Pamapas Grass

Lynne C

We have a huge pampas grass on the front lawn, we only moved here 18 months ago and nothing was done to the garden for at least 10 years other than cut the grass.  We want to take it out completely but have been told we'll never get rid of it. Does anyone have any good ideas on what to do with it and when would be the best time?

So far we have been advised to burn it but that would be dangerous as its really big and close to the house also cut it down and pour weedkiller on to it and then there is digging it out but we are on heavy clay which is pretty solid at the moment.

BobTheGardener

It will be hard work and you will need to wear protective clothing as pampas grass has extremely sharp edges.  It is also tricky to dispose of as it doesn't rot down quickly in a compost heap and will wrap itself around the internals of a shredder.

I had one with a metre diameter base right next to a fence.  I cut it down to the ground using a chainsaw and then treated any regrowth with a glyphosate based weedkiller.  It was dead in about a year.  The 'stump' was then dug out using a sharp spade, pick-axe, mattock, pruning saw and copious quantities of painkiller for my back.  It doesn't need any of the type of weedkiller which will poison your soil to stop regrowth - that's not a big problem with pampas grass.

If you are fit you should be able to do it yourself in the same way, if not, consider paying a professional to get rid of it for you including removing the roots using a stump grinder.  If you can afford to do that, get several quotations.  The same firms which remove hedges will be able to do it.

nutcutlet

I used a mattock and did it over a few days,

I wouldn't try itwhen the ground is rock hard. I'd leave it till winter

Lynne C

Thank you for all of the advice you have certainly given us a plan of action now. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy job as its so big and it must have been there for many years. Now I just need to persuade the man of the house to give me hand, once I get the chainsaw out I'm sure he will come running  but with the ground being hard  I may try the weedkiller and leave the digging till later.

Katherine W

Do keep mind Bob's recommendation to wear stout protective clothing when you cut it down. That stuff is nasty.

RachaelTovey

Just taken one out... it wasnt that hard. A lot of it was rotten an just came out...roots not that deep.

So I cut it down first and then took a fork to it...watching out for hedgehogs... I had an idea I might find one but I didnt... it just pulls out in clumps once weakened with a fork.

Trouble is Ive now got a huge pile of stuff to get rid of  bit at a time...

Fairygirl

I think if the OP is still trying to remove her pampas grass 5 years down the road @RachaelTovey, it may be a sturdier beast than yours....