Yesterday I posted about using what you have to stretch your landscaping dollars. This is one way I’ve done it, and it’s so easy!
There were a few areas in my yard where I thought lariope would look good, and take little maintenance. I didn’t want to spend money on lariope plants, so I used what I have, culling the lariope from the huge swath we have in the front yard.
This wasn’t the first time I’d re-used lariope. When Husband and I were in our “just friends” stage, a mutual friend and I decided to landscape Husband’s yard as a Christmas present. We only had a budget of $35, so we really had to stretch things. One of the things we wanted to do was make beds on either side of the sidewalk that led from the street to the door, and we thought lariope would be perfect for the borders.
My friend had lots of lariope in her back yard, and she showed me how to cull plants from hers. It was quick and easy, and saved us about $150 in plant costs. I wish I had a photo of the awesome end result to show you, but since this was in the age of regular film I’d have to go through boxes of photos to find it. Sorry!
And now I’m going to show you how to cull lariope, so you can save money, too!
It’s really easy to cull, or thin out, lariope. Trust me when I say that no one noticed a difference. These photos aren’t great, as I was doing this myself, at twilight…
1. Separate out a clump.
2. Put your shovel at the edge, and push it down through the roots, and lift it up. Lariope roots are really tough, but at least you don’t have to be gentle!
You’ll get a clump like this:
Here are several I pulled:
I kept them in a container until the next day before planting them. I didn’t wrap the roots or anything – just plopped them in for safekeeping.
The next day I planted them here:
And here:
After planting give them a deep watering every day for a week, and then – depending in your climate – they should be good to go.
Let me know if you try this youself. If you send me a photo I’ll add it to the post!
Are You Going To Be This Way The Rest of The Time I Know You? 
August 15, 2009 at 9:04 pm
[…] – or thinning – lariope is really easy. I’m going to do a how-to post tomorrow, so please check it […]
September 2, 2009 at 7:56 pm
[…] presents How to Cull ? or Thin Out ? Lariope posted at Are You Going To Be This Way The Rest of The Time I Know […]
October 25, 2010 at 12:10 pm
I have a border of lariope that has gotten too tall, and I want to trim it back, but do not want to fill in the intervening spaces. How much can I trim back, and when is the best time to do it?
The border was created last year after some patio work, It was amazing, but the plaNTS that were planted over a thin layer of soil above a concrete surface did better than those that were planted above just muclched soil.
Thanks for any advice
Bill
February 2, 2012 at 11:55 am
I believe that lariope is secretly a weed. It will survive severe winters, having cars driven thru it, and lawnmowers. I’ve given away wash tubs full of lariope. It will slow down soil erosion. It will grow well in the shade of trees. if not tended, weeds will spring up in the bed.
(honeysuckle vines)
.
May 30, 2013 at 8:41 pm
Each spring, I take my lawn mower (at highest cut) over my bushes. The are scalped, but in no time, they are as healthy as can be and grow fast.