The pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) from South America is also very popular in this country. It is particularly decorative in large gardens. The herbaceous sweet grass is persistent and forms large clumps of plants. In the summer months, imposing panicles of beige-white, vanilla-yellow or pink flowers appear, which also last a long time in vases. Pampas grass is not particularly demanding when it comes to caring for it. Mainly the right location and also the time when planting pampas grass are crucial for good growth.
Plant pampas grass
planting time
Normally, the specialist trade offers the pampas grass in plant containers. In principle, therefore, planting is possible throughout the gardening season, from spring to autumn, provided the ground is not frozen.
However, the best planting time is always in the spring after the ice saints, i.e. from May 15th, because
- there is enough time for the development of a robust root system until winter
- Plants can grow well and get used to it
- in winter, sub-zero temperatures can also be easily withstood
If possible, Cortaderia selloana should not be planted in midsummer. During this period it is very dry. The pampas grass loves drought. However, it can quickly dry out here. Regular watering can help, but there can still be difficulties with growth.
tip: When buying, care should be taken to ensure that it is a female plant that comes from vegetative propagation. In contrast to male grasses, these delight with a great willingness to flower and an abundance of flowers.
Planting in autumn is also possible
Of course you can also plant pampas grass in the fall. However, there is a risk that the grass will rot due to the damp weather. In addition, late planting in the year can also lead to greater frost damage.
With good preparation and appropriate winter protection, however, later planting in autumn is also possible. The important thing here is
- good soil preparation
- If necessary, mix in some sand and hummus
- cactus soil can also be added
- especially on loamy soils
- waterlogging can occur there in winter
- Dig a planting hole at least 40 cm deep
- should always be twice the size of the root ball
- Enrich pit with compost
- Choice of a dry, wind-protected and sunny location
- Soil should be rich in nutrients and permeable to water
- ideal sandy and slightly rocky soil
- Avoiding waterlogging
- choose the right planting distance
Just a quick note, Cortaderia selloana can also be planted in tubs. Here, too, it looks very decorative on the balcony and terrace. Planting can be done here all year round.
tip: Since the blades are very sharp, it is easy to injure yourself. therefore keep small children and pets away. Always wear gloves when working on grass.
Winter protection for new plantings
Especially when planting in autumn, winter protection is necessary, even though the grass is hardy. The roots are not very resilient at this point. It is also important to protect the heart of the plant from moisture. Without appropriate winter protection, frost damage can quickly occur.
- Tie the leaves and flower fronds together lightly at the top to form a tuft
- Cover the root area with a thick layer of leaves or straw
- additionally apply spruce brushwood
- Wrap potted plants with a thick layer of bubble wrap or fleece
- alternatively hibernation in a frost-free, bright place
planting distance
The American pampas grass is available in different varieties. Depending on it can easily reach a height of 45 cm up to 300 cm. The blue-green leaves are typically 100 to 200 cm long and the flower spikes can reach a height of 100 cm or more during a gardening season. Here you can already see that a relatively large space is required when planting. In addition, the grass is very fast-growing and needs a lot of space to spread. But not only an appropriate place is necessary for good growth, but also sufficient nutrients.
Smaller plants standing in the immediate vicinity can quickly be overgrown by the pampas grass. But not only that, but the Cortaderia selloana would also receive too few nutrients due to the close proximity to other plants. Therefore, when replanting, the size of the garden should always be taken into account, whether there is enough space for the impressive grass. The distance is also important in order to avoid injuries. Since the leaves overhang outwards and are also very sharp-edged, the space requirement should not be underestimated. It is therefore a planting distance of
- at least 100 cm, better still 150 cm recommended
- Distance applies to other plants
- even with staggered group plantings or row plantings of the grass
- when planting in tubs, at least a volume of 40 liters is required
This distance to other plants on the balcony and terrace should also be maintained when planting in tubs, so that the grass can also really have an effect here.
tip: A special eye-catcher in the garden is a pampas grass planted in the lawn as a solitary plant. Not only does it look very decorative, but there is also enough space to spread here.
Division and replanting in spring
This grass is clump-forming. These clumps can become quite large over the years. Sometimes there is not enough space. The only thing that helps is a division and replanting of the root pieces. The best time for this is spring, after the ice saints, at the end of May. The procedure is as follows
- Cut down pampas grass
- Expose roots carefully
- Cut off the root parts with a spade
- alternatively divide root ball into two pieces
- then transplant to a new location
- Maintain a planting distance of 100 to 150 cm
- water regularly during the growth phase
- Avoid waterlogging
- Start fertilizing with compost, alternatively horn shavings
- until autumn everything grew well
notice: After the division, flowering can fail completely or only occur sporadically that year.