If you could take a photo of the site we'd get a better idea of what the problem might be, scundog. Maybe you're overwatering them, maybe you're killing them with kindness - they are pretty tough and usually manage along with a minimum of care. I planted out dwarf black mondo about ten years ago to fill spaces between pavers and they've thrived; if anything, my only complaint is they've now turned green! I presume black really isn't their natural colour.

hi funnelweb,

Thanx for your reply. Attached is a photo of a healthy mondo grass and one that is drying out and dying.

Here is another section of the mondo grass edging in my garden.

Ummm, bit of a mystery that! I'm assuming the cow manure is well broken down, it's always better to lay fertilisers on top of the soil, especially animal manures, as they draw essential elements from the soil during the decomposition process which are then 'locked up' until the decomposition is complete. Look, I reckon I'd be digging out the soil down to about 6 or 8 inches, not much, and replace it with heavier garden soil or even a few bucket pulls of what they sell at your local nursery as garden soil. Not top soil though, it's a bit too sandy. Mondo grass is usually pretty tough and hardy in the average garden soil.

B.

Yes, the cow manure is well broken down. It's pretty good quality top soil. I'm using that type of soil because i have 2 types of Dianella's in the garden aswell (behind the mondo grass) and as they are natives, I was told that soil would be the best for them. Looks like it's not ideal for the mondo grass though. If i just removed the mondo grass, dug a trench 100mm wide x 6-8inches deep and replaced that top soil with garden soil then replanted the mondo grass, would that work do u think??

Also, when i planted the mondo grass, i bought it in bulk in a large regtangular polystyrene box. When removing the mondo grass from the box the roots were exposed for a short amount of time. Would that have had an affect on the plants???

No, I doubt the exposure would have had any detrimental effect on the m. grass. However, what is good for natives may not necessarily be the best for the Mondo, or exotics in general. Yep, if the Mondo was mine I'd try the replacement procedure. Give it a go and let's know if it solves the prob.

Regards
b.

Should i pull out the mondo that's in there and discard it and get fresh mondo or just replant the current stuff that's struggling once i've changed the soil??

By the looks of it, the one on the right in the photo - the one with just 2 plants - looks as if it's passed it; dull and lifeless looking. The others, even though there's some with browning leaves should be ok; I'd cut away the obviously dead leaves, almost down to the base of the plant, and where the rest of the plant looks ok (for eg. the third from the left in your second picture) I'd save and replant.
Good luck with them, lets know how it all goes.

Regards
B.

Good if you know what caused the problem in the first place and undertook some remedial action but without that knowledge probably won't make any difference, however worth a try.

thank you for the sugetion

Been a long time since I've been back to this site, the new owners have buggered it up considerably. Hows the mondo grass going, did it survive?

I have a well established bed about 18 inches wide along my circle drive. It is at least 10 years old and it was completely covered until about three years ago, then individual stalks started dying off they don't wilt they just loose their color then turn brown and dye the plant next to it looks perfectly healthy. This happens randomly throughout the bed. I live in Fort Worth TX.and I have noticed this in several other established beds around town. I have talked to several nursery people and most say they never heard of this, some have recommended a treatment but nothing makes a difference. Would appreciate some advice that works. I forgot to mention that I am talking about MONDO GRASS. Thanks Ron Carron.

hello mrcarron64... you're tailing on someone else's post so I'm not sure this will reach you. I would expect after 10 years, the patch may just exhaust itself much as a lawn might do.... parts get choked with roots, there may be pockets that miss nutrition or water because of that. Or of course the occasional disease, root-eating grubs etc. If you are unfenced, consider the occasional dog visiting and urinating.

Bit late in the season but perhaps you should talk to the nursery people about whether a restart of the area would freshen it up, dig up, divide, save healthy plants, freshen the soil and start over? Just a thought.

If that's a bit too drastic, I'd think of doing a test for grubs... leave a wet bag on an area adjacent to the dead patch over night and lift early morning and see if anything has risen to the surface after a night of chomping roots.

Or, just dig out the affected sections, salvage what you can or buy new plants and separate and plug the gaps and wait for re-growth to fill.

Mondo Grass is a native of extensive parts of Asia. Thinking more broadly I wonder if you've thought of planting Australian grasses local to your area so that you might attract native butterflies or even grass seed eating birds (e.g., finches, parrots) & perhaps add a dimension to your garden.

Woko the poster mrcarron is in Texas USA

Ah, yes, Alison. My mind was back with the original poster so thanks for the correction. But I guess the general advantages of using local species apply in Texas, too.

I am in usa but IME this grass absolute resents too much water, can't tell you how many patches I've drowned. My best patches are in dryish shady spots.

I am having the same issue with my Dwarf Mondo grass. Did you ever find a solution to this issue!?

Is yours in full sun, Kaytlin? I think maybe given that its natural colour is towards black that perpetual light shade might be what suits it best. Full, bright sun might be burning it. Sorry for the delay in responding.