Is fall a good time to plant pampas grass?

Question

I'm in the midwest where the soil is somewhat clay-like. Any extra helpful hints are appreciated. Thanks

Answer 1

Go for it. Pampas grass Cortaderia selloana or Cortaderia jubata (most likely selloana) is a seriously hardy grass and takes some real talent to kill. My advice is use some peat or a soil additive to help it get a late summer start and make sure and use a complete and balanced fertilizer (13-13-13), usually sold for about $6.50 a 40LB bag. This will help the plant get established which will help keep it alive in the winter. I would be very surprised if it died as I have planted hundreds in the fall.

David
(masters in Horticulture)

P.S. maiden grass is not a viable substitution for pampas (10' vs 4' maximium). You could use a caberet silver grass or another tall growning silver grass but I would stay with the pampas. Make sure and wear gloves and use a hedge trimmer to trim them to about 16" in early spring (when forsyithia is blooming) and you will not have the die back. Also make sure they have good iron (you live in the Midwest so this should be ok) that will help prevent die back also...

DONT CUT IT DOWN IN THE FALL! not in Midwest

Answer 2

Do your REALLY want to plant pampass grass? The blade edges are sharp and cut the skin easily. Mowing around them is a blood letting experience. Trimming them back...the plumes...you need armor.

Also they get quite large and die out in the middle. Then what? You think you can dig it up and divide it like a perennial? Maybe with a backhoe. Ornamental grass plants have an intense fiborous root system that repels shovels and strong backs.

Might I suggest you look at Maiden grass instead....Miscanthus. OK, it doesn't have the real fluffy plumes (their plumes are still pretty especially if back lit by setting sun), but it is a beautiful ornamental grass and won't slice and dice you and is somewhat more agreeable to being transplanted.....somewhat.

Answer 3

Your going to need to amend the soil so that you have better conditions for it..Fall is a good time to plant Pampas grass. Fall is the best time to plant anything. In fact..be careful where you plant it, it can become very invasive. I just found this website and it seems to have good info in it.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/redw/pampas.htm

Answer 4

Pampas grass will grow anytime. ... anywhere. You have to cut it back in the spring. If you don't the middle will die and it will keep getting wider and wider.... I just pulled out a couple and took them to the dump...
It probably will not bloom until next summer / fall if planted now. Just keep it watered through the hot summer days that are left.

Answer 5

They do very well in clay soil. Plant them in the spring. Fall is when you cut them down and they "hibernate" for the winter. Then grow back in the spring.