Kikuyu previously mown, from about 4 m wide through the arena, to about 1 metre wide through the Apron, to about 5m wide through the Annexe (where it was not the sole grass species, being accompanied by paspalum spp and others)

In June 2018 mowing in Gahnia Grove ceased, and this area was managed by pullback from both uphill (from a border created of piled drying vine and shrub weeds) and from down the bank, drawing long unrooted material, mixed with honeysuckle vine both rooted and unrooted, up into a pile along the bank edge to rot.

The process was complicated by the presence of both rooted and entangled unrooted honeysuckle, and blackberry, throughout the Arena bank. The vine and grass were separated as it became possible, as the vine, once its own foliage had rotted away, was not sufficiently dense to assist rotting of the kikuyu, instead allowing the kikuyu to dry out.

The pullback pile was recreated progressively to further drawback the live kikuyu edge.

The bank had to be cleared of mulch at times to allow control of remaining rooted honeysuckle, and of the Calystegia (sepium x silvatica, ie large) that emerged in Spring. Some kikuyu rhizomes were thus not able to be covered by rotting material, and persisted on the bank, where they are being managed similarly as they emerge.

At time of writing, there is live growing kikuyu foliage up to a metre width through the Arena, with live rhizomes both above (being suppressed by a loose mulch of drying honeysuckle vine) and below in the clay bank, especially in places composed of what appears to be potting soil, paving metal and refuse, presumably from past dumpings. This loose material may provide has provided, or be providing, easier progress of kikuyu rhizomes from the clone patch which is maintained by mowing along the outer planting edge. less ↑