You may trim monkey grass anytime it's actively growing from spring to midsummer, as it rejuvenates fully one to two months later. However, the best maintenance practice is to cut back plant clumps to 3 inches tall anytime from mid February to mid or late March, depending on latitude and climate.
When is the right time to cut back monkey grass?
When to Trim Monkey Grass: Like other types of ornamental grasses, the best time to cut back monkey grass is in late winter or early spring. That way it will stay green all winter and insulate its roots from the cold, then after trimming the monkey grass only be bare for a few weeks while new leaves grow.
When to transplant monkey grass?
When to Transplant Liriope Monkey Grass?
- Liriope Culture. Liriope is an excellent plant for novice gardeners as it can thrive almost anywhere it is planted. ...
- Dividing Liriope. Liriope forms dense clumps, spreading outward from a slightly woody crown. ...
- Timing it Right. ...
- Transplanting Liriope. ...
Does monkey grass grow in shade?
You can plant monkey grass in almost any area of your garden. Because monkey grass thrives in the shade, the most popular place to plant it is shaded areas where other ornamental grasses and turfgrass can’t grow. You can plant monkey grass under shrubs and trees or along fences that are in constant shade.
How far apart do you plant monkey grass?
Plant your grass to the height of the cell packs above the roots and plant monkey grass 6 to 8-inches apart to give the plants room to grow into each other. Monkey grass grows readily in soils with no amendments., However, you can boost growth by adding some diluted liquid plant fertilizer to your monkey grass in the early spring before the first few seasons after planting.
What is the best way to cut back monkey grass?
0:000:52Pruning Monkey Grass - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're probably going to use a line trimmer hook a weed eater or even take a lawn mower and raiseMoreYou're probably going to use a line trimmer hook a weed eater or even take a lawn mower and raise the deck. And trim over this monkey grass.
Are you supposed to cut monkey grass?
Trim: Although cutting back your monkey grass isn't a necessity, it is recommended. As the leaves on the plant begin to age, they develop brown spots on the tips that won't do much for the beauty of your yard.
What time of year do you cut back monkey grass?
It will start to grow by mid-spring. If you want to know when to cut back monkey grass, you can cut the plants back to 3 inches (8 cm.) in early spring. Pruning monkey grass helps take out the battered leaves and permits new leaves to come in and flourish.29 Jun 2021
How do you take care of monkey grass in the spring?
Plant the monkey grass in the early spring or autumn to allow the root system to take hold before hotter weather hits. Till the area about 8 to 10 inches deep, removing non-organic matter such as stones. Add about 2 to 3 inches of organic matter and a balanced fertilizer to the area and mix it into the loosened soil.18 Feb 2022
What to do after trimming back monkey grass?
After trimming back monkey grass, you can fertilize and feed the area. Be sure to include weed control as well. If you have just finished trimming back monkey grass, make sure to mulch the area with straw, bark, or compost. This way it will be ready for a new season of growing.
What is monkey grass?
Monkey grass ( Liriope spicata) is a grass that is quite common in areas that are hilly or uneven because they fill in the area quite nicely. It comes in thick and is quite easy to grow. A lot of people are not sure about what to do when pruning monkey grass or cutting monkey grass. They ask themselves, “How low should I cut back my monkey grass?
Can monkey grass grow on steep slopes?
Monkey grass can handle hot conditions better than a lot of shrubs and groundcovers can. They are especially easy to grow and maintain on steep slopes where it is hard to maintain any sort of grass.
What is monkey grass?
Monkey grass (Ophiopogon spp.), or mondo grass, is a fine-textured, low-growing ornamental grass that is a friend to lazy gardeners in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 11. Monkey grass adapts to the sun or shade and requires little more than regular water in its first season. Once established, monkey grass slowly ...
Why do you rake away cut foliage?
Raking away the cut foliage not only makes the area look neat but eliminates a harboring place for anthracnose , which the University of California Integrated Pest Management Program points out is a fungal disease that can affect new growth when springs are wet and air circulation around a plant is poor.
How tall does a lilyturf grow?
The plant grows taller as well, often reaching 2 feet , with more prominent flower spikes. The key difference, however, is the berries that follow the flowers – blue for monkey grass, black for lilyturf.
Does monkey grass have blueberries?
As an evergreen ground cover, monkey grass is a source of color through the winter where weather is mild. The blueberries that follow the small lavender flowers also often persist in spikes throughout the season. In the colder end of the plant's climate range, leaves can yellow at the tips and even die back to the roots.
Is monkey grass a perennial?
Monkey grass is often mistaken for another grassy member of the lily family, lilyturf (Liriope muscari). Also perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 to 11, lilyturf has all the same cultural habits and nearly identical physical characteristics as monkey grass, just on a larger scale.
Can you remove monkey grass?
Removing monkey grass can be difficult but not impossible. There’s really no single best way to remove monkey grass. Rather, you need to find the method of monkey grass control that works best for you and your particular circumstance. That said, here are some ideas for ridding the garden of monkey grass: Dig it up – Digging up unwanted plants is ...
Is monkey grass invasive?
It’s also the plant’s hardiness and carefree nature that can result in its invasiveness though, as the eagerly growing monkey grass begins to turn up in unwanted areas of the landscape.
What type of grass is monkey grass?
Types of Monkey Grass. There are two types of lilyturf or monkey grass plants ( Liriope ). Your choice of monkey grass for your front or backyard depends on the kind of plant you need—clumping or creeping. Liriope spicata is the creeping variety, and Liriope muscari is the clumping variety.
What is clumping monkey grass?
Clumping Monkey Grass (Liriope muscari) Clumping monkey grass (Liriope muscari) on the left and variegated type on the right (Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’) Also called big blue lilyturf, clumping monkey grass is popular for growing as a border plant or ground cover.
What is the name of the grass that spreads rapidly?
Creeping monkey grass (Liriope spicata) on the left and variegated monkey grass type on the right (Liriope spicata ‘Variegata’) Creeping monkey grass ( creeping lilyturf or Liriope spicata) is a popular ground cover plant that spreads rapidly.
How to tell the difference between Monkey and Mondo grass?
To tell the difference between monkey grass and mondo grass, examine the leaves. Monkey grass ( Liriope) has wider blades and is thicker than mondo grass ( Ophiopogon ). Comparing the two species, you’ll notice that monkey grass is more clump-forming and taller than types of mondo grasses.
What is monkey grass?
Monkey grass is a group of grass-like flowering plants in the genus Liriope and family Asparagaceae. This low, grass-like plant grows in clumps or as a creeping plant. Monkey grass has long, slender, pointed green leaves and purple or white flowers.
Why are my monkey grass leaves turning brown?
However, many brown leaf tips on your grassy plants could indicate a fungal disease problem. Over-watering is the most common cause of browning monkey grass leaves.
Why is monkey grass so popular?
One reason monkey grass is so popular is that it’s very adaptable. Monkey grass grows in full sun to complete shade, grows in various soil types, and requires little maintenance. This article is a complete guide to planting and growing monkey grass in your garden.
How to Cut Back Ornamental Grasses
Some ornamental gloves have sharp edges. You will need heavy gloves and a pruning shear. For cool-season grasses, trim about 2/3 of the plant. Tie the grass in a bundle, then prune for easy cleanup.
Ornamental Grass dividing Tips
Dividing the grass is an inexpensive way to increase the plant’s coverage without spending more money.
Guideline on How to Divide Different Sizes of Ornamental Grasses
Water the plant so that it can come out easily. Using a shovel to dig up the entire root ball and shake the root ball to remove loose soil. Use a sharp shovel to cut off the damaged roots or leaves.
