Pampas grass is an attractive ornamental grass that is popular in many gardens. The plant adds a delicate and exotic flair to your garden, with its delicate stems, lush foliage and creamy white tufts of feathers. There is also pink pampas grass. The ornamental grass looks so impressive outdoors and every gardener would want this exotic in their own garden. And the good news is that if you want to plant pampas grass, it's actually very easy, and the plant is very easy to care for. In this article you will learn the most important onesGrowing tipsof this ornamental grass. Read on!
What to consider when planting pampas grass
How fast does pampas grass grow? You have to consider that the exotic plant grows very quickly and up to 3 mcan be high and wide. Therefore, you need to make sure that you grow it in a location where it has enough space to grow. Many people plant the ornamental grass in masses. Then you need to ensure a distance of about 2 m between the plants. Avoid areas near paths and children's playgrounds as the leaves can be razor sharp.
Which growing conditions are suitable for ornamental grass?
When does pampas grass sprout? As a rule, the ornamental grass sprouts in May, and in colder zones in June. The plant prefers full sun locations, but can also tolerate partial shade. As for soil type, it prefers moist, well-drained soils. The plant is tolerant of drought, wind and salt spray. If you grow pampas grass in cold regions, it mustbe grown in pots, overwinter indoors and be planted outdoors again in spring. However, due to its size, this isn't really practical. Pampas grass should be cut back to the ground every year, in late winter or spring.When cuttingalways use gloves as the leaves are sharp. You see, pampas grass care is minimal and simple.
When do you plant pampas grass? It is a perennial grass, meaning it goes dormant during the winter months and regrows in early spring. The best time to plant pampas grass is before mid-summer so that the ornamental grass has enough time to grow strong roots before winter. The ornamental grass blooms between late August and early September, but the plumes look good for months. The female plants produce the most delicate and beautiful flowers in bright colors and the male plants have smaller, grayish-pink flowers.
How to plant pampas grass in the garden
The easiest way to grow pampas grass in the front yard is to purchase it as a small plant that you can plant in the ground. Most species grow to at least 2 to 3 meters tall, so you should inquire carefully about the height and spread. If you buy a finished plant, here's how to plant pampas grass correctly:
- Dig a hole that is the same height and width as the plant's root ball.
- Add some mulch or a general purpose fertilizer to the hole. Remove the plant from the pot and gently pull out the roots with your fingertips.
- Place the plant in the hole and fill it back up with soil. Press lightly and pour with a full jug.
- Fertilize pampas grass once in early spring, but avoid overfertilizing as this encourages foliage growth rather than elegant flowers.
You can grow pampas grass from seeds
Sowing can be done indoors between February and April. Follow these steps:
- Plant the seeds in a tray of seedling compost and water the soil adequately. Place the container on a warm, sunny windowsill and cover with plastic wrap. The seeds take around 20 days to germinate.
- Once the seedlings are large enough,you can repot themand when they become bushy, you can plant them outdoors in summer. Which soil for pampas grass? The plant needs nutrient-rich and moist but well-drained soil to grow. You can till the soil and add a balanced fertilizer or mulch to your garden, or add silica sand to improve drainage.
- It takes a few years for the new plants to bloom.
Plant pampas grass in a pot
You can also plant pampas grass in a pot. Since the plants grow large, you can also opt for dwarf pampas grass. Choose a large pot and add a few handfuls of garden soil to the soil to ensure good drainage. You will need to repot the plant as it grows larger. Young plants can be gradually repotted into a larger container, but ultimately you need something that can hold a large plant. A container of at least 38 liters should be sufficient for potted pampas grass. This also means a lot of soil, which makes the plant very heavy.
Pampas is a drought-tolerant grass, but in a container it needs regular water, especially in summer. With ornamental grasses in pots, the nutrients are used up more quickly, so you should provide the plant with a nitrogen-rich feed in early spring. The plant's leaves may become tattered or simply die in winter. Cut them back in late winter and early spring to improve appearance and encourage new leaves. In a few years you should repot the plant. Then divide it so it doesn't get too big.
