QUESTION: My monkey grass is out of control, looking ratty and taking over my natural area. I'd like to dig it all up and replace it with a less-invasive perennial that isn't too tall. It doesn't need to bloom. The new plant would cover an area about 12 feet by 6 feet at the bottom of a slope that gets afternoon sun. Any suggestions?ANSWER: I understand your unhappiness with monkey grass. It does spread, and surprisingly fast, working its way out of position and taking more than its share of space. The ratty look you describe could be controlled by annual shearing in late winter, before the new growth comes up. It looks quite tidy that way, but it still spreads.Afternoon sun is a challenge. I think you should consider one of the modern dwarf abelias, such as Little Richard, Confetti, Kaleidoscope or Prostrata that grow well, have good foliage and a long bloom season through the summer.Abelia used to be a rather ordinary plant, serviceable, but nothing extraordinary. New varieties, notably Kaleidoscope, 2 to 2Z\x. feet tall, are very good landscape plants. Kaleidoscope has multihued foliage, green to orange, and has shown good resistance to heat. Flowers are white and a nice contrast to the bright foliage. Plants spread about 3 feet.You would probably need six or seven for that space.Abelias require good soil and grow reasonably fast. They have no particular problems, except aphids sometimes. You can deal with that with a blast of water from the hose.