As decorative as pampas grass may be, it does not suit every garden style. If the ornamental grass has grown significantly, a garden can also become too small. Digging up pampas grass is not an easy task, but it cannot always be avoided. How to properly dig up pampas grass.
How do you dig up pampas grass properly?
To dig up pampas grass, you should first shorten or cut off the leaves and, if necessary, tie them together at the top. Then pierce the root area with a spade and break off the roots piece by piece. For older plants it may be necessary to cut the rhizome with a hatchet or saw.
Remove pampas grass permanently from the garden
- Cut or shorten leaves
- tie at the top if necessary
- Cut the root area with a spade
- Break off roots piece by piece
When you start digging the ground, it turns out that digging up pampas grass is not an easy task. If you remove the ornamental grass by hand, do it piecemeal and spread the work over several days.
Wet soil is easier to work than when the soil is very hard and dry. To dig, choose a day after a long period of rain or heavy downpours.
If you want to permanently remove pampas grass, you can also work on the rhizome with a hatchet or saw so that it can be divided into pieces more easily.
Rejuvenate and multiply pampas grass
To prevent pampas grass from growing so large, you should rejuvenate the plant regularly. This is also a wonderful way to propagate the ornamental grass.
Rejuvenation or propagation occurs by dividing the rootstock. You don't have to dig up the pampas grass completely. All you need to do is dig a ring around the plant and then cut off sections of the rootstock with a spade.
If the ornamental grass is still quite young, digging it out is easier. You can then take the clump completely out of the ground and stick it through the middle. It is important that at least two eyes remain on each section. The root pieces are then placed in the soil or in a bucket at the desired location.
Never dig up pampas grass without protective clothing
Whether you are cutting, tending or digging up pampas grass, always work with gloves and protect your eyes and upper body. The leaf edges of pampas grass are razor-sharp and can cause serious injury.
Instructions on how tobraid pampas grass can be found here.
Tip
If the pampas grass is very large and sprawling, you should consider hiring a specialist company to dig it up. With a small garden excavator, even plants with roots that reach deep into the ground can be removed quickly and effortlessly.
