Q. I cut my
pampas grass back and then ran the stalks and old blooms thru a
chopper. Making lots of dust etc. Then I became sick with what I
thought was a cold. Now we think it is an allergy to the pampas
grass dust. Have you heard of this?
A. I've not heard
specifically of anyone being affected in the way you state, but
I can well believe it. Ornamental grasses including Pampas
grass can cause a lot of misery to allergy sufferers, usually at
flowering time in the fall/autumn.
The pollen will have the greatest concentration
of allergens, but the whole plant is likely to have lower-level
similar chemicals that are usually held safely in situ.
Shredding it and making so much dust will throw these allergens
into the air as it seems happens with you. You don't say if you
are prone to allergies, but even if you aren't the concentration
as fine dust may have just been overwhelming.
I usually burn or directly compost pampas grass
leaves.
Q.
I have a pampas grass and was led to believe that you had to cut
it back after flowering each year and burn the stump that's
left. Do you cut any back?
A.
It's not necessary to do so - see the annual maintenance shown
in the pictures above. It will be a few years for a newly
planted grass before it needs dealing with in this manner.
If your grass is in an isolated
position (not like mine - up against a fence), then burning is a
quick, easy and effective way to get rid of old growth. Choose a
late winter or early spring day - January to march, before any
new growth has started and push some newspaper under the old
yellowed, dry leaves. The grass should be dry if you do this and
it is preferably done in a light breeze. It will burn fiercely
but briefly and the ashes will help to fertilise the coming
years growth.
Q.
I have a Pampas Grass as shown in the above advice. It is four
years old, leaves some 2m high and looks good. I am aware it needs trimming in girth. What is the best way to
do this please. Work outside to inside or leave and totally
replant in a few years time ?
A.
At four years old, your plant sounds almost fully grown, it will
do best if allowed to do what it wants i.e. without regular
drastic cutting back, so allow it to do its own thing and see if
you can live with that - it will be a healthier and happier
plants for being allowed to do so.
If you do decide to trim it, the
best way is to work in from the outside, if you feel it's too
large for its situation then get a dwarf variety if you decide
to uproot and replant.
Q.
When is the best time for planting pampas grass seeds? Is it
best to sprout the seeds indoors over the winter for a more
rapid growth rate the following year? I plan to use the plants
for a barrier between my property and a heavily travelled
roadway. It is to the west of my home so it should give us a
nice view with the sunset.
A.
Seeds are naturally sown when they are ripe, so this is the best
time to sow them. Some will start to grow straight away, others
will need a winter before they start. Sow them in a seed tray
and place it in a sheltered part of the garden, a coldframe is
ideal, transplant the seedlings when they are large enough to be
safely handled, wait until around midsummer before discarding
the seed tray as they may well germinate at very different
times.
Bear in mind that seeds will be
of the basic species, if your plant is a particular named
cultivar, it won't come true to type.
Q. I
planted pampas grass seeds 2 yrs ago, they are now planted in
the garden where they get full sun all day until late afternoon,
they have not yet flowered could you tell me how long it will
be before they flower?
A. It's more
of a case of size than age. If the mound of leaves is about 4-5
feet high, they should start to flower. Having said that - 2
years is rather too young.
Q.
Can the seeds off the plume of pampas grass embed into human
skin, and then die and fall away from human or is there a
parasite in the seed that enables seed to embed into skin?
A.
Er... that'll be a NO to both questions
Q.
The recent high winds have snapped 3 of the 8ft tall flowering
heads leaving only 2 intact. Should we cut the damaged stalks
at the point where they broke (about half way up) or closer to
ground level?
A.
I hold the broken stem below the break and pull upwards so it
breaks at a point that the plant "decides". Suggest you wear
gardening gloves and long-sleeves before you delve in.
Q.
A family up the street just moved in he does not want the pampas
grass that is in his yard they are about 3-4 feet tall he said I
could have them my question is when is the best time to dig
up and replant them in my yard with out any harm to the plants.
A. The best
time is in the dormant season which is approx between leaf-fall
and Christmas. If this is not possible, move the plant with the
max of soil around the root ball - dig out as large a root-ball
as you can manage, and re-plant immediately if possible. If it's
not the dormant season, then water it in well and make sure it
is well watered - deeply - every few days, it's almost
impossible to give amounts and frequency, this is where your
green-fingers kick in!
