How to Get Rid Of Pampas Grass- All Possible Methods Discussed

Jessy’s hobby is gardening. She has a rare collection of plants. She is very selective about her garden. To mark her garden boundary, she planted her favorite landscape plant. That is pampas grass. Recently she realizes that she made a mistake. The pampers glass is becoming invasive for her garden, and it is challenging to control them.

Jessy contacts the local Cooperative Extension Office to get suggestions about how to get rid of pampas grass. Are you facing the same problem as Jessy? Here you will get the suggestions to get rid of pampas grass.

This ornamental grass is very popular among gardeners. But before planting, it is necessary to know the consequences of it. Its information is also in the global invasive-species database. So please don’t be so crazy to plant pampas grass only because they look good.

How To Get Rid Of Pampas Grass

Pampas grass is a very common plant in coastal regions because of its tolerance of wind, drought, and salt sprays. It can grow with full sun but also can tolerate partial shade. It can tolerate soil types of wide range and also prefers moist, well-draining soil.

So people of these environments should have clear ideas about how to get rid of pampas grass.

Growth And Size Of Pampas Grass

Pampas grass grows extremely fast and can become very large, anyplace on average 5 feet high and 10 feet wide. It takes a huge area to grow. For mass planting, it spaces 6 to 8 feet apart.

When Pampas Grass Grows Most

Early spring is the time for the growth of Pampas Grass. Once planted, It needs very minimal care and doesn’t need watering unless it is in extreme drought. So it requires little maintenance to grow. So it is better to take measures to remove them before spring.

How To Control Pampas Grass

For maintenance, It should be pruned each year to the ground.

• These plants have sharp foliage, So the task of pruning should be done carefully using gloves and a long-sleeved dress.
• This annoying plant can also be controlled by Regularly mowing with a lawnmower.
• If the clumps are away from homes and buildings, you can also burn the foliage by taking appropriate measures and getting green growth without harming the plant.

Methods To Remove Small Pampas Grass

Two methods are to be followed to get rid of small pampas grass. But before that, safety measures should be taken like: wear safety glasses, heavy work gloves,long-sleeve safety suits, and boots to protect skin from the sharp edges.

1. Digging

Manually digging the grass up is a way to remove it from the land. Dig the roots with the use of a shovel. The roots of pampas grass are deeply seated, so it is not so easy to remove.

2. Jerking

Clasp the base of pampas grass clumps and forcefully jerk them out of the ground. Try to remove the entire root to reduce the chance of new plants growing.

In these cases, some help from friends may be needed. Keep in mind that you can’t miss even one root system. It would be best if you put all removed plants into a bag, especially those that have gone to seed then send the bag to the landfill.

Methods To Remove Large Clumps Of Pampas Grass

Full-grown pampas grass bear flowers. They multiply through with millions of seeds in time. So if your lawn is already filled with grown-up grasses, the combined use of physical and chemical methods is the best possible way and also an easier and faster process. To follow this process, Rubber gloves, safety glasses, masks,long-sleeve safety suits, and boots are essential.

1.Physical Method

The first step is to wear heavy work gloves. Then clasp several pampas grass stalks, bunching them together and cut as close to the ground with a pair of gardening shears. Then put the cut grass into a large bag, securely close the bag and dispose of at a landfill.

2.Chemical Method

Pampas grass grows very fast, and within a very short time, it can cover a huge area, it is difficult to spray them without affecting other plants nearby. Thus care must be taken when using herbicides that non-target plants contacted should not be affected. As much as you can, transfer other plants away from the field. If you have crops nearby, it is better to remove them first before chemical control.

Types Of Chemical

Two kinds of chemicals are available to use: Glyphosate and Haloxyfop. But Haloxyfop has negative backgrounds such as human health and environmental issues, So it is safer to use glyphosate. Each brand of glyphosate-containing herbicide has instructions specifically for that product. To avoid unintended damage and increase the effectiveness of the herbicide should follow these instructions.

How To Apply Chemicals

When the grass is cut down, It is ready to apply an herbicide. The first step is to put on a pair of rubber gloves. Please read the instructions on the label before using it. Spray the cut stalks with a ready-to-use herbicide. Pampas grass is compact, so it needs spray coating the entire clump, and the same thing must be applied to all the scattered clumps in the area.

Followup Treatment

It is difficult to say how to get rid of pampas grass in one step. You have to give some followup treatment again seven days later. Like:

• Cutaway dead leaves or clumps so it will be easy to see the center or base.
• Spray the second time around all the remaining green leaves.
• Monitor the area regularly and spray newly grown pampas grass with that herbicide.

Repeat the same procedure until all of the leaves are dead.

Keep In Mind

To remove established plants, several treatments may be necessary. Chemical control should only be used as a last option, as organic approaches are more eco-friendly. For more information about how to get rid of pampas grass, take advice from your local Cooperative Extension Office.