Cutting pampas grass is part of the annual care measures for the solitary perennial. In spring, when the first new green grasses appear, is the right time to prune.
How to cut pampas grass correctly?
Pampas grass should be cut back to 15 cm high in spring (March or April). To do this, use secateurs or electric hedge trimmers and wear gloves to protect you from the sharp-edged grass.
How to cut pampas grass?
Pampas grass is cut back to a height of 15 cm in early spring from March using secateurs or electric hedge trimmers. If the pampas grass is very large, it can be tied together with a rope beforehand. Gloves should be worn when cutting as the grass has sharp edges.
Cut pampas grass or not?
Cleaning and cutting are primarily for aesthetic reasons. So it isnot absolutely necessary to work on pampas grass. The dead branches would eventually fall off on their own. However, since the effort is limited, the procedure is not only worthwhile for hard-working hobby gardeners: the garden should also appear fresh at the same time as the spring awakens.
When should pampas grass be cut back?
As a hardy plant, pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) adds green, lively accents to the home garden even in the dark season. In contrast to other ornamental grasses - such as miscanthus - pruningin early spring also brings practical advantages for the pampas grass.
Cutted pampas grass in spring
Although the plant survives cold and frost well, cold, damp winters are a horror for it. It is not uncommon for water to build up around the heart or the clump of grass. If it freezes completely, the plant dies. That's why the long leaves of pampas grass should remain standing over the fall and winter. The pruning takes place in spring (March/April) when there is no longer any risk of longer periods of frost.
How do you cut and clean pampas grass?
In the regions of Germany with milder winter days, most of the pampas grass remains green and vibrant. If this is the case, so-called cleaning is often sufficient. In the first step, thedried and dead stalksare removed from the bush with thehand. Although the leaves are easy to pull out, sturdy gloves are a must; the edges of the leaves are very sharp.
Dried leaf tips can be removed with secateurs or electric hedge trimmers. However, if the winter was too cold and all parts of the plant have died, the pampas grass should be cut off completely near the ground. Otherwise, the dried material remains, which looks rather unkempt.
Cut pampas grass mechanically
Wearing gloves is also recommended for cutting. The first tools used are the practical grass scissors (€94.00 on Amazon) with long blades and the conventional garden scissors. With your free hand you grab clumps of dry leaves and gradually cut through the leaves with the grass shears.
To control the overgrown grass, you slowly work your way from top to bottom. Thick stems can be easily cut off with small secateurs. The plant is pruned until it only protrudes10 to 20 cm above the ground.
Pampasgras schneiden
Cut pampas grass electrically
Large grass growth is best tackled with an electric hedge trimmer. Electric cutting is not only much faster, it also saves effort. However, the foliage should be really dry. Otherwise it can happen that the hedge trimmer gets stuck in the fibrous leaves.
The hedge trimmer is placed close to the ground with the blade pointing away from the body. Then cut the grass evenly from side to side. If there is too much plant material, tufts that have already been cut should be removed from the grass so that they do not hinder further cutting.
Best way to cut pampas grass … NO MESS
Care after pruning
So that the pampas grass starts spring with magnificent fronds, it is worth taking good care of it and adding fertilizer in the form of compost, especially in nutrient-poor soils. This is incorporated into the soil in small quantities. A little compost can be added about every three weeks until flowering. In order to avoid unsightly growth, intensive fertilization should be avoided.
A good guide to determining the right amount of fertilizer is the formation of the flowers: if the fronds are stunted, it may be a little more compost. By the way, pampas grass in the pot should be supplied with liquid fertilizer every two weeks. In addition, water drainage should be guaranteed, as the plant does not tolerate waterlogging well.
Spring shoots
As soon as it gets warmer in spring, the pampas grass begins to sprout. Long, broad leaves grow in fresh green from the clump and, depending on the variety, stretch 100-250 cm in height. The first flowers appear from July or August and attract attention even when dry.
In autumn, the frost-sensitive heart of the plant is protected with its own leaves. To do this, tie the leaves together in a knot and secure the bunch with a rope and several knot points under the flowers. Fir branches and leaves, which are distributed densely around the base of the crest, provide additional winter protection. This is how pampas grass survives every winter.
Cut off, harvest and dry pampas grass fronds
Dried, the flowers of pampas grass are an ideal decorative element for living rooms etc. The elongated fronds appear voluminous on the one hand and light as a feather on the other. Loose or in a vase, they make an aesthetic contribution to the feel-good atmosphere in your own four walls. There are just a few things to keep in mind.
- Selection: Don't choose all of them, but only the most beautiful specimens to collect in order to protect the plant.
- Harvest: Cut the flower stems close to the ground on sunny days. (Caution: sharp-edged edges of the sheet - gloves are required!)
- Drying: Tie the stems together in the middle and hang upside down outdoors. The location should be dry and dark. Duration: 1-3 weeks.
- Cutting: Cut the stalks to the desired length. The grass can be additionally sealed with hairspray or florist preservation spray.
FAQ
When does pampas grass sprout?
Pampas grass sprouts quite late. Depending on the duration and severity of the previous winter, budding sometimes does not take place until May.
The pampas grass is still green, do you still cut it?
If the pampas grass has survived the frost periods well, then the green stalks do not need to be cut. Cleaning out and cutting dried leaf tips is enough.
Do you have to cut back pampas grass?
No, pampas grass does not necessarily have to be cut back. However, since the yellowed stalks do not look nice, pruning is recommended for aesthetic reasons.
How to cut pampas grass?
Pampas grass is cut close to the ground with grass shears or with an electric hedge trimmer in late spring. Since the edges of the leaves are razor-sharp, gloves should be worn when working.
When should pampas grass be cut back?
Pampas grass should only be cut when frost is no longer expected. This is usually the case in March or April. Cutting too early can cause lasting damage to the plant.
