How to Care for Mondo Grass

Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) is a dark green grass-like plant that grows in round clumps. Although the plant is often used as a border in landscaping, it can also be used as a ground cover. In the summer, central flower stalks emerge from the center of each plant and produce purple flowers. Although mondo grass requires little care once established, regular maintenance will improve the appearance.

Lawn mower
Rake
All-purpose granular fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Wait until the late winter and set the lawn mower to the lowest mowing height. Push the mower once or twice over the mondo grass to cut the blades back almost to the ground. This removes the older blades and encourages new lush growth in the spring.
- 2
  Rake up the mowed-off blades of the mondo grass and place them in a trash bag for disposal, or place them in a compost pile to decompose.
- 3
  Spread an all-purpose, granular fertilizer over the mondo grass immediately after mowing it in the late winter. Use the amount recommended on the fertilizer package and concentrate the granules on the soil not the top of the grass clumps. Brush off any fertilizer that lands on top of the grass to prevent burning.
- 4
  Water the entire area well after applying the fertilizer to soak the granules down into the soil.
- 5
  Water the mondo grass once per week with 2 inches of water each time. Increase watering to two or three times per week during the peak of summer.

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