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Post by JennyWrenn on Nov 16, 2009 7:21:11 GMT
I have had my Pampas Grass plant now for many years and this year it had its normal 35 plumes showing thru This year however the plumes are not very tall at all and the leaves are out growing them. Normally they tower above the railings I NEVER feed it FB so it cant be that - it isnt used to being fed Any ideas?  I prune it back every year and not done anything different It is about 14 years old |
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Post by Jasmine on Nov 16, 2009 7:43:22 GMT
I've had a look around for reasons your pampas grass may not have done its best this year and (I'm sorry to mention feeding  ) this is all I could find. Once established pampas grass is practically trouble-free. There is no need to spray for insects or any other bothersome garden pest. It will grow in most soils and responds favorably to frequent fertilization. To obtain good growth and plume production, pampas grass should be fertilized with a complete fertilizer (6-6-6, 8-8-8 or 10-10-10) at a rate of two pounds per 100 square feet four times each year. Maybe it has just used up everything in the surrounding soil. i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/undecided.gif |
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Post by farmersboy on Nov 16, 2009 9:31:33 GMT
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Post by Tig on Nov 16, 2009 12:03:03 GMT
It could also be partly due to the cool wet 'summer' we had this year, as although they don't mind wet conditions they do need lots of light and good drainage to perform well according to one of my books.
x Tig
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Post by Auricula on Nov 16, 2009 17:38:29 GMT
Mine has gone so mad this year that we are taking it out completely ( it was inherited)
Cutting it back invigorates it, so it probably has exhausted its plot Jenny and needs feeding in the spring.
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Post by JennyWrenn on Nov 16, 2009 18:00:56 GMT
Oh dear feeding !!!!!! - FOUR TIMES A YEAR - oh no  The plumes are very pretty but also pretty small  |
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Post by maggy on Nov 16, 2009 21:24:23 GMT
Arent you supposed to split them when they get congested Jen? maybe that is what is wrong! my neice that has just moved into a bungalow has one in the front and asked me if I knew anything about them pruning etc; I goodled it and found a lot of information on them, I sent her the link, have a go and see what you can find.
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Post by JennyWrenn on Nov 17, 2009 6:36:00 GMT
I dont think they are congested Maggie - I, or well a friend, cut them so far back I thought it would die but the middle is bare - nothing there - maybe if I threw a bag of fertilizer there it would liven it up  I'll post a piccy later I think would need a JCB to dig it up as did try this one year but it wouldnt budge |
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Post by maggy on Nov 17, 2009 20:19:05 GMT
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Post by JennyWrenn on Nov 17, 2009 20:45:04 GMT
Thank you Maggy that is really helpful Here are my healthy plumes  Sadly not very big  |
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Post by maggy on Nov 17, 2009 22:22:17 GMT
Oh I think they are lovey ;D I much prefer them to the very big ones my niece had in here garden !! it looked a bit like a forest of pampas!!
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Post by Auricula on Nov 18, 2009 0:03:20 GMT
I was really put out when I went to Argentina. The pampas grass, on the pampas, wasn't spectacular as I thought it would be.......it looked just as scruffy as mine does - and nowhere near as attractive as yours, Jenny ;D
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Post by JennyWrenn on Nov 18, 2009 5:45:48 GMT
Oh thank you  I have another one that hasnt grown too high this year and this one has much more delicate plumes than the one shown I really love them but sadly like the Buddleia the plumes are quite ugly when they have started to die back None of the Q's put to Bill the expert in the link were related to my prob  but he says it likes well drained soil Mine has thrived year after year in clay soil  But here is what he says ARE YOU READING THIS FB  You have got to ignore your Pampas Grass Thomas - do not water it or feed it and the shortage of water plus nutrients will hopefully force your Pampas Grass to flower. |
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Post by Jasmine on Nov 18, 2009 10:51:53 GMT
Your pampas looks lovely Jenny - I think I prefer the shorter plumes. It is a whopper of a plant though - you weren't joking about the JCB. I managed to dig one out of our old garden but it was tiny compared to yours!
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Post by Auricula on Nov 18, 2009 18:04:48 GMT
Mine is 2mtrs high and 11/2 mtrs wide - but OH will have to dig it out - I'm adamant it's going!!!!!
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Post by farmersboy on Nov 18, 2009 18:29:20 GMT
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Post by Dutchy on Nov 18, 2009 18:59:09 GMT
There are short Pampas on the market this year. The first arrived this Spring.
Do you have any idea how expensive those are?
Lucky you to have a short one for the much nicer price of a tall one.
Besides it is a beauty and does not appear to be in the way.
I'd do as suggested ... nothing.
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Post by carolann on Nov 19, 2009 8:44:09 GMT
That Pampas is a little gem Jen ;D the one I dug out earlier this year was 4 times bigger and it had been in the garden for 25yrs + and it had never been fed or trimmed back.
Auricula if you get enough dry days just set fire to yours and it should dig up very easily mine did.
I must say that the soil where it was is like Coconut fibre and very light not like the clay stuff everywhere else.
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Post by Auricula on Nov 19, 2009 16:58:09 GMT
Thanks Carolann  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2009 7:19:40 GMT
My Pampas will be gone by spring and replaced by veg me thinks  |
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