Why, How and When To Trim Pampas Grass

Pruning shears

Pampas grass is a very beautiful plant to make your landscape stand out. To trim it, it’s easier if you bind the leaves together and then start cutting them down.

Although Pampas grass can make your landscape look incredible, you should keep leaves in check because it’s a very invasive plant. That’s why it’s so important that you maintain it properly.

Difference Between Trimming and Pruning

Many people use the terms pruning and trimming without thinking too much about what they mean. However, they don’t have the same meaning, even though they’re similar.

Pruning pampas grass consists of removing old, loose, dead, or infected parts of a plant. That way, you don’t have to worry about the rest of it being harmed or think that it can affect the other plants around it.

On the other hand, while trimming also consists of removing some parts of a plant, the act only speaks to the overgrown bits of it.

Therefore, trimming your Pampas grass consists of determining if it’s overgrown according to what your standards and removing what displeases you.

Why You Should Trim Pampas Grass

Pampas grass can be a great ally if you want to decorate your patio, garden, or even the inside of your house or apartment. Nonetheless, it’s one of the most invasive plants, which is why it’s prohibited in some parts of the world such as Greater Sydney, Hawaii, and more.

If Pampas grass is not illegal where you live, you should still trim it to ensure that it doesn’t overgrow. When all the conditions allow it, the plant can reach up to 12 feet in height and 4 feet in width, and that can make the trimming process harder.

How to Trim Pampas Grass

To trim Pampas grass, buy the right tools and make sure to wear long sleeves because the grass edges can slice through your skin.  

After binding the overgrown leaves together, cut the plant according to your needs. If you live in an area with mild weather, you can trim up to 20 inches if you want to. However, it depends on the outcome you wish to achieve.

When to Trim Pampas Grass

There are many ways to decide when it’s the best time to trim Pampas grass. For example, if you want to enjoy its white plumes as long as you can, you can cut them when the winter is over.

Cutting Pampas grass in the early spring also has the same effect as doing it in late winter. In that case, the most important thing is to trim it before the new growth starts appearing.

You can also cut the plant very short at the end of the fall if you care about keeping it at bay. The season allows you to also get rid of dried leaves and flowers too.

The good thing about trimming Pampas grass is that you can use the leaves to make your home more beautiful. Once you cut them, grab some of them, tie them together and hang them upside down for a couple of weeks. After that, they should be dried and ready for you to use as decoration.

How to Maintain Pampas Grass

Luckily, Pampas grass does not require any difficult maintenance process. All you need to do is to trim it once a year and make sure it has enough water, especially if you live in a very dry area.

Final Thoughts

Trimming Pampas grass is very important to keep the plant healthy and to ensure that it’s not growing out of control. Thus, make sure to do it once a year and pick the right time to do it so you enjoy the grass as much as you can.

Rachel Lean
Rachel Lean

Adventurer, loving nature and plants, particularly Pampas Grass. Happy to share with other people the knowledge that I accumulated on the journey of my life.