What should I do with the monkey grass?

Louise
by Louise

I dug up low-lying, spreading azaleas in front of my front door and translated them in the side yard. Their had been 3 tiers there for many years, made from landscape timbers and I'm rebuilding them since they were all rotten. I wanted to open up that area to give the front door area some "breathing" room. Once the tiers are rebuilt, I'm planting some red and green coleus (similar to the photo) there that I think will look nice with my new deep red door. My question is about the monkey grass. It's been along the steps for many years but I wonder if I should also dig it up and either give it away or plant it somewhere else. I sort of like the way it softens the area between the soil and the concrete but then I wonder if removing it would give more breathing room to the area. Opinions? Any landscape architects out there?

  5 answers
  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on May 03, 2019

    I vote to keep it. Love monkey grass.

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on May 03, 2019

    I think you should leave it, it softens concrete edge and creates a frame around Coleus plus adds some other contours to the area. Where do you live? what is your climate? Are you going to dig up Coleus to save over winter? Have you considered any other red flowers(Perennials,Bulbs,Tubers,Corms,other red Annuals besides the Coleus) for an all red garden great for Bees,Butterflies & Hummingbirds.let me know where you are for other red flowers to add in.maybe another pic. of area so I can see the whole area, monkey grass, walk door standing back some

    • See 2 previous
    • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on May 04, 2019

      In Atalanta you rarly get ground freezing( 1" under) so you may be able to continue growing the Coleus year round(of course tops will die back)Over 20 yrs. design/install landscaping/flower garden designs. here are just a few shade tolerant perennials REDS ----Heuchera(Coral Bells) attract hummers, too, but it’s the sumptuous apricot, caramel, rose, lime or plum leaves of the new varieties that steal the show in the garden;Even ferns have left good old green behind. These would be good under the edges of taller shrubs to the far side. Lady in Red cultivar, with her lacy fronds and blood-red stems, or silver and burgundy Japanese painted fern, or the autumn fern Brilliance, which starts out coppery pink in spring, turns green for summer, then colors up again for fall; Astilbe;Columbine; PURPLE--- Woodland phlox; MIXED COLORS----some unique shade/semi shade perennial flowers, hybrid Hellebores. Also known as Lenten roses, they're perfect for moist, shady areas;Tricyrtis hirta, commonly called Toad Lily, is perhaps best known for its unique flowers, ability to bloom in shade and late summer to early fall bloom time.it'll be beautiful.

  • William William on May 03, 2019

    I agree with Kelli. Keep it. It softens the concrete and is a great looking border.

  • Dee Simmons Dee Simmons on May 04, 2019

    I agree. I would keep it as it really helps to soften the edges for a better look. I would plant the coleus but you may want to look for some perennials to use in that area so you do not have to replant the area each year. I recommend going to a garden center and look around for something that catches your eye. Plant things that make you happy since you will be looking at them every day. Good luck with your project!

  • Kac33475720 Kac33475720 on May 05, 2019

    The monkey grass will help prevent erosion at the edge of the concrete in heavy rain... but you might consider rearranging it so it isn’t in a line... maybe a larger cluster with a couple of steppingstones into the space to be planted with color to allow a visual departure or opening into the colorful area from the path.

    • Louise Louise on May 05, 2019

      The smallish area next to the monkey grass is a somewhat steep hill that will be terraced with landscape timbers so stepping stones wouldn't work from a safety standpoint. I'm trying to eliminate as much monkey grass as I can due to its tendency to take over, but in this one area, I thought keeping it might work. Since everyone has said to keep it for the softening effect, I think that's what I'll do. I'm weird about my plants. Once I've had them for a long time, I feel an allegiance to keeping them, sort of like they're my family.