Cortaderia Selloana, aka Pampas Grass. From the Sunset website:
"This well-known landscaping form ofCortaderia—like its truly weedy and noxious cousin C. jubata—may send its seeds into the wind under certain circumstances to germinate and grow wherever they land. For that reason, nurseries in some areas no longer sell Cortaderia at all. Many horticulturists recommend against further landscaping with C. selloana and suggest removing it from gardens that border wild lands. Be sure to grub out volunteer Cortaderia seedlings whenever they appear."
We will be removing this. Gladly. What they fail to mention is that it will also become home to every piece of vermin in existence. My lovely wife called me at work the other day to inform me that the noxious bush must go, as it currently has the permanent lovely aroma of urine. I'm honestly frightened to tackle it. It currently stands about nine feet high and just as wide. Every year is spent removing the volunteers, which normally needs to be done with a shovel as they grab hold quickly.
The City has even sent flyers to the citizens specifically asking them to no longer plant this. I don't blame them in the slightest.
Addendum, May 25: We tackled this over the weekend and a little advice, long sleeve shirt and tape or tuck your trousers to your boots. I'm not sure how, but the full length of a few grass blades made it the full length of my trousers. Let me tell you, the blades contain cerrations, or teeth, or whatever you want to call them. Horrible pulling those things out.
Good post! In March, I wrote about my dwarf pampas grass (http://tanyasgarden.blogspot.com/2010/03/pampas-grass-bad-guy.html). I was trying to decide whether to compost its clippings or not. After doing some research, I said NO to composting and plan to cut the flower stalks before seeds ripen.
ReplyDeleteJust go watch some Jacki Chan or Bruce Lee movies, wrap a bandanna around your head and go for it ( better you than me )! Get yourself in attack mode. We have complete confidence in you out here in blogville.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the size of this in your garden makes me glad I have winter. It keeps things that grow that big down to a resonable size. I have pampas grass, but it is a small clump that I cut down each spring before it starts to shoot up again. It makes seed heads but I've never had volunteers from it. Try tying it together with duct tape so it's solid and use a chain saw. I know people who do that when they cut their pampas grass down in the spring. Don't know if you can tie your's together that easily since it's huge but maybe... Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI agree that no one should plant this grass. I hope the removal goes well and that your back is not too sore afterwards :-)
ReplyDeleteI feel like putting your blog post in the windows of some local stores, and highlighting parts of it in yellow! There's a fair bit of it around here, and it's so difficult to resist the urge to take my chainsaw to it! I hate the stuff! It's running wild in some of our area wild-lands, and it simply doesn't belong there. Kudos to you for getting rid of your pampas grass, you'll be so glad when it's finally gone!
ReplyDeleteThank you, everyone. We started tackling it this past weekend, and it is going to be a devil to get out. I was thinking the chainsaw approach, but was concerned it would bind it up. I have an old rip saw, maybe I'll just try that.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like quite a chore! I'm sure that you can find far more attractive things to plant in its place.
ReplyDeleteSylvana, I think chore is putting it mildly. I'm not looking forward to tackling this beast. To compare, the fence to the right stands nearly six feet tall. That should give you an idea of my battle.
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