Pampas Grass Advice
Pampas grass is a showy ornamental that be grown without much care and is recommended for gardening zones 7 through 11. It's a plant that can transform a large empty space in your yard into a focal point. Pampas grass grows 8 to 10 feet tall and just about as wide. The plant is a good border for a flower garden or filler for a conifer garden. If you love beautiful landscapes, but don't have the time to take care of plants, pampas grass is for you.
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Picking the Location
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When planting pampas grass, location is important. Because the plant is so tall at maturity, other plants should be at least 10 feet away. Pampas grass needs full sun to partial shade and can't tolerate very wet soil. Finally, do not plant pampas grass at the end of a driveway or anywhere it will block your line of sight, including in front of a kitchen window overlooking a children's play area. In fact, because the leaves of the grass are very sharp, try to keep children away from it entirely.
Planting Pampas Grass
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Dig a hole about three times as wide as the root ball and as deep as the container you purchased it in. Take the plant out of the container, loosen the roots, place the plant in the hole and back fill it halfway up the root ball. Water the soil and pack it tightly around the roots. Continue to fill the hole with dirt and tamp down tightly. Water the grass again and fill any areas that have settled with more soil. Cover the soil with mulch. Pampas grass does not need fertilizer; in fact, it is really not good for it. Fertilizer will make it grow too tall, too fast and it won't be able to support the plumes.
Caring for Pampas Grass
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Pampas grass is drought-resistant and normally does not need to be watered once established, unless there are prolonged periods without rain. Pruning can be done in early spring--if needed. If the plant looks withered or sparse, cut it down to about 10 inches and it will come back full. Use scissors to cut off any dead leaves from the bottom. Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning. It may take as long as 3 years to get plumes on the plant, depending on how old it was when you bought it. Pampas grass has white or pink plumes. Ask for the color you want when you buy it.
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