Pampas gets the chop.

Just cut down the Pampas Grass(Cortadaria),I usually do it every three years,just hack through with a wood saw..........Looking forward to new young shoots.
This is one of the less vigerous types.

 

Thats a good job, I usually use a hedge trimmer to do them never thought of using a hand saw.

Some of my gardens are very exposed so for me this is a mid march job in order to avoid snow or frost scortching the new shoots.

 

Hi Roders we go trid oof our Pampass for good last year and now happy we did.

 

You've got to be ruthless to be kind. Did you keep the plumes, dearest?

I did the same today to my Lantana but was too tired to take a pic as it was the last thing after four hours of garden slavery in 20 degrees. :D Lantanas have to be the worst things to cut back ... thornier than Roses and Bouganvillea ... the leaves even have thorny bits on the underside. :eek: Roses cut back, Bouganvillea yet to be done.

PS Is that the Bamboo on the right?

 

Paul,I take your point about the March cut but by then I will have got loads of new growth,and I just hate to have to cut it all off,and I am quite sheltered.

LoL I have kept the plumes,but not for in the house they shed to much dust and fluff So would you if you had been outside all Autumn and Winter ........Yes it is Bamboo on the right.

BTW I didn't know Borganvillea's were thorny.

Scotkat,you are right they don't suit every garden.......but mine is a good doer and adds a lot of character IMO.

 

Roders, so where are the plumes for if not in the house, pray tell?

I AM outside all Autumn and Winter and I don't think I shed too much dust and fluff, thank you. :rolleyes:

Bouganvilleas are a nightmare of thorns, believe me. The shrub one is the worst but none are pleasant I can assure you. Pete didn't know Lantana was a spikey character. :D

 

Just for you My little "Till of the Hun"

 

When i came here 'bout 2yrs. past last August,the Pampas was out of control ,stuck right infront of the house too.
After much thought from myself & advice from others i decided to set fire to it,what a mess !
Then managed bit by bit digging to get it out & replanted away from the house,thinking it didn't stand a chance.Lo & behold it did come back & looks pretty good now.

 

Roders, you seem to have a smaller variety than most there, much more compact than the normally seen one.
Most people have the ordinary one that is far too big for the average garden.

Is that a yucca to the left in the pic or a cordyline?
It looks like a yucca to me that is doing really well.

 

Gogs. That's the traditional way of dealing with it. I use that method where it's not dangerous. It seems to work O.K. Personally, I don't like the stuff but it's popular with the punters.

 

Roders, love the winding path, i just want to walk down it to see whats there...A pic would be good...

 

Pete,it's a Cordyline Australius,at least 10 years old,it tends to want to spread rather than gain height.....but it is reliable and flowers every year.

Dee that leads to a secret garden and of course is secret

 

Im good at keeping secrets roders :D Also really nosy...

 

If thats a cordyline roders you want to bottle it, a bush form could be something new. :D