Fastest Way to Kill Pampas Grass
With a height of up to 10 feet, a clump of pampas grass can make an impressive addition to your backyard. Due to its size, this ornamental grass can also overwhelm your landscape. If you change your mind about growing pampas grass, or if you acquire a backyard with pampas grass, you may be tempted to dig it out. This takes a long time, especially for mature clumps. Instead, go the faster route and chop it down before treating it with an herbicide.
Cut the pampas grass down to a height of 3 feet, or less, with pruning shears. Grasp a handful of pampas grass leaves together in a bundle and chop them away with the pruning equipment. Repeat until the entire pampas grass clump has been reduced to a more manageable size.
- With a height of up to 10 feet, a clump of pampas grass can make an impressive addition to your backyard.
- If you change your mind about growing pampas grass, or if you acquire a backyard with pampas grass, you may be tempted to dig it out.
Spray what remains of the pampas grass clump with a standard glyphosate-based herbicide. Mist onto all exposed surfaces of the pampas grass, applying according to the guidelines on the herbicide's label as toxicity varies widely by product. The grass will die within two weeks.
Dig out the dead pampas grass, or leave it in the ground to decompose.
Kill Pampas Grass
With its low maintenance requirements and ability to grow in areas where other plants cannot, pampas grass can quickly spread and become out of control. It grows between 6 and 10 feet tall in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 11. However, with determination it can be done. Forcefully jerk the grass out of the ground. Try to remove the entire root crown to reduce the chance of new plants sprouting. Bag all removed plants -- especially the ones that have gone to seed -- and send the bag to the landfill. Grasp several pampas grass stalks, bunching them together. Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Spray the cut stalks immediately with a ready-to-use herbicide containing glyphosate as the active ingredient. Repeat the treatment seven days later.
- Spray what remains of the pampas grass clump with a standard glyphosate-based herbicide.
- Dig out the dead pampas grass, or leave it in the ground to decompose.
Tip
Wear gloves and a long-sleeved shirt to protect yourself from the sharp edges of the pampas grass.
Warning
If you try to dig out a pampas grass clump while it is alive, you run the risk of leaving behind bits of live grass stems and roots that can grow into new pampas grass clumps. Glyphosate kills all vegetation, so avoid getting it on any plants that you wish to keep.
Related Articles
References
- "The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses: How to Grow and Use Over 250 Beautiful and Versatile Plants"; John Greenlee, et al.; 1992
- "Ecology of Weeds and Invasive Plants"; Steven Radosevich, et al.; 2007
- Fine Gardening: Cortaderia Selloana (Pampas Grass)
- Texas AgriLife Extension Service: Grass Control
- University of California Weed Research & Information Center: Pampasgrass and Jubatagrass
- Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk Project: Pampas Grass
Tips
- Wear gloves and a long-sleeved shirt to protect yourself from the sharp edges of the pampas grass.
Warnings
- If you try to dig out a pampas grass clump while it is alive, you run the risk of leaving behind bits of live grass stems and roots that can grow into new pampas grass clumps.
- Glyphosate kills all vegetation, so avoid getting it on any plants that you wish to keep.
Writer Bio
Joshua Duvauchelle is a certified personal trainer and health journalist, relationships expert and gardening specialist. His articles and advice have appeared in dozens of magazines, including exercise workouts in Shape, relationship guides for Alive and lifestyle tips for Lifehacker. In his spare time, he enjoys yoga and urban patio gardening.
