Battle of the Pampas

[Dazed_Lily]

I'm in the process of removing several huge clumps of pampas grass. I believe it to really be Fountain grass and as I struggled with clump 1 today, I unearthed the original plastic id tag that read pampas(but what does Better Homes & Gardens know). Anyway, 5 clumps of pampas stand between me and planting my potted daylilies(oh, just about 50 of them!).
Had a guy come out to give me an estimate on removal: $350 !:rolleyes: He said it would have to be hand dug because my gate is only 3 feet across and he can't bring in anything big. So I figured if it can be hand dug, I'm gonna do it. Clump 1 should be the worst of it. Although Clump 2 is a close runner up. Yesterday I cut them all to the ground so I could get a clear shot at the base and roots. Those leaves will give you paper cuts all over. Clump 1 was 7 feet across and the clump base was a good 3-4 feet across. After much shovel use and the use of one of those steel combo picks/hoe, clump 1 was conquered ! I am on break right now.
The score so far is is: Me 1 Pampas 4
I might still try clump 2 yet today. ;)

[Dazed_Lily]

Update
Me 6 Pampas 0 Game Over !
(I actually had 6 not 5!).

[Ann B.]

YAYYYYYY, for CATHY!

You won! You actually won!

I bet you're going to be sore tomorrow, though!

Just think how much your daylilies are going to love you! It'll be worth it, and I can't wait to see a picture of them in bloom.

If it wasn't sprinkling, I'd be digging today. NICE and COOL! That makes a big difference.

[sue salley]

Cathy aka SuperWoman. Will you please come to my house for a couple of weeks. I need some trees planted?

[Dazed_Lily]

Heaven knows where the energy came from. I do recall telling the second clump that "in the end I am going to win, so you might as well cooperate" LOL! I was a little concerned after that that I’d hit myself in the foot with the steel hoe or fall over on my face while rocking the clump out, and the clump would have the last laugh. :D

[Tom]

Couldn't help thinking about this thread today as I passed a house with this very large backhoe that was digging up large clumps of Pampus Grass. They had a big dump truck and it was nearly full of the stuff.

The thing that amazes me is the amount of it that sells at nurseries every year! Wouldn't you just love to put a tag on every pot warning the potential buyer about what's in store for them down the road?

[Dazed_Lily]

Absolutely !!!!
The following plants should not be planted in the home landscape:

Pampas(and all matter of tall clumpy grass)
Hummingbird Vine
English Ivy

I have all 3 ! (yep, next I go after the other 2!).

[Roy Morales]

I f you have a livestock auction near , buy a goat , tie goat to clump . It took a week . The goat ate everything .
This was just outside my property line , city got pissed , their plants but my fence .
The stuff was tearing up my fence . They wanted to charge me to replant .
OK , where do I file a claim for my fence ? I'll be at next council meeting and show them the pictures . That way everyone who has this stuff can get their fences replaced also . they dropped it .
I gave the goat to a guy 5 houses down - his kids love it and it has eaten all his pampas grass

[Tom]

Hey Roy,

Do not lose track of that valuable animal! Good job! I am really impressed.

Unless I miss my guess, this is not the last of the pampas, you may need to borrow the goat back next spring.

[Ann B.]

That brings back memories... Daddy obtained two goats one year. The two goats became many. They do eat almost anything in sight, but somehow they left the azaleas alone or Mama would have been mighty mad. They had plenty to eat, and it was a lot easier to maintain the 3 plus acres of land.

He used an electric fence to contain them, but one year a pack of wild dogs overcame the barrier. The goats were like pets. It was a sad sight.

Avoid getting a Billy Goat. They get BIG!!!! Friendly, but BIG!!!

[Roy Morales]

I gave it[ goat ] to them and spread / sprayed with round-up [ area of PAMPAS ] . The city lets anything growing go until fire Marshall tells them to clear it then they cut it and leave .
It is a drainage ditch / canal . Nice because ducks , egrets , cranes , geese play there . But raccoons , skunks , opossums think it's their personal Hi-way at night .
They bring in the occasional flea and / or tick .

[vicki]

I haven't been able to overwinter pampas grass, but after
reading this maybe that is a good thing. I love the looks of the grasses though. I have a few clumps here and there, not very big yet. I have lots of open room and have planted grasses out by the fenceline (that doesn't and probably never will have fencing) so I hope they get huge! But the
mature size say 5-6ft. being in a way colder zone than ya all, I'm hoping I don't have this problem. Keeping my finger crossed.
visited brandels gardens last year (not to far from me) and she has huge clumps of grasses. I'm sure I shared the pics here. Some grass she has is over 12ft without the plumes blooming!!!!! It's really gorgeous! So maybe it's all in the
placement of the grasses and what type you get.
But what do I know, I'm still a 'newbie' after 5 yrs. :)

[sue salley]

This year I have noticed more people using the tall grasses in their landscapes. I've seen some beautiful ones. I guess it is okay if you put them where you want them and don't decide to move them. I have the pink pampas but it has never gotten that big. But it does seed all over the place. I've noticed a lot of small birds hanging on the plumes eating seeds. Hope they get them all this year. The little gold finches are so beautiful it is worth growing it.

[lbfoss]

Cathy --what a woman, way to go.

After having dug out a 4' strip from the lawn around the perimeter of my yard I sympathize with you, back breaking work!! I have been occasionally trying to remove the surface roots from the felled maple tree using an ax.............Do you think a goat would help??

Loved Roy's story