Pampas grass - how to keep it healthy?

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.

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!

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.

If you could borrow a scythe, that would probably be the best tool for a brutal chop

Good idea Andrew, if you can handle one ! :O)

:) I think it looks good as i is Sprizthenry

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 .

By golly - I am NOT looking forward to tackling this job!

okay, I have grown pampas 15 years. The first 2 years i hand cut it back.What a job. My friend said burn it...wait until spring after a nice rain. This stuff burns...so quick and hot so if you have it around your house dont burn. I moved my sons car because it goes up quickly. On the flip side you will have the best pampas grass ever

I can't set fire to it, it's right next to the fence!