6 Reasons Why Your Black Mondo Grass is Dying (DIY Fixes)

Black mondo grass is known for its resilience and unique appearance. However, it can get dry out, which changes its color and slowly ruins the beautiful grass. Maintaining your black mondo grass and protecting it from pests will prevent it from dying.

Your black mondo grass is dying for these reasons:

• Poor soil drainage
• Mondo grass root rot
• Not enough water in the soil
• Excessive sunlight exposure
• Dense soil issues
• Pests in the black mondo grass

Throughout this post, I’ll explain the six main reasons your black mondo grass is dying, what you can do about it, and how you can prevent it from happening.

Poor Soil Drainage

Stones in the soil, excessive amounts of debris, and various other soil conditions can cause poor drainage. When there’s not enough drainage, the roots will flood and the black mondo grass will die. Furthermore, it could encourage fungal growth and various lawn diseases.

How to Fix

To improve the soil drainage for your black mondo grass, try these tips:

• Use a top coat of fresh topsoil. Use Michigan Peat Garden Magic Topsoil for quick drainage and the ideal amount of water retention. This topsoil contains essential nutrients and a fluffy, aerated mixture for optimal sunlight and watering.
• Aerate the soil. You can use aeration boots or a lawn aerator. This process puts holes in the soil, ensuring water, sunlight, fertilizer, and oxygen can get to the black mondo grass’s roots. Make sure you don’t step directly on the grass.

Mondo Grass Root Rot

Root rot is caused by having too much moisture in the soil. This issue is a result of poor soil drainage or overwatering. You’ll notice the tips of the grass turn brown and the mondo grass might wilt. It could also pull out of the soil much easier than a sturdy, healthy patch of black mondo grass.

How to Fix

Try Bonide Copper Fungicide to eliminate the root rot around your black mondo grass. You can use this fungicide on numerous plants around the yard. Copper naturally removes and prevents root rot and other fungi, so it’s an essential component of growing black mondo grass. Spray a bit of the solution on the roots for quick results.

You should also prune your black mondo grass to prevent it from getting too long. When the grass crowds the soil, it prevents sunlight from drying the ground. This process provides shelter for bacteria and fungi to grow.

Here’s a quick video about how to prune your mondo grass:

Not Enough Water in the Soil

Much like all plants, black mondo grass needs to be on a watering schedule. Not having enough water in the soil will dry the grass and deteriorate the roots. Choosing high-quality topsoil can make a significant improvement because it retains moisture for many days to come.

How to Fix

SFGate recommends watering your black mondo grass once per 10 to 14 days. Another trick is to poke your finger two inches deep into the soil. If it’s moist, don’t add any water; if it’s dry, add water. Make sure your sprinkler system doesn’t overwater the soil, though.

Excessive Sunlight

Too much direct sunlight (or extreme temperatures) can kill your mondo grass. The dark shade and color of the plant are enough to absorb much more heat than most grasses. Much like not having enough water in the soil, black mondo grass will dry and wilt under too much sunshine.

How to Fix

If you think your black mondo grass is dying because it’s getting too much sunlight, consider lightly watering it during the warmest parts of the day. You could also plant the grass under a tree for filtered sunlight. Black mondo grass isn’t supposed to be under direct sunlight for more than a few hours daily.

Another option is to tie a mesh shade over the grass. You could hang it from trees, fences, and other posts. The Black Sun Net Mesh Shade blocks up to 40% of sunlight to protect your black mondo grass and other plants from harsh UV rays. It’s a 10′ x 6.5′ net that can be rolled, stretched, and connected to poles.

Dense or Compacted Soil

Adding poor-quality soil to the dirt can compact and ruin the black mondo grass. Topsoil can go bad, so it’s important to know how to store it and how to prevent mold, fungus, and bacteria. After a few months, stored topsoil can get too dry and clump. This process can also make it denser, preventing the roots from growing.

How to Fix

There are four things you can do if the soil is too compact or dense around the black mondo grass:

1. Aerate the soil with aeration boots or aeration tools, then water the dirt.
2. Water the soil and till it once it dries.
3. Remove the top two inches of soil and cover it with fresh topsoil (such as the Michigan Peat Soil mentioned above).
4. Add a one-inch layer of topsoil on top of the dirt, then water it.

Pests in the Black Mondo Grass

Slugs, chipmunks, squirrels, and a few other pests love eating black mondo grass. Make sure they aren’t digging up the roots or nibbling the grass. Check for small holes surrounded by yellow or brown shades. The moisture and nutrients around these plants are perfect for ground-dwelling animals and bugs.

How to Fix

Getting rid of pests around the yard includes the following suggestions:

• Use soil vibration tools to keep moles and other burrowing pests away from the black mondo grass.
• Consider all-natural, organic pesticides to deter unwanted bugs and animals.
• Weigh the pros and cons of releasing frogs and other animals that rid the area of slugs and snails.
• Place birdhouses and bird feeders around the black mondo grass to eat the pests that get near the garden.
• Manually remove slugs, snails, and other bugs from the soil, then place them in a new location away from the garden.
• Contact a pest control service if the problem gets out of hand.