How to Plant and Grow Mondo Grass In Your Yard

Mondo grass is also called "dwarf lilyturf"(Ophiopogon japonicus). It is an herbaceous perennial that is grass-like but isn't an actual grass, being a member of the lily family. Because it can spread, it is used as a ground cover. The plant grows in clumps and has an arching form (8 to 12 inches tall and wide at maturity). The leaves are narrow and dark green. It does produce flowers and attractive blue berries, but since the leaves often hide these, they are not of great value.

Mondo grass is most valued:

• As a low-maintenance landscaping plant that is drought-tolerant and requires no pruning
• Because it grows quickly in various conditions, including in shade
• For being generally pest-resistant

Plant clumps of mondo grass in early spring. It grows best in fertile, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soil. It can be used in several different ways in the landscape, including:

• As an edging plant
• Around a water feature
• As a no-mow alternative to grass in a lawn
• For plantings under trees (due to their shade tolerance)

Mondo Grass Care

Mondo grass is spread by rhizomes, but it spreads slowly. Mondo grass also doesn't need pruning, making it a low-maintenance plant.

Planting

Plant it in early spring. This gives the plant time to get established before the weather gets hot. Locate mondo grass in a shaded area. Before planting, add soil amendments to the ground to improve fertility and drainage. You will buy mondo grass plants as clumps. Divide each clump into smaller clumps, making sure each has several blades. Install these smaller clumps 4 to 12 inches apart. Water well to help the plants become established.

Light

At the southern end of its range, plant mondo grass in full shade. At the northern end of its range, grow it in partial shade.

Soil

Mondo grass likes a soil pH that is slightly acidic so a humusy soil is ideal.

Water

Keep the ground evenly moist while the plant is still establishing. Once established, it is reasonably drought-tolerant.

Temperature and Humidity

Mondo grass is well-suited to the heat and humidity of the Southeast, where it is evergreen and a favorite landscaping plant. But it isn't reliably cold-hardy throughout zone 6, so it is uncommon in Northern landscapes.

Fertilizer

Fertilize mondo grass annually in spring by working compost into its soil.

Types of Mondo Grass

There are several types to choose from in addition to Ophiopogon japonicus, distinguished by size, color, and how well-behaved they are in the landscape:

• Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'): pink flowers to contrast with its black leaves; 9 to 12 inches tall and wide; can take more sun than Ophiopogon japonicus
• Dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana'):great as a no-mow grass substitute; only 3 to 6 inches tall and wide; partial sun to full sun
• Variegated mondo grass (Ophiopogon jaburan 'Vittatus'):leaves yellow and green; 12 to 24 inches tall and wide; not fussy about sun or shade
  

Pruning

Mondo grass does not need to be pruned. This is what makes it such a great grass alternative in lawns: You don't have to mow it. Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana' is ideal for this purpose, since it stays shorter and it even holds up to light foot traffic.

Propagating Mondo Grass

Dividing mondo grass is the easiest way to propagate it. Early spring is the best time for the job. Here's how:

• Dig out a clump of mondo grass with a spade.
• With a sharp knife, divide the clump into smaller clumps. Make sure each smaller clump has at least eight to 10 blades and a lot of roots and rhizomes.
• Prepare the planting spot by adding compost for nutrients and drainage and bone meal for root growth.
• Plant the smaller clumps 4 to 12 inches apart, situating the crown below ground level.
• Keep the soil evenly moist to help them get established.

How to Grow Mondo Grass From Seed

While you can propagate mondo grass from seed, it's more problematic than doing so via division:

• Germination isn't reliable.
• If the seed is from a hybrid plant, it's problematic even if you are successful with germination. Seeds harvested from a hybrid you've grown may not come true to type. If you want to grow a hybrid, purchasing the seeds from a seed company or, better yet, buying clumps is better.

But if you have your heart set on growing mondo grass from seed, here's how to do it:

1. If you want to harvest seeds from your plants, observe the berries in the fall. They're mature when they're no longer green.
2. Harvest the mature berries, bring them inside, open them up, and extract the seeds.
3. Soak the seeds in room-temperature water for a couple of days. At the end of the first day, change the water.
4. Locate a container that can serve as a seeding tray. If drainage holes aren't already in the bottom, punch holes in it. Fill it with a seed-starting medium.
5. Poke holes into the seed-starting medium, 1 inch deep.
6. Place a seed into each hole and cover it with the seed-starting medium. Place the tray in a window that receives direct sunlight.
7. Keep the medium moist by misting it until the seed sprouts.
8. After sprouting, continue watering to keep the medium moist.
9. Transplant outdoors next spring after all danger of frost has passed.

Potting and Re-Potting Mondo Grass

Mondo grass is easy to grow in containers. But there are a few things you do have to get right to have optimal success in growing potted mondo grass. Mondo grass is shallow-rooted and needs good drainage, so:

1. Don't plant it in a deep pot. A deep container will hold excess water, possibly inviting fungal problems.
2. Make sure the container has drainage holes in the bottom.
3. Fill the pot with a good potting mix.
4. Dig a hole and situate the plant so its crown rests below soil level. Backfill.
5. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soaked.
6. Fertilize in spring and again around the middle of the summer with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer.

Mondo grass does grow slowly, so you might not need to repot it. If you do need to re-pot mondo grass, follow the same steps. Don't use the same potting mix: disinfect the container and refill it with a new potting mix.

Overwintering

You don't need to take any steps to overwinter mondo grass in zones 7 to 10. But mondo grass isn't reliably cold-hardy throughout zone 6, so if you try to grow it there, it should be sited in a sheltered location.

What is a "sheltered" location? It is an area protected from the elements (wind, cold, etc.) that stays warmer than other yard areas. You can quickly tell where such "micro-climates" exist in your yard because you will feel warmer there on a cold winter's day. It could be up against a south-facing wall, behind a fence, or under a large evergreen tree.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

The main pests that bother mondo grass are slugs and snails. In terms of plant diseases, the ones to worry about the most are fungus-related. All three issues (slugs, snails, and fungus) are made worse by wet conditions.

Slugs and Snails

Signs that your plant is under attack from slugs and snails are wilting leaves and holes chewed into the foliage. After a rain, check your plant for snails and slugs; if you find any, pick them off and either drown them in soapy water or crush them between two flat stones. There are also pellets you can buy to spread around plants for slug and snail control. The pests are attracted to these pellets, ingest them, and eventually die.

Root Rot

One fungus-related disease that attacks mondo grass isroot rot. Yellowing leaves are one sign of it. Prevention is better than treatment. Two effective ways to prevent it are providing good drainage and avoiding overwatering your yard.

Common Problems With Mondo Grass

Mondo grass is a low-maintenance ground cover. Its problems can be summed up as follows:

• Unreliable cold hardiness in Zone 6
• Slug and snail pests eating its leaves
• Fungal diseases caused by poor drainage and/or overwatering

• Does mondo grass spread?

  Mondo grass does spread, but not aggressively, making it an ideal ground cover.

• Can you walk on mondo grass?

  Even this plant will not hold up to heavy foot traffic. If you're going to be walking on the area, grow dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana').

• What happens to mondo grass in winter?

  In zones 7 to 10, it stays evergreen. While mondo grass can survive winter (at root level) in some parts of zone 6, its foliage may die back.

From: thespruce