How to care for monkey grass?
Once you see new growth, you can reduce the watering frequency and care for the clumping grassy tufts as your other monkey grass plants. You can also grow monkey grass from seeds. You can harvest seeds from the flowers or when the plant’s berries turn dark purple or black. However, monkey grass plants take a long time to grow from seed.
How far apart do you plant monkey grass?
Space each tuft of monkey grass plant around 10” (25 cm) apart to allow the clumps of grass room to grow and spread. You can also plant clumps of monkey grass along sidewalks, driveways, or garden paths to create a flowering bushy border. Both types of monkey grass are ideal flowering ground cover plants.
How do you fertilize monkey grass in Florida?
University of Florida IFAS Extension suggests fertilizing monkey grass plants only twice a year with a light feeding. Use an all-purpose blend, follow label instructions for amounts, and water into the site after applying, being sure to rinse any product off the clumps of foliage to prevent burning.
When should I cut back monkey grass?
All forms of monkey grass can be easily lifted, divided and transplanted whenever needed. As with most plants, monkey grass requires good drainage for best results. The brownish foliage of monkey grass should be cut back prior to new growth, usually in late February or early March.
How do you care for monkey grass?
Once established, both of these “monkey grass” varieties require very little maintenance, as they're fairly drought tolerant, pest resistant and only needs mowing or pruning once annually. In the lawn, foliage should be mowed in the late winter prior to new growth.
Does monkey grass need sun or shade?
Some prefer full sun, while others are better suited to shade. Some clump, and others creep. All monkey grasses fall into one of two groups: the genuses Liriope or Ophiopogon. In general, all liriopes do well in filtered sun to full shade and aren't picky about soil.
Does monkey grass like wet soil?
Cultivation. Mondo grass grows well in ordinary garden soil, requiring minimum attention once established. Plants thrive in filtered sun to full shade and prefer moist soil.
Why is my monkey grass dying?
Monkey grass crown rot, like any crown rot disease, is caused by a fungus that thrives in moist and warm conditions. Normally, this problem is found in warmer, more humid states, but it can occur in cooler areas as well.
How can I make my monkey grass grow faster?
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.
How long does it take monkey grass to spread?
Standard mondo grass reaches a mature spread up to 1 foot wide within a year or two, but dwarf mondo grass needs two to three years under ideal conditions to reach its spread of 3 to 4 inches.
Does monkey grass attract snakes?
"They want to be around the edges where they can quickly dart to cover. So if you have ivy, if you have a lot of monkey grass, if you have juniper, a lot of these log growing shrubs, snakes love them! It's easy to hide in." There are other ways to avoid snakes, too, according to Clark.
Is monkey grass fast growing?
Due to its fast growth, some species of monkey grass spread quickly in gardens. The common names for species of Liriope—monkey grass and lilyturf—can be misleading. Monkey grass isn't a true type of turfgrass as it's not in the lawn grass family Poaceae.
Does monkey grass stay green all year?
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.
What kills monkey grass?
If you want to get rid of monkey grass, the only way to control it is to use a product that contains glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up. Be careful spraying Round-Up in your lawn as it is a non-selective herbicide and will kill both the Liriope and your desired grass.
Do I need to fertilize monkey grass?
Answer: Although monkey grass doesn't typically require a lot of fertilization, it is typically recommended that you fertilize it in the spring or summer, when it is at the peak of it's growing season.
Why is my monkey grass turning brown on the ends?
Liriope anthracnose causes the tips and margins of leaves to turn brown. The best way to limit this disease is to keep your plants healthy and avoid overhead watering. Liriope grows best in well-drained soil that has been supplemented with ample organic matter. It is best planted in partial shade.
Where does monkey grass grow best?
It will grow just about anywhere and will tolerate drought, heat and high humidity and it will grow in both sunny and shady areas. It grows well in zones 5 through 10, so it will not grow in areas with extreme heat or cold. It is better suited for southern landscapes, but will grow in northern climates as well.
What is the best time to plant monkey grass?
springThe best time for transplanting monkey grass is the same as for most perennials – when the plant is dormant. Typically this would be in the beginning of the spring before new growth starts. It is easily moved, though, and can be transplanted right through mid summer.
Should I cut back monkey grass?
Tips for Trimming 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.
Is monkey grass fast growing?
Due to its fast growth, some species of monkey grass spread quickly in gardens. The common names for species of Liriope—monkey grass and lilyturf—can be misleading. Monkey grass isn't a true type of turfgrass as it's not in the lawn grass family Poaceae.