How to Trim a Pampas Grass Plant

Overview

Cortaderia selloana is a beautiful ornamental grass that serves landscapes well as specimen, screen and ground cover plants. Pampas grass is tough, undemanding, pest-resistant and attractive to wildlife, and it requires little in the way of maintenance. Harsh winters often damage the leaves, but a good, healthy trimming in the spring before new growth begins quickly rejuvenates pampas grass plants. The leaves are armed with stiff, saw-blade-like edges, so it's wise to wear sturdy gloves and long sleeves when tackling this chore.

Step 1

Remove cold-damaged leaves from your pampas plant if you live in a region where the winter is severe. Cut the entire plant back to about 2 feet above ground. In milder climates, trim only dead stems off at the ground. The rest of the plant can be left as it is, or you can trim it back as far as 2 feet above ground.

Step 2

Cut out dead, yellow or damaged pampas grass leaves and stems throughout the season.

Step 3

Snip brown or ragged tips from the leaves as they occur to tidy the plant's appearance.

Step 4

Remove problem leaves at the base of the plant. The rough saw-like edges of pampas grass shouldn't be allowed to obstruct walkways. Cut out leaves that impede mowing efforts, as well.

Step 5

Dig pampas grass up in the spring after several years when new growth begins coming in only around the plant's perimeter. The center will be dead and bare. Divide the clump, discard the center section and plant the divisions.