How to clean and protect from pampas grass

The long silvery white plumes of this giant grass give it all its charm. They can reach more than 3 m in height. When winter comes, we must clean the base of the stems and the withered leaves.

What tools to prune the pampas grass?

Material:

pruning shears
gloves
string or solid tie
protective veil or perforated plastic film

Advice :

Depending on the geographical location of the garden, remove the winter protection from February so as not to interfere with the departure of the vegetation.

Decorative pampas grass:

Before the plumes are fully ripe, they can be cut and dried upside down. They will make sumptuous dry bouquets. Spray a little hairspray to keep them whole as long as possible.

Maintenance: how to cut flowers from pampas grass?

Before the first frosts, cut the floral stems and plumes with a solid secateurs. Put on gloves, because the leaves of this grass are quite sharp. Prune as close to the stump as possible otherwise, there will end up being a mound in the middle.

Size: clean the tuft

Clean the clump by removing the dried leaves. You can also cut some of it when the pampas grass begins to become invasive. Shred all waste and bring it to the compost, spraying it with a decomposition activator.

Pick up and tie stems and leaves

Then pick up the remaining leaves to form a straight tuft. Tie them together with a string or a very strong tie. Attach at several heights when the foot is old. If the winter is very cold in the area, the center of the clump can be protected by garnishing it with dead, dry leaves.

Cover to protect

To prevent rainwater from rotting the plant, cover it with a winter protection veil or plastic film held in place by strong ties. Use a perforated plastic so that the foliage continues to breathe and that there is no condensation inside the envelope.

When to prune pampas grass?

Each fall, remove the faded leaves and cut the flower stalks. Then install winter protection.

How to dry and maintain the “feathers” of the pampas?

The flowers of the pampas grass dry easily and will not require any special treatment except to put them upside down, to prevent the stems from bending. However, you will have to remember to shake them regularly to prevent them from becoming dust nests!

Where is pampas grass found?

Originally from South America, pampas grass is now cultivated almost everywhere in our latitudes. When the climatic conditions are mild and temperate, it can even quickly become invasive .