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Ang from New Zealand
I'm not sure you can ever be completely rid of Kikuyu Grass, but you can certainly control it. The two best non-chemical ways to control it in large areas are to smother it or to dig in physical barriers (like landscape edging) between the grass and your garden. Covering the grass with black plastic sheeting will bake it with the sun's heat and make pulling up the plant debris a breeze in the spring. You could also use thick layers of newspaper, cardboard, etc. You didn't say whether or not you grow crops during the winter, or exactly how big you "very big" vegetable garden is. If covering your entire garden with plastic or mulch isn't economically feasible, perhaps you could plant a cover crop and that would crowd out the grass.
Constructing a physical "root" barrier around all or parts of your garden may also help. For this to be effective, you need to dig the barrier in the ground so that the top slopes away from the side of the Kikuyu Grass. This will prevent the runners from diving under the barrier or climbing over the top when they start to butt up against it. If you don't want to dig in a physical barrier, you can try digging a trench 8 inches (20 cm) deep. Mound the sides of the trench up to make the barrier even taller. As the runners try to cross your "moat" they will be easy to see and whack off with a spade.
Ellen
About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
By
08/01/2006
I don't have kikuyu grass but I've had some pretty awful weeds! I just keeping digging them out - root and all. Put them in a bag and get rid of them. I now have areas of my garden where I rarely see a weed! It's taken me three years of perseverance but you can do it. And if you can find pre-emergent, sprinkle that on the ground after you weed. It keeps seeds from germinating. It won't harm your veggies, and is a very big help getting rid of your weed problem.
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