Asked on Jan 23, 2012
Planting mondo grass
by Melissa G
+31
I would like to plant mondo grass in a very large section of our front lawn as a way to shape the grass and create a nice landscape. Would buying such a large amount of mondo grass be expensive? Would I have to plant the mondo grass very close together in order to achieve a lawn-type look, or could I plant them separately, maybe six inches or so apart, and let them "grow in"? The effect I would like is similar to this picture.
23 answers
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You'll go broke trying to plant it close together. I hired a high school kid to separate a big clump and plant individual plant 6" apart. That was last summer and they have just started to expand a bit. Might take 3 years to get good coverage at this rate.....but in shade, it's worth it.
![Walter Reeves]()
Walter Reeves
on Jan 23, 2012
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Thank you, Walter. Perhaps I'll start small. How would I get a big clump to separate -- can I buy it somewhere?
![Melissa G]()
Melissa G
on Jan 23, 2012
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Walter is right on as always.... just feed well and routinely and they will eventually grow in and be a great lawn replacement. You may want to consider some variegated clusters of other plants just to make it more interesting and appealing.
![Garden Rebel / Sims Landscaping, Co.]()
Garden Rebel / Sims Landscaping, Co.
on Jan 24, 2012
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Patience is definitely required with mondo grass. At least around me, it's commonly sold in 1-gallon pots, but I was at one nursery recently that sold flats in about 2 inch squares at a reasonable price.
![Douglas Hunt]()
Douglas Hunt
on Jan 24, 2012
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Mondo is sold in 1-inch plugs in some nurseries and a flat of it is a little bit more than the gallon pot price. However, it is not that difficult to pull the sprigs out of a gallon pot and sprig it on 6-inch centers. To cover a large area you can always start in a section of the area you want to cover and mulch the rest of the space. Then as money, and your back, allow you can enlarge the bed.
![Mike and Anne]()
Mike and Anne
on Jan 24, 2012
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I sell 2" plugs (72 per tray) here. Call me for price and avail. :)
![360 Sod (Donna Dixson)]()
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Jan 24, 2012
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Thank you, everyone. I'm inspired to start this now!
![Melissa G]()
Melissa G
on Jan 24, 2012
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I just pulled out about a trash can full for a client. I gave them away to some neighbors. Mondo grass looks great to define an edge or border, and as a lawn replacement. The dwarf mondo also makes a great stand in for a lawn, but probably will cost more.
![Flowerscapes Garden Design & Landscaping]()
Flowerscapes Garden Design & Landscaping
on Jan 24, 2012
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Mondo is hearty and looks great planted as you intend. Would you believe I've actually just taken an broad pick-axe or shovel and split out plugs to expand the band. I think what stays actually likes it so it can continue to expand to close up the spaces left.
![Ricardo B]()
Ricardo B
on Jan 24, 2012
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I have tons of mondo, and you are welcome to come and dig up all you like. I live in lawrenceville - this is the 3rd house I have brought it to - each time I moved, I dug up some, placed it in a black plastic bag, w/ a little moisture and it kept great until I got around to planting at my new house.
![Robin F]()
Robin F
on Jan 26, 2012
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it is expensive but each purchased plant can be immediately divided into 3-4 plants ---taught to me by a landscape architect from univ fl--I was using them in between pavers for a soft patio look in FL
![Ann W]()
Ann W
on Mar 13, 2012
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I planted my entire yard in dwarf mondo. I planted about 3 inches apart to reduce clumping. I had to weed by hand the first 2 years but after 4 years it is VERY dense. I suggest looking at several nursery's and counting the number of plants in each container. This is important because in a 2 inch pot I found the count to vary from nursery to nursery from about 10 sprigs to 35 sprigs. When separating, this becomes important. My yard is green year around and I never mow, hardly water and very seldom find any weeds. Another thing, I killed all of the grass several months before planting mondo and I tilled the yard throughly then planted each sprig by hand about 3 inches apart by hand pushing the dirt against the roots. Lots of work but I am very glad that I did it. I have almost no maintenance on it now...
