You Bet Your Garden

October 29, 2011 — Is it an acceptable lawn alternative? An interesting ornamental? Or both? Mike McGrath takes a close look at mondo grass. Plus your fabulous phone calls.

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I’ve seen beautiful tufts of Mondo Grass growing among flowers, shrubs and trees in shopping center planters and have admired the pretty purple flowers that bloom amidst the dark green blades. But the little purple flowers on the Mondo grass I have at home are puny; I have to really hunt to find them. And even though I cut my grass short every Spring, the lush green leaves are encroaching on my other plants by summer. I’m also finding more and more OTHER grasses growing among the Mondo, and it’s getting harder to keep the unwanted plants at bay. How do I properly grow this beautiful ornamental grass? Get the answer »