Ornamental grasses have so many great properties for container planting. They are very easy to care for, are suitable as privacy screens and also look very pretty with their stalks. Pampas grasses are among the most popular grasses. But after they have decorated the terrace and balcony during the summer months, the cold winter follows. What now? Will the ornamental grasses survive the low temperatures in the pot? What should you consider if you want to overwinter pampas grass in a pot?
The plant is not very hardy in a pot, so you should keep that in mind before the frost season begins. Nevertheless, it is certainly possible to get them through the cold season and enjoy their beautiful appearance again in the next. Proper protection is very important, especially if you are overwintering young pampas grass.
Overwintering pampas grass in a pot – what protection does it need?
The good news is that youdo not necessarily need winter quarters, although this would be the more practical and less cumbersome option.
- The winter garden is well suited.
- Pampas grass feels comfortable in the greenhouse when it is cold enough.
- A bright cellar offers optimal conditions for the grass to overwinter.
However, if you have to keep the potted plant outside, it is important to choose the right location and othersto take protective measures.
Where should pampas grass be located?
- The place should be protected from wind and, if possible, from rain. Usually the inner corners of the terrace or balcony are ideal for this.
How to protect pampas grass in winter:
The plant container is exposed to the cold from all sides, which would not be the case in the ground, and therefore needs to be insulated.
- Use wood or Styrofoam as a base. This protects the underside from the cold ground.
- The sides of the pot also need to be insulated. You can use special film for this, which can be purchased at garden centers, for example. The desire should be able to circulate well in the chosen material.
- Spread brushwood, straw or leaves over the root area to protect it from above. You can cover the pot soil more easily if you tie the grass together beforehand (see below).
Is pruning beneficial for overwintering or not?
As soon as the stalks dry out, you will probably feel the need to trim them. However, you should resist this desire becauseCutting pampas grassNot until spring. Until then, the blades of grass offer a certain level of protection for the roots and therefore remain standing. However, if the container is in an area that is not covered, you should prepare the above-ground part of the grass.
Pampas grasses that are in the garden must always be tied together, otherwise they will be crushed by snow. In this moist environment, the stalks rot over time and diseases can spread, which can ultimately cost the plant its life.
How do you prepare the ornamental grass?
- It's best to wear gardening gloves.
- Take a long enough piece of yarn and wrap it around the entire tuft.
- Pull the string together and wrap it around the ornamental grass again for more stability.
- Pull it closed again and tie the ends together.
Overwinter pampas grass in a pot – you can also braid it!
In the garden, it is not uncommon to see the dead grass above ground braided. This has the same useful effect as tying, except it looks significantly more attractive and interesting. Of course, this variant is also wonderful for the container garden. This makes the dry grasses look much prettier and you get an interesting decoration for the terrace or balcony in winter. So if you overwinter pampas grass in a pot, don't be afraid of this option and give it a try after winterizing the pampas grass.
What does the care look like after the cut?
As already mentioned, only cut the grass in spring and this also applies if you overwinter pampas grass in a container. To do this, shorten all blades of grass to just above the ground (or the surface of the soil in the pot) - 15 to 20 cm. The fact that you have tied it together beforehand also makes the task much easier. The new shoots should appear a short time later. From then on you can care for the grass the same way you did before. However, before you free it from winter protection and place it in its original location, it is best that the frost periods have passed or at least the risk of the soil in the pot freezing.
