Liriope, also called monkey grass, is commonly used as a ground cover between the sidewalk and the street. It is almost indestructible and will march forward until it meets a barrier. Even though it looks like a grass or a sedge, Liriope is in the lily family. It grows similarly to daylily with tubers and sprouts from the roots.
The best method of removal is to dig it up and do not compost. When removing Liriope pick a day when the soil is easy to work because the root system is dense. Every piece of the roots needs to be removed and many small pieces will break off as it is wrestled from the earth. Check this space often throughout the next season for any resprouts.
Good native alternatives to Liriope are sedges. Oak sedge is the same height and does well in shade. For a sunnier area Pennsylvania sedge can be used. Plants that fill in well and can tolerate being stepped on next to the street are the native wild strawberry or a solid crop of violets will also do the trick. If a short dense ground cover in the shade is desired try wild ginger.
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