Mondo locoweed , or monkey grass , is an easy - to - grow land cover song . If you have chosen mondo green goddess for your landscape , you are probably inquire how to care for it . For your restroom , we did the inquiry to determine whether you need to cut back or mow mondo grass .
Mondo grass does not involve mowing or cut back to maintain its wellness . However , you may cut back your mondo grass annually to promote young increase in the spring .
Now you know you’re able to cut back mondo grass , but how on the button should you do it ? Keep reading as we lie down out the item you need to cut back your mondo smoke as well as additional tips and tricks to maintaining this plant .
How To Cut Mondo Grass
Despite the name , mondo grass is actually not grass at all . Mondo pasturage ( Ophiopogon japonicus ) , is a member of the lily class . It is commonly used as a turf alternative , as it has locoweed - like leaf that spread over the landscape painting palisade it .
Mondo locoweed typically does not require pruning . However , you’re able to cut back your grass annually to promote new growing . Annual pruning should be done in late winter before the new outgrowth time of year in spring .
To trim this plant , assemble clumps of mondo locoweed , avoiding the tips of any new emerging foliage . Using lopping or pruning shears , you could swerve the forage about four to six inch from the pedestal of the plant life .
you may regain pruning shear here on Amazon .
After pruning , ensure you take out all cuttings from around the plant . remove cuttings will help preclude pull rodents or pests . Additionally , get out cuttings around the plant pass the risk of muffle novel maturation .
Can You Use A Lawn Mower To Cut Back Mondo Grass?
you could use a lawn mower to cut back mondo grass . However , this should be done using caution . You need to avoid scalp your industrial plant , or cutting it too short , as this will damage young shoots .
If you project to use your lawn mower , plant the gimmick to the highest . Push your mower over the plants , still leaving about three inches of the foliage in place . practice a rake to brush out any clippings left behind .
Mondo grass is not as inflexible as turfgrass , which is why it is important to take caution when cutting back your industrial plant . to boot , due to its delicate nature , you should forfend planting mondo grass in areas of high foot traffic .
How Do You Maintain Mondo Grass?
Mondo supergrass is easy to care for and is a great alternative for low - sustainment garden . There are a couple of care must - know for your mondo skunk to promote optimal growing and health .
This plant is a light eater but can gain from a little fertilization . In the spring , when your plant start out to grow new shoot , you may add organic plant food or shrub - specific fertilizer to your plant .
Amazon offers a dumb - release shrub and tree fertilizer here .
right watering is another important aspect when caring for mondo grass . Once ground , this works is drouth large-minded . However , during the first growth season , this industrial plant opt consistently moist soil .
You want to maintain moist soil without exit your plant in standing water or in a doughy environs . Too much water execute the risk of root molder and inviting other pest that can regard your mondo grass .
Just like other flora and grasses , mondo grass prefers a specific filth pH to thrive . For this works , you need your soil to be slenderly acidic , falling in the range of 5.0 - 6.5 . Soil pH should be ascertain on a regular basis and can be done with a pH investigation .
See this dirt meter for pH and moisture here on Amazon .
The last fear tip we will spill the beans about is how much sun your mondo grass should be start out . This plant can subsist in condition of full shade to fun sun . However , the most ideal precondition for mondo grass is an orbit where it catch plenty of filtered sunshine .
If you dwell in a hotter zone , more shade is good . Certain specie of mondo grass have lighter - colorize leaves ; these plants like a little more sunshine than shade .
Read more : How Far Apart To Plant Mondo Grass
Does Mondo Grass Tolerate Frost?
Once established , mondo grass can brook rime and the coldness up to a sure extent . Mondo grass originate best in USDA Zones 7 - 10 and is cold-blooded stalwart in up to -10 degree atmospheric condition . cold environments do execute the risk of kill this plant .
If growing in proper zona , the leave of mondo grass can in reality stay green throughout the winter . There is no care needed for overwintering this plant . However , if you have mondo grass in spate , you’re able to move them indoors during the worst of the frigidity .
For new plants , you require to assure they are getting plant after any terror of frost . New plant will not come through a frost and are best planted former spring through late tumble . The plant just ask enough time to instal radical before the winter .
Will Mondo Grass Spread?
Mondo grass will spread . Once established , this plant grows underground stem that eventually create dumb colonies of mondo sess . Since this plant is slow growing , you may not notice spreading until a year after planting .
The exact timing of when mondo grass will spread depends on environmental condition and the species of works you are growing .
The fashion mondo locoweed spread head will make it an idealistic selection for lining walkways or way in your garden . to boot , this plant can be used to define garden beds .
Do you want to discontinue your mondo grass from spreading ? apply a spadeful to turn over around your plant , remove the horizontal roots . Once removed , till the soil around the plant , and cover it with plastic or report to stop any raw increment .
Read more : Does Mondo Grass Spread [ Is It Invasive ? ]
Why Is My Mondo Grass Turning Brown?
Mondo grass typically stick around green all twelvemonth long . If you notice a alteration in your leaves ' color , it is a good estimation to investigate . brown or yellowing leaf bespeak your mondo Mary Jane may be experiencing an publication .
In good health , mondo grass is resilient to pests and disease . However , if your plant life is beat too much water , this can set off affecting your theme , eventually precede to root rot .
If your plant is suffering from rotting roots , you will notice this color variety . Additionally , the wind of the leaves may seem wilt and burn . To control for etymon rot , hear to take out on the leave-taking . If the leaves split easily from the plant life , your mondo grass most likely has stem rot .
To treat root rot in mondo grass , you will demand to use a fungicide . You must apply the antifungal agent on a dry day when no rain is expected for at least 12 time of day .
you’re able to find this fungicide here on Amazon .
After you treat with your fungicide , add a layer of compost around your plants . This layer should be about an in thick and can be worked around the brand of your mondo grass using your fingers .
The microorganism in the compost service to further combat root rot . You must allow your soil to dry out about an inch deep before irrigate again . When you irrigate , moisture should achieve about six inch deep , but the stain should never be sluggish .
Are There Different Types Of Mondo Grass?
There are many type of mondo grass species and cultivated dwarf specie too . The three most commonly learn species includeOphiopogon japonicus , Ophiopogon planiscapus , andOphiopogon jaburan .
colour of mondo grass diverge from black to green . As we note , mondo grass is actually a member of the lily sept . This becomes more apparent as the grass begins to flower modest lilac - discolour flowers .
From these efflorescence , small blue - colored berry will form . The care necessitate for mondo grass is the same across the unlike species , alter slightly when it comes to their sun requirement .
How you choose which specie is honest for your landscape just depends on personal penchant when it number to aesthetics .
In Closing
Mondo grass can be cut back , but it is not also necessary for this low - sustenance ground cover . We hope there are a few tips and antic you may take forth from this article when it hail to caring for your mondo grass .
Are you looking for more works to add to your landscape ? Take a look at this post:15 Low - develop Border Plants You Should count