The grass with the hole

alfharris8

Inherited a very overgrown Pampas Grass which was very congested with dead stuff.
Cut it well back and whilst it now looks very much healthier a sizeable hole in the middle remains.
Will it continue to grow and fill in time or will I have to divide it and replant separately?
Thanks. 

Hostafan1

good luck trying to dig it up to divide it. 
My gut feeling is to get it all out and start again with a new one, or something else

Plantminded

The centre will not regenerate, this is typical of ornamental grasses as they age and expand outwards.  It will be coming in to its flowering stage soon so see how it fares between now and spring and then decide on its future.  @Hostafan1 is right, they are particularly difficult to dig up and divide!  In spring, when the flowers are fading and the earth is moist and more workable, this may be an easier task.

Fairygirl

I think one of those flame guns would be the easiest way to get rid of it. Digging those out would take a bit of effort. Depends how much muscle power you have @alfharris8
There's one in the pavement near me, on an odd little patch of ground which looks like it should be a cultivated spot, but is council owned, but never maintained by them. Horrible thing. 

thevictorian

I only know a few things about pampas as it's not something I'd really want to grow. Make of them what you will.

1. The leaves are only dangerous if you go into the plant, the serrations are to stop things eating it so if you back out they don't cut you.

2. They burn them to remove the old foliage and it shouldn't kill them. This is because natural fires do this in nature making way for new growth. 

3. Like other grasses they grow out from the centre and will keep doing so unless you intervene.

And the last one could just be folklore but 4. It was a sign that you were a swinger if you had one planted in your front garden.

Plantminded

An excellent summary @thevictorianzFH0qqPW!  (Point 4 was alluded to in an episode of Location, Location, Location - I'm not sure whether they bought the house!)  Despite their potentially thuggish nature, they can make an attractive specimen plant in the garden, particularly in Winter when their flowers add interest with movement, light and sound.  If you do resort to digging your plant up @alfharris8, the dwarf version, Cortaderia selloana "Pumila" would make an excellent replacement, it is well behaved and easier to blend with other perennials in a border.  Even the folks at GW like it!:Cortaderia selloana 'Pumila' - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine (gardenersworld.com)

Blue Onion

thevictorianzFH0qqPW said:

And the last one could just be folklore but 4. It was a sign that you were a swinger if you had one planted in your front garden.

   

Dovefromabove

No. 5 … they’re often cited as being used by hedgehogs as a spot to sleep in or even to hibernate in … so please check for residents before doing anything 🦔 🦔 🦔 

bédé

Dove, a wise counsel.

I was about to say set fire to the plant in spring.  That is traditional.  I will now say: very late spring.  And of course, with care.

In the ashes, select the best placed offshoot and dig up the others.  Chop them up and compost.  Or plant them anywhere you like - except the front garden, unless ...

Fairygirl

It was a fairly well known 'thing' in the 70s re swingers. 
Maybe I should put a sign up outside the house where the one near me is. He's a total PITA so the publicity it might attract could be fun....

I've never understood why it's still for sale - or why people buy it. So many grasses which are infinitely more attractive and better behaved.

philippasmith2

I inherited a Pampas in my last garden - planted between the raised pond and a wall at the end of a gravel path so it was limited in it's spread.
The Grass snake often curled up underneath from where it could easily nip into the pond and I always left the flower plumes as the sparrows stripped them for nesting material in the Spring.
Whether they were Swingers or not, I never really liked to enquire