Usual procedure (in March in the south, early April in colder areas) is to go out and hack the whole thing back to the middle, remove any flowered stems at their base and rake out the centre. However, yours is obviously a young plant, so it won't need quite so rigorous a treatment. Just trim it back - if that's difficult, it won't do it any harm to cut all the leaves, not just the dead ones.

thanks bamboo. when you say cut the leaves do i cut back to ground level or leave a few inches on?

If its easy to snip out the dead leaves, then just take those - once a pampas gets going, there's no question of taking it to the ground, just back to a sort of lump in the middle.

Once the pruning is done, drench the dead "straw" with a 1:30 solution of beer. That will jump start the decomposition of the dead leaves and stems, and turn them dark and inconspicuous sooner. Also good for de-thatching a clogged lawn.

What ever method you use, wear gloves. As already said above, cut out the dead stuff, and do it around end of march- mid april. Once it gets too big to do by hand, like most mature pampas, I use a hedge trimmer, and although it leaves a rather naff ball, it very soon recovers.

Thanks Bamboo and everyone else for your advice. I have a clearer idea of what needs doing now. And i'll make sure i wear gloves!

And eventually, when its bigger, a coat or something long sleeved, cover your wrists, wear safety glasses or spectacles.

certainly will do, thanks Bamboo