09-02-2011, 07:15 PM
posted to uk.rec.gardening
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,103
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Care for Pampas grass ?
On Feb 9, 7:03*pm, harry wrote:
On Feb 9, 5:21*pm, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:54:14 +0000, Adrian Brentnall
wrote:
HI Folks
What's the currently accepted wisdom for care of youngish Pampas grass ?
We have a clump in the lawn in the front of the house, probably 3ft
wide, planted there a couple of years back.
After a wildish winter out here in south-west Ireland, most of the
leaves are now brown and the last flower-spike was knocked over by the
gales last weekend g
What's the best way to tidy it up & encourage it ?
Thanks
Adrian
I just cut out the dead flower spikes, and leave the plant itself to
get on with it. When it gets too big, I hack it back to a hump with
sharp shears, a sharp hedge trimmer or even a sharp sickle, grasping a
bunch of leaves and sawing through them at the base, but be aware that
the 'leaves' have very sharp edges and you should wear good thick
gloves and protective clothing. Some people set fire to them, claiming
that this is what happens naturally in the pampas where they come
from. I'm far from convinced this is true and I suspect it's an urban
myth, and anyway I think burning pampas grass is gimmicky. If you must
burn it, make sure there aren't any hedgehogs etc hibernating in the
base. A handful of general-purpose lawn feed would probably
re-vitalise it.
--
Chris
Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales
E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net
The fires are quite true, I have seen them. It happens naturally with
lightening strikes. However most fires are set by ranchers to improve
the grass for their cattle.
They also set them to deliberately destroy forest and creat more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaxkvv75a5Y
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