pampas grass.........

[kitteneyes]

Does any of you keen gardeners out there know when i should cut the flower part of f the pampas grass? So it already to flower again this year? And is there any thing else i should do to it, to mantain it??

[Clanad]

While we don't have the plant, some neighbors do and we have friends in Canada (we're in western U.S.) that grow it. It's quite hardy. The plants should be (according to our neighbor who has had it growing for at least 5 years) pruned back to about 2 feet tall in early spring. (In Argentina they set fire to the grass. It can be controlled by fire, but it almost explodes when lit... caution advised). He does his in March, but our growing season doesn't actually begin until maybe middle April or even early May. So, you may wish to do your's a little earlier. He cautions that the plant can actually cause damage to your bare arms and hands from the razor sharp leaves, especailly when dry. He prefers to use a weed whacker. He takes all the old growth off. Additional advice is that the plant can be quite invasive. Keep it under control by digging up sections and transplanting them if you wish. He does this in late fall orearly spring. Best of luck!

[buildersmate]

Because they are so sharp, I have also used the technique of setting fire to them. Works a treat and they come up strong next season.

[tomwakeman]

Don't set fire to it!
Be gentle, wait until the long brushes start to fall over, this happens all year round, then, just pull them out of the plant. Leave the straight, healthy ones. The 'flowers' or brushes only really seem to die off during winter, but as soon as the frost stops, they seem to start growing again, so just keep removing the ones that fall over and if you want to stop it getting really big, use some gloves to remove the dead and lower green grassy parts at the bottom.