pampas grass

[mimififi]

I have a humungus pampas grass in my front garden which is all lovely, billowing inthe spring breeze, but its leaves are like flippin knives!

It is on our border and the leaves hang over next door's front garden and they are relatively elderly, and I worry about the nasty leaves scratching them.

Also, the thing is getting untidy, the plumes are falling over having been blown around by the coastal hurricanes and it in short needs a hair cut.

SO, when is the best time to prune pampas grass, and also, how do i do it. Any top tips for coming away not looking like I've been an extra in Pirates of the Caribean!?

cheers

[Thunderbird+]

When the flowera look faded and a bit tatty, thats the best time to prune. Go in gradualy with some very sharp shears until you are left with a kinda stump, you can actualy set fire to this and it will rejuvinate it.

It will flower well if you add plenty of well rotted manure around the roots.

Ps dont forget to inform your neighbours if you decide to set it on fire!! All the Best.

[sense4all]

My parents used to call it "slash and burn time" after they got lacerations, my dad said nothing gave him greater pleasure than to set fire to it.

My mum used to thread string around the base, then wiggle it all up until she could tie the string mid trunk ( holding up the leaves ) double knot, trim around , untie the knot and tidy up.