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Dividing Mondo Grass in the desert.

14 years ago

I have had a clump each of Dwarf Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicum 'Nana') and Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') for several years. They're getting ragged and trying to grow on "stilts", and I want to divide and rejuvenate them, if I can. Is it better to do that in the fall here, or in the spring? I normally only get about 6 days of frost each winter, but I've been told that members of the lily turf group only grow roots in spring. Any info welcome!

Thanks,

Kevin : )

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Comments (5)

Donna
14 years ago
My zone is not as warm as yours, but old cheapskates (me) has been working on edging a 85 foot border for three years now. I started with six quart pots. Definitely the ones divided in the spring do better than the ones in the fall, of which a number perished, as opposed to no deaths in the spring divisions. I was using aztec grass (white variegated), but I should think the rule would hold true for all varieties.
tugbrethil
Original Author
14 years ago
Turns out Aztec Grass is a Liriope, but you're probably right, donnabaskets. I'll just have to wait 'til February.

Thak you!
Kevin : ])
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Thanks, Creatrix. I had sorta forgot that I could keep re-dividing once they are growing in the plot, especially if some clumps are doing better than others. That makes a lot of sense. What do you think of the spacing for this particular plant's growth habit?
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GM, For any member of this forum, there is an option when they set up their "My Page" that allows them to receive e-mails blindly through the GW system or directly to the email address they link. So, when someone set up their "my page", if they put up a link, you can click on their "my page" right after their name and that takes you to their page through which you can e-mail them. If they didn't set up an e-mail on their "my page", you can't. For example, I am set up to receive e-mails, so you could click on "my page" and e-mail me. A lot of people, though, do not set up an e-mail on their "my page" and you cannot contact them privately unless they post their address here (or you post yours here for them) or unless they go back and change their data on their "my page". One problem, though, is that sometimes e-mails sent through GW get lost and never arrive. Dawn
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Good luck!I've had some for 3 years and it has not grown enough to divide and I have not gotten and seed from it.I did move it after the first season to area which was part shade.It did not like the full sun I found out.And if you goggle it you will find it is not a true mondo grass.If you are ever in the Tulsa area "Sanders Nursery"(two locations Inola & Broken Arrow)
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I don't have anything to add with respect to the house, but I'm attaching a link that may be useful for landscaping. It was put out by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (I live in Oakland). It's geared toward Northern California, but a lot of the plant recommendations will be appropriate for SoCal, too. Not all xeriscaping is cacti, and the book has some really fabulous alternatives--from California natives to Mediterranean plants to South African plants--that don't scream "desert." Here is a link that might be useful: Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates
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arbo_retum
14 years ago
kevin, yes, what donna said. Generally the rule of thumb is to divide a grass in the season when it is not flowering( though I have done carex bowles golden [spring flowering] in v early spring and they were fine.)After all, what would a gardening rule be without exceptions?-certainly not gardening!!
best,
mindy
Donna
14 years ago
Reminder to self: scientific names are so important! The tags on my Aztec grass said Ophiopogon jaburan.
tugbrethil
Original Author
14 years ago
So, no new growth showing yet, but do you think the roots are starting to grow now? Should I divide now, or wait until new foliage shows? Is it time for ice cream yet, Mommy?! Huh? Huh?

Kevin : ])

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