New house built 5 years ago. In the courtyard area, the Landscape Architect did some hard scaping (slate pavers) coming off the slate patio with Zoysia in between. Looks nice but as things have grown it does not get the best sunlight so looks like crap in the winter and takes a while to look decent in the spring. Plus, you have to cut it with a weed eater because the mower and wheels to do not allow for a good even cut (the mower wheel rest on the stepping stones).

I was thinking of killing off the Zoysia and replacing with Dwarf Mondo. I need something that stays low to the ground and does not spread into the surrounding beds.

Pros/Cons of Dwarf Mondo?

Any recommendations other than Dwarf Mondo?

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Posted by Loup

Ferriday

Member since Apr 2019

16542 posts

Posted on 3/30/26 at 5:20 pm to captainahab

I planted dwarf mondo in an area that was shaded by a big live oak. It spreads very slowly. Doesnt handle foot traffic well but doesn't need any mowing once its covered rhe ground. Half of the live oak broke off and it now gets about 6 hours of sunlight. I let st aug spread into it and mow it like the rest of my yard.

I broke each container up into sprigs and plugged it every 4 inches or so. Took 2 years to fill in. It worked well for what it was. If its in between pavers it should work for you.

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Posted by Tree_Fall

Member since Mar 2021

1210 posts

Posted on 3/30/26 at 5:30 pm to captainahab

My experience is that dwarf mondo stays in it's nice clumps and never (7 years) spreads out to form a cover. Regular mondo (monkey grass) spreads slowly, but it does form a good solid cover. Another option is Liriope. I have areas where it's a spreading cover and other areas where it remains clumped. It has more partial dieback in winter but can have a nice flower. In damp locations Florida betony can take over all 3 of these.

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