Cutting Pampas grass correctly

 

 Most ornamental grasses in the garden are simply cut back to ground level in spring. However, you should proceed a little differently with pampas grass - we explain why here.

unlike most so-called "warm season grasses", pampas grass is winter green and also sensitive to frost. 

While other species such as Chinese reed or pipe grass are left unprotected in the garden for the winter and cut back completely in the spring, 

pampas grass should be packed well in the autumn so that it can survive the winter.

Winter wetness is a particular problem for pampas grass during the winter months- that's why the top of the pampas grass's tuft of leaves is tied together with a rope and the inside padded with dry autumn leaves or straw. 

This way most of the rainwater runs down the outside of the leaves and does not penetrate into the sensitive heart of the plant. 

You should also mulch the root area with autumn leaves so that rainwater and dew cannot penetrate the soil as quickly.

Do not cut pampas grass, but clean it

If the moisture protection is removed again in early spring, the old stems with the fruit clusters are first cut off at ground level in spring. 

When all the leaves are dry and dead, you can of course also trim the entire leaf crown - preferably with a hedge trimmer or in clumps with garden shears.

In the milder regions of Germany, however, even in spring many leaves are still green in the leaf head. 

The dead leaves, on the other hand, are mostly rotten at ground level. 

Because it makes sense to preserve the green leaves, you should not use scissors immediately. 

To remove the dead leaves, simply put on sturdy work gloves - ideally with a rubber or latex coating - and then systematically comb through the top of the leaves with your fingers. 

Important: Never do this with unprotected hands, because the edges of the pampas grass leaves are razor sharp! 

With this technique a large part of the dry leaves can be easily removed. 

If they do not come off well, you can repeat the process several times later in the spring.

Important to know: Cleaning the top of the leaves is primarily a cosmetic measure and not absolutely necessary from a purely biological point of view. 

Over time, the dead leaves will detach themselves and be overgrown by the newly sprouting leaves.