Yes, you should mow or shear back any shabby stuff before spring growth begins. :)

Brenda

Thanks, Brenda. Had to chuckle about the mowing part. We're talking little patches. Will get them sheared right away.

Gardener,
I'm thinking about getting black mondo grass but I don't know anybody who has tried it here. I'm zone 5a. Are you 5 a or b? Is yours in a microclimate area or just out in the open exposed to the full blast of winter's wrath?
Karen

Hello ...
I am on the edge of Zones 5A, and 5B, and I have had Black Mondo growing for five years now.
It doesn't do all that well in Zone 5.
I have it in an area that is pretty well sheltered from winds, and it gets a good leaf covering every fall. I added more humus to the soil, which seemed to help.
The light is filtered.
Still, it doesn't spread well, if at all.
I thought I had lost it completely this year, but found two small clumps had survived once more. I have to give it credit, it looks better this year than it has in the past three.

The Japanese Forest Grasses in the same planted area are thriving, as are the Arum.
Richard

One very significant difference between Mondo and Liriope is cut-back time. Typically the word has always been cut back Liriope every February here in the South, and never cut back Mondo at all. But sometimes Mondo gets ragged-looking and needs a haircut. Just wait until May or early June instead of giving Mondo a dormant-season haircut. It will respond quickly with a re-flush and only look bad for a little while. If you cut it back with Liriope in winter it will look like death-warmed-over until May or early June anyway.