How to Transplant Monkey Grass
Sometimes the yard you have isn’t always the yard you want. There may be plants in your yard that need to get moved, especially if you have just moved in or they just aren’t growing well in their current location.
Monkey Grass is one of those plants that last for a long time in backyards but may need transplanting for the perfect placement. Luckily, there are some easy steps that you can take for transplanting monkey grass.
Transplanting monkey grass requires having the plant already growing in your yard, the tools needed for carefully digging up the roots, knowledge of how to lift and carry the monkey grass, and a suitable place for transplanting.
Just because you have a yard that is not to your liking doesn’t mean you have to go out and spend large amounts of money on new plants.
Transplanting plants, such as Monkey Grass, are a viable option for reorganizing your yard space for those looking for an economical and functional choice. Read on for the care, tips, and steps of how to transplant Monkey Grass.
What is Monkey Grass
You may have seen Monkey Grass before and not even known it. You must identify the Monkey Grass in your yard before deciding if it is safe and viable to transplant it. Transplanting other grasses requires different steps than transplanting Monkey Grass. So make sure that your grass is the ground cover known as Liriope Mascari or Monkey Grass.
Monkey Grass is a ground cover that looks like other types of traditional long-leaf grasses. Monkey grass most resembles turf grass. It is mainly used as a border plant and even is a flowering ground cover.
However, Monkey Grass is an aggressive grower and tends to cover more ground and spread out more quickly, choking out other plants and hillsides if given a chance. If it has spread too much, there’s several ways to get rid of monkey grass as well.
The long leaves of Monkey grass make for wonderful border planting. Also, the purple flowers that bloom in spring are a welcome sight and aroma for any garden. Despite the aggressive growing nature of Monkey Grass, it is an excellent choice for virtually every garden in many different growing zones.
Steps for Transplanting Monkey Grass
Suppose you have Monkey Grass in your yard already and are looking for a better placement for this hearty and fast-growing ground cover. In that case, there are some easy steps that you can take.
To transplant Monkey Grass find a perfect spot, prepping the ground, dig up the plant, move it, and care for it afterward.
Transplanting Monkey Grass is not as difficult as you think. This groundcover is robust and is quite vital for withstanding weather and transplanting. The following steps lay out the careful way of transplanting the Monkey Grass currently growing in your yard.
Find a Good Place for Transplant
Monkey grass is not a fickle groundcover, and it grows most places of your garden without much trouble. Regardless if your backyard is overly wet or very dry Monkey grass is drought resistant and only takes up as much water as it needs through its shallow roots.
It grows best in climates of hardiness zones 5 through 10. Although Monkey Grass thrives in southern environments best, it is also acceptable for growing in northern climates with more rainfall and warmer temperatures.
All of this means that Monkey Grass is good to go in any part of your backyard Just make sure that it has enough room above it and that you keep its sideways progress in check. Monkey Grass grows about 12 to 24 inches in height.
Dig up the Roots
The roots of a Monkey Plant are shallow and grow sideways. Digging up the roots of the Monkey Grass plants requires giving a few inches of space around the circumference of the plant’s base.
Start by brushing off the topsoil to find the exposed roots. After seeing the roots, slice down into the soil with a sharp trowel or shovel and press up slightly. Dig and pull up the dirt around the monkey grass plant.
Being careful not to damage the root base of the Monkey plant, you should be able to pull up on the blades of the plant and bring all of the roots with them. Make sure you take hold of as many of the Monkey Grass leaves as possible and pull gently to loosen the roots.
Transplant the Monkey Grass
Once you have the roots dug up and the plant in hand, make sure that you have your hole dug for your new placement of the Monkey Grass. The roots need to get completely covered with dirt. Make sure that the roots are growing out and have about 12 inches between them and the next clump of Monkey Grass.
Make sure that you water the Monkey Grass twice per week for the first two weeks. Watering is crucial for the first two weeks. After that time, the roots should take hold and are much more drought-resistant.
You will know that your transplant is complete and safe from dying if the flowers bloom and the roots take hold of the earth. The significant part about Monkey Grass is that it can get divided and transplanted every two to three years. At times, this aggressive growth is a burden, so make sure trimming is part of your Monkey Grass care routine.
In Conclusion
Monkey Grass is one of the best ground covering plants for your garden. It is hearty and drought-resistant, and very easy for transplanting. Just make sure that you have a good location chosen for the transplant and that the roots are completely covered with dirt when you transplant.
Once you have your Monkey Grass transplanted, it should grow outwards quickly. Make sure you keep it trimmed, and also remember that it can get divided every few years for more enjoyment around your yard.
