Liriope, often called monkey grass or lilyturf, is a popular herbaceous perennial valued for its low-maintenance nature and ability to serve as an attractive groundcover or garden border. While the plant is notably hardy, its evergreen foliage can become tattered, brown, or matted over the winter months. An annual trimming is the most effective way to remove spent, aged leaves and promote a fresh, uniform flush of new growth for the coming season. This simple maintenance task ensures the liriope planting maintains its dense, tidy appearance.
Optimal Timing for Liriope Trimming
The most appropriate time to trim liriope is during the late winter or very early spring, typically falling within the window of January to March. Timing must be completed before the plant begins to push out its new, bright green shoots, preventing accidentally severing the tips of the emerging leaves. Cutting into new growth results in an unsightly “square-cut” look until the plant fully outgrows the damaged tips. Performing the cut while the plant is still dormant allows the energy stored in the plant’s crown and roots to be directed entirely toward producing fresh, healthy foliage. Removing the previous year’s growth also helps eliminate any fungal spores, such as those causing anthracnose, that may be overwintering on the dead leaf tissue.
Necessary Tools and Preparation
The selection of tools depends largely on the size of the liriope planting. For expansive areas, a lawnmower set to its highest deck height offers the most efficient solution. Smaller borders or clumps are best managed with manual or electric hedge shears, which provide greater precision and control. A string trimmer, often called a weed whacker, is effective for medium-sized patches or for sculpting edges. Ensuring the blades are clean and sharp is important to facilitate a clean cut rather than a ragged tear, minimizing stress and disease risk; sturdy gardening gloves and eye protection should also be worn.
Step-by-Step Trimming Technique
Before making any cuts, clear away large debris, such as fallen branches or pinecones, from the base of the plants to ensure the cutting tool moves smoothly and uniformly. The most important technical detail is the cutting height, which should be set to approximately three to four inches above the soil level. This height protects the plant’s crown, the point just above the soil line where the new leaves emerge. Cutting too low risks damaging the crown, which can severely impair the plant’s ability to generate new spring foliage. If using a lawnmower, the deck should be positioned on its highest setting.
When using shears or a string trimmer, the operator must maintain a consistent, horizontal plane across the top of the planting to prevent a spiky or uneven appearance.
Using Hedge Shears
For those using hedge shears, it is often easiest to gather a handful of the old foliage and make a single, decisive cut. Working in small, manageable sections helps maintain uniformity across the entire border or mass planting. If new green shoots have already started to emerge, the cut should be positioned just above the tips of this fresh growth to preserve it.
Post-Trimming Cleanup and Maintenance
Once the cutting is complete, the immediate next step involves a thorough cleanup of the trimmed foliage. It is important to rake or blow away all of the cut leaves and debris from the plant bed. Allowing the old, matted foliage to remain on the ground can harbor fungal pathogens, such as the spores of anthracnose, which can re-infect the new growth as it emerges. Removing the clippings also ensures that sunlight and air can easily reach the soil surface, encouraging the emergence of the new shoots.
After the area is clear, a light application of a slow-release, balanced fertilizer can be beneficial to support the vigorous growth cycle. A general-purpose formulation provides the necessary nutrients to fuel the rapid production of new leaves. While established liriope is drought-tolerant, a deep watering after trimming and fertilizing helps settle the soil and makes moisture readily available for the plant’s spring development.