If you plant pampas grass, then you really have an eye-catcher in the garden. Read here what you need to consider when planting and caring for it.
Pampas grass is easy to care for
The ornamental grass, which grows up to 3 meters high, is very popular in our gardens because it is not only easy to care for, but can also offer optimal privacy in the garden. In the summer months, beautiful white-beige, vanilla-yellow or rose-colored panicles of flowers form, which offer a particularly decorative sight in flower vases.
» Attention:
In the case of pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana), you must be careful not to injure yourself on the sharp-edged leaves. Small children should therefore not play in the immediate vicinity of this plant.
| American Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | upright, clump-forming |
| Growth: | 90 - 250 cm |
| Growth: | 100 - 120 cm |
| Flower: | silvery white |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | fresh, permeable, nutritious |
Planting pampas grass - How it's done
Buy or share a plant
The pampas grass is available in many garden centers as a perennial plant. Of course, you can also use a spade to carefully separate pampas grass from an existing plant and replant it in another location.
Select location
Pampas grass generally prefers drought, so you can plant it in a sunny to slightly partially shaded spot. Accordingly, the soil in which you want to plant it can be sandy and rocky. If the soil is too wet, you should even mix in sand and/or cactus soil before planting.
In addition, when choosing a location, you should choose a spot that is as sheltered as possible from the wind, so that neither the stalks nor the flowers of the pampas grass snap off in stronger storms.
» Important:
When planting, you should make sure that the pampas grass quicklyspreads and therefore requires sufficient space. It can therefore also overgrow the plants in the immediate vicinity or severely restrict their habitat.
Caring for Pampas Grass
The pampas grass needs adequate irrigation during its annual growth phase, insofar as climatic dry periods prevail. However, you must avoid waterlogging.
You should also fertilize the pampas grass during this time. You can then repeat this several times every 2 to 3 weeks (fertilize up to 4 times).
Cutting pampas grass - instruction with video
You should never cut back the pampas grass in autumn, even if the leaves are drying up at that time. It is best to cut pampas grass in early spring to get the plant through the winter and to avoid frost damage from water penetrating the stalks.
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The best time for the ideal pruning is recognizable when the first fresh shoots become noticeable. Of course, you must not cut back these young shoots. However, you can shorten all old straws to a length of approx. 20 to 30 centimetres.
» Important:
You should definitely wear cut-resistant gloves when cutting back the pampas grass!
Winter pampas grass
In very frosty areas, the ornamental grass needs some protection in winter. It is usually sufficient if you fill the root area with a thick layer of leaves. You should also carefully tie the stalks and flower spikes together with a soft ribbon to form a tuft.