The grass, which is actually insensitive to cold, reacts to too much moisture in winter. Therefore, you should winterize the pampas grass. If you follow the steps for overwintering, then nothing can happen to the decorative plant outdoors.
In a nutshell
- Wetness in winter can damage it
- Pampas grass is tied together for overwintering in the bed and in the tub
- Brushwood and leaves on soil above the roots provide additional protection
- Prune pampas grass in late spring
Table of contents
- time
- Utils
- tie together
- Further measures
- Pampas grass in a bucket
- Care
- frequently asked Questions
time
Since the grass can withstand cold temperatures of up to -17°C, it is not important how cold it is in autumn, but how wet. The end of October to mid-November is a sufficient time for measures to protect against moisture. However, measures should definitely be taken before the first night frosts happen.
A notice: If you your pampas grass cultivated in a pot, you should put it in a sheltered place at the same time. A place outside where it is protected from rain is suitable for this, but a bright garage or an unheated greenhouse are also ideal.
Utils
To prepare your pampas grass for winter you need the following items:
- Gloves
- secateurs
- long enough cord
- Twigs and leaves for cover
- plant fleece if required
tie together
To make the pampas grass winter-proof, the entire plant is tied together in a tuft. It is advisable to proceed as follows:
- Carefully grab all the grass with gloves and start the first lacing at about knee height from the bed. Pull the rope around several times and knot it tight at the front.
- This process approx. Repeat every 40cm. You can easily reduce the distance towards the top. It is important that the fronds form a point at the end so that liquid can run off the side.
- Cut off any cords that are too long or knot them several times. While tying, check if short straws are sticking out. Both form weak points for hibernation.
A notice: Ideally, you should work in pairs, especially with larger plants. Then tying it together is easier. Wear long clothing and gardening gloves to protect yourself from the sharp stalks.
Further measures
Since the liquids from above alone are not the only risk for the overwintering of the pampas grass should also protect it adequately on the ground.
- mulch with leaves
- alternatively cover with brushwood
Pampas grass in a bucket
If you have the pampas grass in a bucket under a roof hibernate would like. It is protected from moisture but you should also protect the roots of the plant from too much cold. This is because the roots of plants cultivated in containers are more and more exposed to frost because they are surrounded by less soil. So that your pampas grass in the bucket is also winter-proof, we recommend covering it with garden fleece, jute or coconut mats.
Tip: For extra protection, it is advisable to place the pampas grass on polystyrene or wood in the bucket so that the cold cannot penetrate from below.
Care
If the pampas grass remains in the garden bed in winter, no care is usually necessary. Nevertheless, there are a few things to consider:
- regularly check the lacing
- the high-tied grass can be loosened by the wind
- too much moisture can loosen the ropes
frequently asked Questions
So that the tied pampas grasses become decorative again after the winter, they are freed from the ropes in the spring and slightly cut back. About 15 to 20 centimeters of the no longer attractive flower stalks should remain above the ground. You can then use a claw to comb out the decorative fronds that are still green.
If the bucket with the pampas grass is placed in a place that is protected from moisture, it is important that you make sure that the plant does not dry out. The substrate should always be kept slightly moist. Even in very dry winters, the bedding plants should get a little water from below to the roots. Because pampas grass also evaporates the water over the winter and can therefore dry out if it doesn't rain or the bucket is dry.
Depending on the region in which you live, there is the possibility of overwintering without tying them together. The temperatures should not fall below -17°C and if it gets too wet from above, it has to be protected. However, this only applies to adult specimens.
Yes, in recent years, pampas grass braiding has become a new gardening trend. You braid from the bottom up, replacing the rope you would otherwise use. How well the water drains off laterally cannot be precisely ascertained.