Gardening Questions Pampas grass
Pampas grass
Asked by Spritzhenry on 22 Feb, 2008
This question is on Cortaderia selloana
I mentioned my Pampas grass last year and was advised to rake out the dead leaves - well, I pulled and raked out FOUR barrow loads from the outside and also from the middle of the clump. Is there anything else I should do to keep this elderly clump healthy?
Replies
22 Feb, 2008
When you say the end of the season, when is that? I don't think I could get into it to cut it back to the ground, if that's what you are saying. It is HUGE! my RHS book says to cut off the flowering stems and to cut and comb out the dead leaves in late winter/early spring I haven't dived in to cut off the flowers as yet, I was too exhausted!
22 Feb, 2008
Barbara, as you probably know most grasses look good throughout the winter, so in my opinion, it's best to do any cutting back between now and early March. As Darryluk says, you can cut pampas back as hard as you like, but with a mature clump such as yours, not always an easy task. I would probably cut it back anywhere between 2-3 feet from the ground.
22 Feb, 2008
If you could borrow a scythe, that would probably be the best tool for a brutal chop
26 Feb, 2008
IVE HEARD THAT IF YOU CAN ACTUALLY CUT IT RIGHT BACK TO BASE THEN (BELIEVE IT OR NOT ,ACTUALLY BURN IT WITH A BLOW TORCH TIL CHARRED AND BLACK ,THAT THIS ACTUALLY STIMULATES GROWTH) NEVER TRIED IT THOUGH SO DONT TAKE MY WORD .
27 Feb, 2008
Funnily enough, Chris Beardshaw says in the March Gardeners World comic: "Some gardeners suggest setting fire to the crown of the plant to save pruning, but I don't recommend this as young shoots are likely to be damaged." He confirms that cutting back as close to the crown as possible in spring is best.
This Site
For The Brave
©2007-2008 growsonyou.com
Joined 24 Sep, 2007
Darryluk
22 Feb, 2008
These can be cut back very hard at the end of the season,be brutal.Other than that feed with 4 to 6 ounces of Growmore round the base.