Controlling Monkey Grass: How to Stop Liriope From Spreading

If you find that lirope is taking over parts of your garden, these practical tips for controlling monkey grass will help.

Monkey grass (liriope) is often planted as a low-maintenance ground cover, but it can quickly become a problem when it spreads beyond the area where it was originally planted. Runners can creep into flower beds, lawns, and garden borders, making this perennial plant very difficult to contain.

All is not lost, though. There are several effective ways to keep monkey grass from growing out of control. Whether you want to slow its spread, create barriers, or remove it completely, the methods below will help you reclaim your garden space.

Before you start, it helps to know which type of liriope you have, since some varieties spread much more aggressively than others.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you purchase through an affiliate link.

Which type of liriope do you have?

There are two types of monkey grass – the clumping type (easier to control) and the spreading type (much more aggressive). Here is how to tell the difference in your yard.

Clumping liriope (Liriope muscari)

This type will spread but tends to stay more where you planted it.

• Forms clumps that spread slowly outward from the crown
• Tight clumps get wider over time, but don’t send out aggressive underground runners
• Has a compact root cluster that won’t overtake nearby plants too easily
• Great for lining sidewalks and as borders in garden beds
• Low maintenance. Requires little maintenance to keep it where you planted it
• The variegated version – Liriope muscari ‘variegata’ is the least invasive type.

Spreading liriope (Liriope spicata)

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Photo Credit Wikimedia

This is the most aggressive type of monkey grass and the hardest to control.

• Aggressive rhizomatous spreader that can take over areas quickly
• Spreads rapidly in all directions via underground rhizomes
• Plants can pop up some distance away from the original clump
• The creeping nature can invade neighboring garden beds and lawns
• Perfect for large, bare areas to help control soil erosion
• High maintenance – needs edging, root barriers, or extensive manual digging to keep it under control

How to control monkey grass (liriope)

Given the right conditions, invasive monkey grass will grow aggressively and take over a border in 2-3 years. If left untended, monkey grass can be quite difficult to remove since its roots also form dense clumps. Here are some tips for controlling monkey grass.

Start early before it spreads

Once liriope establishes extensive runners or forms thick clumps, controlling it becomes significantly harder. The most effective time to manage monkey grass is when it first begins creeping beyond its intended area.

• Watch border edges early in spring to see how much area your monkey grass covers.
• Remove new shoots before they begin rooting deeply in the soil.
• Don’t allow monkey grass to form continuous mats in beds or turf areas.
• Continue monitoring its growth. Monkey grass continues to send out runners during the growing season.

Digging up edge growth (First-line control method)

This is your primary physical control method for small invasions of monkey grass. This method will keep monkey grass from growing into flower beds or encroaching into lawn areas.

• Use a sharp spade or garden knife.
• Cut straight down along the edge of the area where monkey grass is growing.
• Lift and remove newly formed clumps or connected sections of rhizomes.
• NOTE: You must remove all connected root sections. Partial removal of sections leaves pieces that will regrow.

How to contain monkey grass with barriers

Barriers are not used to remove liriope. They are used to keep monkey grass from expanding in the future. Some effective barriers are:

• Deep landscape edging (plastic or metal)
• Physical root barriers installed at least 6–10 inches deep
• Hardscape boundaries (concrete, pavers, sidewalks)
• Monkey grass can also be grown in pots. This keeps the roots contained.

Protip: Barriers only work if they are installed in front of the spread line, not after monkey grass has already passed it. It’s important to inspect the barriers periodically. Monkey grass is very aggressive and can find weak points if barriers are shallow or broken.

How to keep monkey grass from growing back

It is not enough to dig an edge or install a barrier against monkey grass in spring. Monkey grass continues growing for the entire growing season!

• Check perimeter lines 2–3 times during the growing season.
• Remove new shoots immediately as soon as you notice them.
• Re-cut edges each year to reinforce boundaries.

What to expect after removal (regrowth)

Even when you remove what appears to be the entire plant, regrowth is still possible. That is because monkey grass can regrow from:

• Small root fragments that are left in the soil
• Underground rhizomes that weren’t fully dug out
• Missed runners extending beyond the visible clump of monkey grass
• A “cleared” area may show new shoots within a few weeks
• Previously dense patches will show more regrowth than new clumps

Be ready to do follow-up pulling

Controlling monkey grass is not a one-and-done removal process. Most often, you’ll require at least one follow-up removal session.

• First pass: major clumps are removed
• 2–6 weeks later: new shoots appear from missed roots
• Second pass: smaller regrowth is easier to spot and remove

This second phase is normal, not failure. It’s simply a part of controlling monkey grass.

