Pampas grass

Any advice on this one please. Six pampas in my 'new'garden, what is the best 'tlc'at the moment.I have removed plumes which have broken during the winter winds. Is it best to remove as much as possible, of the dead stuff from the middle of the plant?
Thanks, Lyn

 

i don t like pampas grass cos they are difficult to control, how big are they, one two, five, ten, twenty feet in diameter, do you intend to let them grow forever, , just cut as much as you feel you want to, there is no best way imo

 

I take my hedge trimmers to ours (We have nine big clumps) any time now and cut them off at ground level (well about 6 inches high). Take great care with the fronds though. they have inward facing barbs on them. You can put your hand/arm into the clump ok, but when you take it out, scream!!!!!!, the worst kind of paper cuts you can imagine. Another point is that the top growth does not rot down easily nor does it shred AND it retains its nastiness even when dry. Having said that I like them. They are no worse to deal with than roses.

 

The one I have is massive and as I posted previously,was scared half to death when a fox shot out as I was thinning the thing.
It used to be kept small by burning it as I did with a varigated grass but when I planted my Golden Elm near by I stopped.....BIG mistake!

 

I've a hedgohog that lives in mine so I'm very reluctant to burn it but its one I've inherited. unless you have loads of room I'd think carefully where you've sited them they grow enormous, I just hack the leaves back when I need to.

 

Have done two of the clumps today, so we can see down to the Snowdrop wood, had to use loppers as neither the hedge cutters nor the chain saw would touch them!

 

Thanx folks for input on this one. I must say Palustris, your method sounded a bit drastic! I am the newly appointed gardener at a care home, but would hate to make my first blunder and ruin all the pampas! There are 6, and so I have experimented on one of them, [the furtherest away!] and cut it right down. I couldn't get any further down than approx 12", and that took ages. The finished ball shape is about 18" diameter. I'm thinking maybe I should have left it a while, being up here in the far North...I'm sure we are going to get more snow and frost at some point and wonder if the frost will def kill it off?
Anyway, gardening isn't always successful first time round, so I am prepared to face the consequences if the plant does die.! Enjoy your snowdrop wood!

 

A friend of mine had a pampas in her (very) small front garden. Being an arty type, it amused her no end, after find it all trashed and untidy after a bad gale in the night, to put a sign on it saying "I washed it last night and I can't do a thing with it"!!!!

[ 17. January 2006, 12:08 AM: Message edited by: michaelmasdaisy ]

 

I'm trying a couple of pink flowering pampas. I got them as small plants from evilbay last spring and they are doing well though they look a bit miserable after the winter. Maybe take another year before they bloom.

As everyone has said they need to be ruthelessly controlled and I go with the slash and burn method after checking for any local inhabitants. (remember to look for hibernating ladybirds as well)

 

I'm not very well up on grasses, but I've seen a pampas grass growing around here that is a smaller version of the one you normally see.
The flower heads are only about 6 ft high, and its formed a really nice compact clump, ideal for normal sized gardens.
Anyone else seen one similar, as I think it should be more well known.

 

Possibly this one Pete, Cortaderia selloana 'Pumila' IVORY FEATHERS�®

Even if it's not the one you've seen it looks interesting!

 

Yes, could be frogesque, its more suited to smaller gardens.

 

Some people set fire to them, this gives them the best start for the following year but I wouldn't recommed it if you have them near a fence or house etc. We have done it and they grow much better the next year. Or cut them really low, down to a foot or lower if you can go, be careful there are no overwintering Frogs or Toads as they love going in there.

[ 18. January 2006, 07:33 PM: Message edited by: lisa0307 ]

 

This setting fire to them sounds very drastic to me!! but if you have tried and tested it then it must speak for itself! Was it very large mature plants that you would give this treatment to? I must admit, the plants in the garden I tend, aren't that big, so am assuming not very old. I would love to give some of the pink ones a try too......will add it to my 'project' list!
Lyn

 

Large grasses thrive on being set fire to apparently. Yeah, the ones we've set alight are big mature ones, although they do grow back bigger. If you don't like it best to dig it out and replace it with something smaller

[ 19. January 2006, 04:01 PM: Message edited by: lisa0307 ]