pampas grass - how to clear my plot of it?

[queen of the cobs]

Dear All,

I have a huge Pampas grass on my plot that I'm keen to get rid of - not that I don't enjoy it, but I need all the space I can get for veg!

I'd welcome any advice, it looks very well established, I'm sure it will be a task and a half.

[sarraceniac]

Don't try burning it, it comes back. Unless you are related to a rather young Schwarzenegger it is impossible to dig out. You need a hell of a weedkiller. I suggest you google 'brush weed killer' and look around.

[Snadger]

As long as you split the clump up into numerous little clumps with a spade it should be reasonably easy to dig out. I have dug a large clump out before without too much bother. Watch the leaves though as they are like razors!
As has been said, people usually set fire to it to help it to grow the following year .........so not a good idea!

[allotmentlady]

yes I agree with snadger, make sure you wear thick clothing, eye and face protection and tough gloves........oh and get someone to help. dont put on compost heap!!!

[sarraceniac]

Bet you a gooseberry bush that if you do that, it comes back. I know several people with the t-shirt.

[Snadger]

Bet you a gooseberry bush that if you do that, it comes back. I know several people with the t-shirt.

Don't mind little clumps left...........it's the year of the ornamental kitchen garden for me!

[sarraceniac]

Lol oh apparently that is too short so double lol.

[Storming Norman]

The man and I took a mature pampas grass out out of a lawn in a new home some years ago. It needed the both of us.

We burnt it down first - so no longer spiky and enormous - this made it much easier.

It was not that deep - just a really wide heavy solid clump.

We took it out in dry weather - that made it easier to get out and lift away on a sheet.

It did not come back - and we both went yipee and we really loathed it.

Ann

Oh watch out if you burn it in dry weather - it goes up really fast.

[sarraceniac]

Great idea Norman (Ann). (Gender division is really hard amongst gardeners).

I have 4 of the sweeties and I love them. But I have a large garden and the earliest is 5 years old. The Pink one is only 2. So one day I will be joining my neighbours screaming, 'Out damned Pampas'. Thinks. Maybe I could sell them

[janeyo]

I have a large clump right by the fence, so prob best not to burn it!

I hate it (what's that saying about pampas grasses and swingers?!)

Am gonna tackle it this year. Is there a good time of year?

[Flummery]

I dug mine out this time last year. It was huge and mature and I just wentt at it for half an hour a day for a week. You need to be persistent. You can go at it with a spade as Snadger says, and chop back a bit at a time. Eventually you can remove it all. It hasn't even attempted to come back.

[vicky]

I hate it (what's that saying about pampas grasses and swingers?!)

What is the saying?

You can cut them down with hedge trimmers (burning seems a bit cruel to me!) to make it easier to dig out, good luck, it's quite a job!

[OverWyreGrower]

We got rid of an 8ft one last year....

We hacked it down to a manageable level with hedge shears, dug out as much as possible; then I was kind enough to let Mr OWG have his way and burn the rest out (it left a hole 4ft across)... it hasn't come back...

The thing about pampas grass and swingers....

Apparantly, one would have pampas grass in one's front garden to let people of the same persuasion know that one was into swinging....

No idea how true it is, but we always have a good singger when we see one in a front garden....

[vicky]

That's FANTASTIC OWG! I never knew that, I shall be spreading much gossip among my fellow gardeners!

[Flummery]

I feel the need to point out that mine was in the back garden , and planted by the previous owners. Don't need a reputation like that!