[Willow Hill]

I have a maintenance issue with a very old, very large Pampas plant that hasn't been cut back for years. I'm in Oregon, where it has little time for dormancy, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I started cleaning up dead stuff first, and found that in the center, there are new shoots that are 6" in diameter and have what looks like aerial roots. These shoots start 2 -3 feet above the ground, growing out of the rotting center. The whole thing is about 6 feet in diameter. I can take hold of the shoot and pull it down and out and it breaks loose. If I pull those down, I'm going to eliminate any possibility of new growth coming after this clean-up, I'm thinking. The homeowner came out when she saw me getting to the green part, and is very concerned because this plant is very visible from her kitchen window. Knowing that, I worked on the back side and cut a few green (looks like last year's green to me) shoots to about 6" with my machete, to see if they will sprout again. It looks pretty wierd, but there is some semblence of the old giant left for the time being. I have never seen such a thing, and I wonder if anyone can make any suggestions. I know they are a serious problem as invasives, especially in coastal areas in CA, and I can imagine most professionals would say to get in out of there, but that is a MAJOR undertaking in itself. Is there any hope of saving this thing?

[sleepy]

Id cut it back with a hedge trimmer to a nice round ball 2' tall. It will come back. The only thing is the ends of the new growth might be square.
Id get rid of it personaly though.

[RootRot]

Not a problem here as far as invasiveness goes but it is a tough as nails plant anywhere. I would try to rejuvenate it as well, if they love it enough to be keeping it, and cut it back altogether. That would work here in NC, at least.

We have had Miscanthus that dies/rots out in the middle as well. This is a tough job for most ornamental grasses, but if you can dig out the center area that is rotted out stick a 3-5g new plant in the middle and it will fill in like new. You may be digging through a "Welcome" mat though with Pampas Grass roots.

Got any pics of this monster?

[Will Sharp]

all that advise is right on. The 3 to 5 gallon is a great idea. I have seen them burn it to the ground. I don't think you can kill it.

[Willow Hill]

Thanks for the good suggestions. I'm sorry to hear how hard it is to get rid of, because my clients have decided they want it out. They want to plant something near it first, like a tree with some shrubs on either side, to grow and eventually take its place. We are considering options for that. I just hope I can get it out when the time comes without damaging the new plantings. They may need to put up with a bad view for a time, cuz they let it go too long without maintenance . . .

[sleepy]

Weeee,
To get it out ! Heres the trick! Can you drive your 4x 4 up to it?
Dig all you can around and beneath the stump. When you cant reach the bottom about 3 feet down, Hook a choker up and around the base in the trench and slowly gear it out with the truck.(tractor)? Ive had much sucess with this method. It also works for big nasty patches of watsonia. To get rid of that by hand will take you all day just to pop the stump and you will still have to yank it out with some equipment.
Thats one gnarly root ball! Do I hear back hoe? Lol have fun!!!!!!
I had a freind that had a huge one and he had a party so he put the fire pit on top of the pampas lol It came back!
What an evil plant.