Sooo, what are your thoughts regarding pampas grass?

[kjackson227]

I'd like to use this as a barrier between my front yard and my neighbor's. They don't keep a tidy yard, so I don't want to have to look at it anymore. Some have said that it's invasive, but others like it because it's fast growing. Thanks

[Curmudgeoness]

1. My first thought when I saw this was----DON'T.

It is invasive, it spreads out of control, it is next to impossible to get rid of if you decide you don't want it, trimming is a nightmare because the leaves are so sharp and will cut the crap out of you, and varmints love to nest in them. But I thought maybe I was wrong and it wasn't that bad...and I did a search for pampas grass removal. There was a lot to be found.

But if you still want to try it, read this first:

Pain in my A$$ Pampass Grass Removal


ok so anyone her got a great method of removing these lovely sawblade grasses of Gods design?

I've chopped them in half with a chainsaw and dug them out with a shovel...dug them out then yanked them with a truck... But with both these methods I always start thinking, "there's got to be an easier way" I guess I could get a bobcat and just yank them out of the ground, but getting a bobcat on this job would just be dumb...

I got 3 BIG pampas grasses to remove... Whats the secret recipe!!

Lots of comments at the site that you should read before making the decision.

http://www.lawnsite.com/archive/index.php/t-71432.html

[Denninmi]

2. Why would anyone think it's so hard to get rid of large grasses.

Cut it down short, and then spray the new growth with a grass-specific herbicide like Ortho Grass-B-Gon.

[kickysnana]

3. Hope it works out better than the bamboo that showed up in our backyard a while back(MN)

The neighbor did a nice job of landscaping and so we assumed that it came under the fence from his yard but when I mentioned it he said no he thought it had come under the fence from our yard. It was sure persistent.

Perhaps there is someone like Johnnie Appleseed going around planting bamboo everywhere to bring awareness to climate change. I guess we should be glad that the Giant Pandas didn't move in too.

[XemaSab]

4. How tall of a plant are you looking for?

There are some very large and very pretty Miscanthus.

Pampas grass is from hell; don't plant it.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. If your state ag dept says it's invasive, avoid it.

I can grow it here but a few miles away (different microclimate) it's incredibly invasive. There are other showy grasses (as Xemas mentioned, Miscanthus is a good one) which are less invasive .

[beac]

6. I'm not fond of the stuff personally. I think it looks weird and out-of-place in

most landscapes.

What about aucuba? It's an evergreen that looks lush all year round, has pretty red berries in the fall, is easy to propagate (just root in water) and grows 6-10 feet tall and wide. It's drought tolerant and super maintenance-free.
http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/aucuba-japonica-and-cvs-japanese-laurel.aspx



You can even grow rooted cuttings in pots as houseplants. I often give this as a house-warming present, telling the owners they can enjoy it indoors or plant it in their new garden.

[kjackson227]

7. Thanks everyone for the replies. I've decided not to plant the grass, afterall...

I'll try some of the other grasses that you all have suggested

[BlueToTheBone]

8. It's a non-native invasive

and I hope you don't plant it. If you want to build a plant barrier, there are many native tall grasses that will feed the birds and small animals with the seeds. Where do you live and I'll help you find something that won't hurt the environment and will feed the small creatures that depend on the plants we put in the ground.