neglect can cause it to become unmanageable.
Bahia grass (paspalum notatum) is less common in residential gardens due to its slow growth, but it is highly valued for erosion control and soil stabilisation.
It forms a persistent, low-maintenance turf that tolerates drought well and resists pests and diseases better than many other warm-season grasses.
Buffalo grass (bouteloua dactyloides), a warm-season turf native to North America, offers a handsome, uniquely textured alternative.
It is ideal for low-maintenance settings because it grows slowly, handles drought effortlessly and can tolerate partial shade.
Finally, couch grasses (cynodon dactylon) are widely celebrated for their extreme drought resistance and fine, smooth finish, which makes them the primary choice for golf courses.
Varieties such as cape royal, maadi river, magennis, sauermanns, Australian evergreen, tifdwarf and tiflawn thrive in full sun and form dense, beautiful lawns through their small stolons, though they require frequent mowing during peak growth and perform poorly in the shade.
Selecting the right grass for your specific light and maintenance preferences will ensure a thriving landscape that becomes the envy of the neighbourhood.
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