Soil disturbance can create new growth

After digging, the soil is often loosened, which can actually make it easier to see regrowth. However, it can also bring hidden rhizomes closer to the surface where they will quickly start growing. You may notice:

• scattered shoots instead of tight clumps
• thinner, weaker growth compared to the original plant
• regrowth emerging around the edges rather than the center

These are all signs you’re in the “cleanup phase”.

Timing matters

Monkey grass is a perennial, so regrowth patterns align with seasonal growth cycles. Common patterns:

• Faster regrowth in warm months (spring through late summer)
• Slower or dormant appearance in cooler months
• “Surprise” shoots often appear when temperatures rise again 

This is why many gardeners think removal worked in winter, only to see it return in spring.

How to remove monkey grass completely (step-by-step)

If monkey grass continues spreading despite your efforts to control it, or if it has already invaded large areas, full removal may be necessary. Unfortunately, the best remedy involves real work – digging.

This requires patience, since the process may need to be repeated for several months to remove monkey grass completely.

Step 1: Identify the type

• Identify which type of liriope you have – Liriope muscari, or Liriope spicata.

Step 2: Cut the foliage to ground level

• Use trimmers, a mower, or shears to cut the plant down to ground level – this makes removal easier.
• Bag the foliage and discard it so as not to leave any pieces that might regrow.

Step 3: Dig beyond the clump

• Use a sharp spade to dig at least 6-8 inches beyond the edge of the visible clump.
• Dig at least 8-12 inches out for Liriope spicata.

Step 4: Lift the plants

• Remove entire clumps where possible.
• Shake the soil to expose hidden root connections.
• Break apart dense mats so you can see any missed sections.

If you leave interconnected rhizomes, regrowth is almost guaranteed.

Step 5: Remove runners (spicata only)

• Follow the underground runners outward from the main clump.
• Pull or dig them as far as they extend.
• Treat any “new shoots” as part of the same plant system.

Step 6: Inspect the soil (for persistent patches)

• Rake soil to expose fragments.
• Remove any white/cream rhizome pieces.
• Look for small crown sections that can re-root; even small pieces can regrow into new plants!

Step 7: Monitor any regrowth (important)

• Check the area every 2–3 weeks during the growing season.
• Pull new shoots while they are small and weak.
• Do not allow them to re-establish a root network.
• Add mulch – bare soil is easier for fragments to re-establish themselves.

Share these tips for how to get rid of monkey grass on X

If you enjoyed learning the best ways to keep monkey grass from spreading, why not share this post with a friend?

Pin these tips for controlling monkey grass

Would you like a reminder of this guide to managing liriope? Pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

Admin note: This article for controlling monkey grass first appeared on the blog in June 2017. This post has been updated with new photos, a printable project card, and a slideshow video about growing liriope.

Continue to Content

Yield: 10 steps to removing monkey grass

How to Remove Monkey Grass Completely

Print

Learn how to completely remove monkey grass (liriope), and stop it from returning to your flower beds, borders, and lawns using practical methods that work.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Active Time 30 minutes

Additional Time 21 days

Total Time 21 days 1 hour

Difficulty Hard

Estimated Cost $0

Materials

• Liriope plants in a garden

Tools

• Sharp shovel
• Shears, trimmer, or mower

Instructions

1. Identify which type of liriope you have - Liriope muscari, or Liriope spicata.
2. Use trimmers, a mower, or shears to cut the foliage of the plant down to ground level.
3. Bag the foliage and discard it.
4. Use a sharp spade to dig at least 6-8 inches beyond the edge of the visible clump (8-12 inches for Liriope spicata).
5. Shake the soil and break it apart to expose hidden root connections.
6. Follow the underground runners outward and pull or dig them up.
7. Rake the soil and remove any white/cream rhizome pieces.
8. Add mulch to the cleared area.
9. Check the area every 2–3 weeks. Remove any new shoots.
10. This process may need to be repeated as new growth emerges.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Landscape Edging | Garden Edging Border | Faux Stone Bricks for Lawn edging, Flower beds, Pathways & Yard Edging– 4 Packs | Each Section Has 6 Bricks 48"L x 4"W x 2.25"H | 12 Spikes |Greystone
• 
  DeepRoot Tree Root Barrier, Tree Circle Weed Barrier, Root Shield for Sidewalks, Driveways, & Patios, 12" Depth, 24" Width, 40 Panels per Pack, 80 Linear Feet Total, Black
• 
  Land Guard Corrugated Garden Edging Border, 6"×50' Landscape Paver Edging, Tall Landscape Edging, Fence for Garden, Flower Bed, Lawn and Landscape Edging (Black)

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Share on Social Media