![RArt]()
RArt
on Dec 30, 2013
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Will it thrive in full sun?
![Karen B]()
Karen B
on Dec 30, 2013
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I want to use dwarf mondo to outline paths of a labyrinth in an established back yard. Do I need to keep them spaced away from the grass to get them to multiply?
![Sue-a]()
Sue-a
on Mar 31, 2014
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I live in Northern California, the East Bay and it can get pretty hot. I have a small back garden and am thinking Mondo over sod,,,,is this a good choice?? And where should I buy it to get the most for the least amount of $$$$
![Clare Olson]()
Clare Olson
on Sep 04, 2014
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We don't intend to walk on it actually....and I'm not even worried about it filling in. I like the look of the tufts with mulch around it. Is it less water than sod?? and what is the cheapest way for me to buy it?? Thank you!!
![Clare Olson]()
Clare Olson
on Sep 05, 2014
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could this grow in Ontario, Canada?
![Tom Mitchener]()
Tom Mitchener
on Sep 05, 2014
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Mondo grass down south takes over fast. I just pulled out a whole bed and it's still coming up. I guess I don't understand why anyone would want the stuff. It was in a contained bed with big rocks and it went in between the rocks and out in the gravel driveway. Besides it's a great place for snakes and spiders to hide.
![Helen]()
Helen
on Sep 07, 2014
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We put in a pool last year and killed all of the grass we had ( which wasn't much). Have a lot of shade and a lot of traffic through my yard because of kids and pets. Would love to plant mondo to eliminate the desert look, and all of the dust from the dirt. Just don't know where to start, can mondo even be purchased and planted during the fall season? Pretty new to this
![Cubasian Invasion]()
Cubasian Invasion
on Oct 14, 2014
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I am in Philadelphia area. I just picked some Mondo grass seeds from my friends yard yesterday. Any one know what should I do with them? Plant it right now? I have temperature at 30 here. Or save it for next spring? But I hear Mondo grass can not store for long. Maybe plant it indoor, such as basement?
![Hong]()
Hong
on Dec 22, 2014
- See 2 previous
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Please advise me on using mondo grass (mini or regular) as a lawn alternative for my mole invaded neighborhood. Treating the mole crickets in my yard will work for a couple of years, but the moles just move to neighboring yards. Then they return and wipe out the lawn every three years or so. Thanks so much! Pat in Charleston SC
![Pat Nicholson]()
Pat Nicholson
on Jan 24, 2015
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We just moved into a new house in Atlanta. The grass that is in the garden behind the house is a lot like Mondo, but I'm not sure. There are some parts that are not grass that had a dog track and would like to fill them with the same type of grass. It's evergreen dark all year round and strong. I let them been growing to see if flowers for seeds. So far there is no sign of flowering. Could I send you some images?
![Jenny Troitzsch]()
Jenny Troitzsch
on Apr 03, 2015
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It is a Fescue Grass... I don't know yet what type.
![Jenny Troitzsch]()
Jenny Troitzsch
on Apr 03, 2015
Walter Reeves
on Jan 23, 2012
Melissa G
on Jan 23, 2012
Garden Rebel / Sims Landscaping, Co.
on Jan 24, 2012
Douglas Hunt
on Jan 24, 2012
Mike and Anne
on Jan 24, 2012
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Jan 24, 2012
Flowerscapes Garden Design & Landscaping
on Jan 24, 2012
Ricardo B
on Jan 24, 2012
Robin F
on Jan 26, 2012
Ann W
on Mar 13, 2012
RArt
on Dec 30, 2013
Karen B
on Dec 30, 2013
Sue-a
on Mar 31, 2014
Clare Olson
on Sep 04, 2014
Tom Mitchener
on Sep 05, 2014
Helen
on Sep 07, 2014
Cubasian Invasion
on Oct 14, 2014
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