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You can prune monkey grass easily with a sharp pair of hedge shears or a lawnmower.
Pruning monkey grass is one of those simple garden tasks that makes a huge difference in how tidy your landscape looks.
If you’ve been wondering how to prune monkey grass without damaging it, you’re in the right place.
Knowing how to prune monkey grass correctly keeps this hardy groundcover thick, vibrant, and free of tattered, brown-tipped leaves.
In this post, we’ll cover the best timing, the right tools, and the simplest step-by-step methods for pruning monkey grass so it bounces back better than ever.
Let’s dig in and get your monkey grass looking its sharpest.
Why You Should Prune Monkey Grass
Pruning monkey grass isn’t just about looks, though that’s a big part of it.
Monkey grass (also called liriope or mondo grass) is a tough perennial, but its evergreen foliage can get ratty over time.
Old leaves often suffer from winter burn, turning yellow or brown at the tips.
When you prune monkey grass, you remove that damaged growth and make way for fresh, green shoots.
This rejuvenation also improves air circulation around the crown of the plant, which helps prevent fungal issues.
Pruning monkey grass is a quick way to reset the clump so it grows in fuller and more uniform.
1. Boosts New Growth
When you prune monkey grass, you’re signaling the plant to produce new leaves from the base.
This results in a denser, healthier clump that fills in bare spots over time.
Fresh growth after pruning monkey grass tends to be more vibrant and uniform in color.
2. Removes Winter Damage
Even in mild climates, winter winds and frost can scorch the leaf tips.
Pruning monkey grass cuts away that unsightly brown and yellow, leaving only the healthy green tissue behind.
3. Keeps Borders Neat
Monkey grass often serves as a border or edging plant.
Pruning monkey grass keeps those edges crisp and defined, so your walkways and flower beds look manicured.
When to Prune Monkey Grass
Timing is critical when you’re learning how to prune monkey grass correctly.
The absolute best time to prune monkey grass is in late winter to early spring, just before new growth begins.
In most regions, that means February through March is your sweet spot.
Pruning monkey grass at this time removes the old, tired foliage right before the plant pumps out fresh leaves.
1. Late Winter or Early Spring
This is the ideal window.
Prune monkey grass before the new shoots emerge, and you won’t accidentally cut off any fresh growth.
The plant is still semi-dormant, so it won’t miss the old leaves.
2. Summer Cleanup
You can give your monkey grass a light trim in mid-summer if it looks ragged.
But pruning monkey grass heavily in summer risks cutting into active growth and stressing the plant during heat.
Keep summer trims shallow, just cutting off spent flower stalks and brown tips.
3. Avoid Fall Pruning
Don’t prune monkey grass in the fall.
The old foliage actually helps protect the crown from winter cold.
If you prune monkey grass too late in the season, you remove that protective layer and expose the plant to frost damage.
Tools You’ll Need for Pruning Monkey Grass
You don’t need fancy equipment to prune monkey grass well.
But having the right tool makes the job faster and cleaner.
Here are your best options depending on the size of your planting.
1. Hedge Shears
For small to medium clumps, a sharp pair of hedge shears is perfect.
They give you control and let you prune monkey grass into a neat, rounded shape.
2. String Trimmer or Weed Eater
If you have a large swath of monkey grass, a gas or electric string trimmer makes quick work.
Just set the head at an angle and trim straight across the top.
Pruning monkey grass this way is fast, but be careful not to scalp the crown too low.
3. Lawn Mower with a High Deck
For wide, sprawling borders, you can actually mow monkey grass.
Set your mower deck to its highest setting so you’re only trimming the top few inches.
This is the easiest method when you need to prune monkey grass over a large area.
How to Prune Monkey Grass Step by Step
Let’s walk through the actual process so you know exactly what to do.
Once you do this a few times, pruning monkey grass becomes a five-minute task.
Step 1: Gather Your Tools
Choose your shears, trimmer, or mower based on the size of your planting.
Make sure the blades are sharp so you get clean cuts instead of ragged tears.
Step 2: Tie Up the Foliage (Optional but Helpful)
For small clumps, pull the leaves together and tie them with twine or a bungee cord.
This makes pruning monkey grass easier because you can make one clean slice across the top.
Step 3: Cut Back to 2–3 Inches
Using your shears or trimmer, cut the entire clump down to about 2 to 3 inches above the ground.
Don’t cut lower than that, or you risk damaging the crown where new growth emerges.
Pruning monkey grass at this height leaves enough stem for the plant to recover quickly.
Step 4: Rake Up the Clippings
After you prune monkey grass, rake away all the cut leaves.
Leaving them in place can smother the new shoots and invite pests.
Step 5: Water and Feed
Give your freshly pruned monkey grass a good drink of water.
You can also apply a light dose of balanced fertilizer to kickstart that new growth.
Pruning monkey grass immediately before a feeding is a great one-two punch for your plants.
Common Mistakes When Pruning Monkey Grass
Even though it’s simple, there are a few pitfalls you’ll want to avoid.
These mistakes can set your monkey grass back for an entire season.
1. Cutting Too Low
Scalping the clump down to the dirt is a big no-no.
If you prune monkey grass below the crown, you may kill the plant entirely.
Always leave at least 2 inches of growth.
2. Using Dull Blades
Dull shears tear the leaves instead of slicing them.
Pruning monkey grass with torn edges leaves the plant vulnerable to disease.
3. Pruning During a Heatwave
Don’t prune monkey grass during a mid-summer drought or heat spike.
The stress of cutting combined with hot, dry conditions can shock the plant.
So, How to Prune Monkey Grass?
Pruning monkey grass is a straightforward process: cut it back to 2–3 inches tall in late winter or early spring.
You can use hedge shears for small clumps or a mower or string trimmer for big beds.
The trick to pruning monkey grass successfully is timing, sharp tools, and not cutting into the crown.
Whether you’re tidying up a border or rejuvenating a tired patch, pruning monkey grass will reward you with lush, uniform greenery in just a few weeks.
Now that you know exactly how to prune monkey grass, grab your shears and get out there.
Your landscape will thank you with a fresh, vibrant display all season long.