I have pampas grass that is totally taken over

Question

I want to kill it but I have not been successful. Any ideas short of digging it up?

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Unfortunately the only way to get rid of the grass is to cut it down with a chain saw as low as you can.Then you have have to use chemicals to get to the roots to kill them off. If you do not wish to control the grass with chemicals you can try to smother it out with heavy black plastic or a lot of newspaper,however it will be a long process until all the roots die off.

Chase · Answer

Cut it down and dig it up. Section it with sharp shovel first, then dig out sections. I don't favor herbicides due to negative effects on people.

Melanie · Answer

Wear gloves! The blades of Pampas grass are surprisingly razor sharp.  Without gloves, your hands and arms will have hundreds of thin paper cuts!

Betsy Rodgers · Answer

I had 8 very large pampas grass plants and used Roundup to get rid of them. I started spraying in the spring as they started grow and sprayed periodically whenever I saw a piece pop up. You have to check often for new growth and spray it. The next spring there was no sign of it.

Terryt · Answer

Spray vinegar on it. It may take a second spray but it should do the trick and it is not poison. Just be careful not to spray on other plants you have around it.

Sue · Answer

Thanks everyone for your insight.  I was recently told to put rock salt on it.  Will give some of these ideas a try.

Karen Howard · Answer

I'd suggest you consult a professional website like Proven Winners or P. Alan Smith.com, that way you won't regret taking someone else's advice. Just sayin...

Scratchycat · Answer

Mix vinegar and salt together and spray on or pour on plant in spring. If you see new shoots, re-apply. Works for all kinds of weeds and grass.

KBM · Answer

If you want to plant something else there you will have to dig up the plants/roots. You also don't want use any herbicides/plant killer that will stay in the soil/surrounding area that will kill any new plants you put in there. If you do use an herbicide you may have to wait 1-2 years before putting new plants in that area. Why don't you ask your friends/family/acquaintances if they want some and let them dig them up? You can also offer them for free or low price on FB buy, sell, trade sites or in the classifieds for anyone who will dig them up. Then put in landscape cloth or dig up any remaining shoots to control them. There are alot of people out there who are looking for plants for their landscaping that are willing to dig up the unwanted plants of others.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Just a FYI although the salt and vinegar does work on weeds it may not be strong enough for the vast root systems of the grass. Another thought if there are existing plants around the pampers grass it will then kill that.

Shannon · Answer

Round Up

Shannon · Answer

Outlawing it would be fine with me, however it didn't appear in the question as an option already excluded so was offered as one way to kill the grass. No need for political agendas here, it is an answer to a question.

Arlene S. King · Answer

If there is a local Nursery that has a 'community board' - you could put a note on it 'Free Pampas Grass' and see if there are any takers. On Facebook, my area has a 'Garden Group' online -- and we swap and share everything from seeds to plants we don't want any more. Maybe you have one in your area?? Or you could start one.

AMY STABOLITO · Answer

Sue, after almost four years did you have any luck removing these? How did you take care of it and what was easiest way for you?

I have pampas grass that is totally taken over

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I have pampas grass that is totally taken over

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