Agrass lawn is one of the biggest water users in the landscape. One good alternative is dwarf mondo grass, a ground cover that looks like turf grass but needs less water.

It's being used in a lot of Augusta landscapes, especially in Summerville, and is very attractive.

Dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicas) is similar to liriope (Liriope muscari), but it has thinner leaves and a finer texture. It grows 2 to 4 inches tall. When established, it is drought-tolerant, pest-resistant and only has to be mowed once a year. Popular varieties include Nana, Nippon, and Gyoko-ryu.

Dwarf mondo grass grows well in shade where turf grass is difficult to grow. It will adapt to sunny sites if it is irrigated during establishment.

The first step in successfully establishing dwarf mondo grass is to incorporate clean, weed-free compost into the planting area. Place 3 inches of compost on the soil surface and cultivate it thoroughly to a 12-inch depth, if possible.

The cheapest way to obtain the plant is to dig up a few clumps from a friend or neighbor's yard. When its well established, a clump can be separated by hand into 50 to 100 sprigs.

You can also buy the plants in pots at garden centers, or garden-center managers can order bare-root sprigs from wholesale suppliers. Bare-root sprigs are the most economical way to plant a large area.

Place sprigs 6 to 8 inches apart. Water thoroughly after planting and again as needed during establishment. Lightly fertilize with a 5-10-15 fertilizer (or something close to this mix) once a month and supplement with a monthly application of a liquid fertilizer for the first six months. This will get the plants off to a good start. When established, the sprigs multiply and grow outward to produce a spreading clump.

There are a few drawbacks to planting a large area in dwarf mondo grass.

First, it's backbreaking labor. You'll have to scoot along the ground, planting each sprig. There is no easier way, unless you hire someone to do it for you.

Second, the plants are slow growers. It might take three years before they provide complete cover.

One of the biggest challenges during establishment is that you have to weed by hand between the plants.

You can cut down on the weed pulling by applying a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weed seed germination. Pre-emergence herbicides labeled for dwarf Mondo grass include Treflan, Dimension, Surflan, XL, and Amaze.

Don't expect dwarf mondo grass to provide the same recreational surface as turf grass. It will not tolerate the wear and tear of a football game or children's play area.

After dwarf mondo grass is established, annual maintenance will include mowing once in late winter to remove cold-damaged foliage and applying a light application of a granular fertilizer after mowing. Be sure to rake or brush the fertilizer off the foliage and onto the soil. Then water to dissolve it into the soil or wait for some rain.

SID MULLIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA EXTENSION SERVICE OFFICE FOR RICHMOND COUNTY. CALL HIM AT (706) 821-2349, OR SEND E-MAIL TO SMULLIS@UGA.EDU.

March Garden Tips

- Put a rain gauge in your yard so you can tell when and how much to water. Most vegetables, annual flowers, and turfgrass need about an inch of rain per week from April to September.

- As the flowers fade, cut the flower stalks of daffodils, hyacinths and other spring-flowering bulbs back to the ground. Don't cut the foliage until it dies naturally. The leaves are needed to produce strong bulbs that can reflower. If the sight of withering foliage is bothersome, tie the foliage in knots to make it less conspicuous.

- If you have sandy soil that dries out fast in the summer, try gardening in a hole. Prepare the soil in a depression or trough several inches below the surface of the paths. You may find it will reduce evaporation and make watering easier.

- If you have little or no space to garden, try hanging a few plants on your porch or deck for a convenient harvest.

Bush cucumbers, small tomato varieties, and lettuce and spinach can be grown from hanging baskets.

Herbs including chives, parsley, and thyme are also well suited to baskets.

- You may need to thin the fruit on your fruit trees. Trees can become so overloaded they wind up breaking limbs. Thinning also allows the remaining fruit to get larger and healthier.

Thin within 25 days of peak bloom, leaving 4 to 6 inches between fruits.