How to Get Rid of Pampas Grass in the Backyard

Check out how to get rid of pampas grass if you’ve grown tired of seeing them overgrowing in your lawn. This type of grass can grow beautifully up to 10 inches long.

However, not everyone is fond of them. There are 2 useful tricks to remove pampas grass growing in your backyard. Do prepare this list of equipment beforehand:

Ways to Remove Pampas Grass

1. Manually

Manually removing the pampas grass works best when they are still in the early stages of growth.

Tools to Prepare:

• Cutting shear
• Shovel
• Gloves, boots, and protective suit

Step 1: Suit Up with Your Protective Gear

Complete your protective gear before proceeding. This plant is enormous with sharp, pointy, and itchy blades. Ensure that you cover yourself adequately for safety.

Step 2: Trim the Pampas Grass

Use robust and durable cutting shears to start trimming the upper portion of the grass. This step is necessary, so it’s easier to dig out the plant’s root system later. Continue cutting the upper part of the lawn until all parts of the plant are gone.

Step 3: Clean Out All the Cuttings

After cutting the stems, clean out the area where you did the trimming. It will give you a more unobstructed view of dealing with the roots of the pampas grass.

Step 4: Dig Out the Root System

Once the upper part of the grass is off, the base of the plant should be clear now. Using a shovel, start digging out the roots.

Ensure that you are pulling out the entire root system, with not any part of it missing. Otherwise, it can still grow and infest your garden.

2. Chemical Control

Using chemicals is one of the convenient and fast options you can do today to get rid of pampas grass. If you want to make sure that you kill them immediately and adequately, it is vital to use the right herbicide.

Chemicals to Use:

To kill pampas grass, use post-emergent herbicide instead of the pre-emergent one. Popular chemicals are Haloxyfop and Glyphosphate. You can find them in most garden supply shops.

Step 1: Move Other Plants Nearby the Pampas Grass

The herbicide you are going to use is powerful enough to damage nearby plants, so it is essential to clear out space before use.

Relocate all plants near the pampas grass where you plant to apply the chemical. If there are crops near the area, it is also best to harvest as much of them before you schedule the chemical control.

Step 2: Suit Up to Protect Yourself

Once the plot is ready, and you’ve saved all plants nearby the pampas grass, it’s time to suit up with your safety gear. It’s necessary to protect yourself when using any chemicals.

Step 3: Spray Your Choice of Post-Emergent Herbicide

After you are protected, you can start to spray the herbicide to the affected area. As high as pampas grass can reach, they also grow very thick.

So, when you spray the herbicide, try to coat the whole clump as much as you can. Do this to all the clusters scattered in the garden that you want to kill.

Once done, wait for a couple of days for the herbicide to do what it does best.

Step 4: Trim Clumps and Dead Leaves of the Pampas Grass

After a few days, parts of the grass will dry out and die. Trim these dead leaves to expose the base or the center of the clumps.

If there are remaining green leaves, do a second chemical control using the same process. To get rid of the entire pampas grass, it often takes 3 to 3 times of spraying. Repeat the procedure as needed.

Step 5: Cut Away All Dead Leaves

Once all the leaves are all dead, start clearing it out to expose the base and roots of the pampas grass. Now, you dig and pull the root system out from the ground.

View this video to understand more about the process!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=H7TIzB0rZPs

Tips on Getting Rid of Pampas Grass

• Make sure that you are fully covered with protective garden attire, whether you are getting rid of the pampas grass manually or using chemicals.

• When done manually, it is ideal for cutting the leaves first. It’s more convenient to dig out the roots when no tall leaves are getting in your way. It is much safer that way for you as well.

• Whether you are manually digging out pampas grass or using chemical control, it is ideal for harvesting nearby crops. It will make sure that they are not harmed or damaged in the process.

• Only use herbicides intended for killing pampas grass and ideal for your target site.

• When doing chemical control to get rid of pampas grass, make sure you read the label, contents, and instructions before using the herbicide. Follow the recommended procedure to increase its effectiveness and avoid unintended damage.

• After digging the leaves and root system of the pampas grass, make sure you bag all the trimmings. Don’t let them have any contact with the ground. You can burn them where it is safe to do so or send them in the landfill to prevent new plants from sprouting. You can also hang the roots to dry out and eventually die before discarding it.

• Store the herbicide in places away from children and pets to avoid accidents. Avoid transferring them in other containers or reusing empty bottles after using them.

• Avoid doing chemical control in your yard when you are not feeling well. And when applying pesticides, avoid eating or smoking.

Conclusion

Pampas grass is considered an ornamental plant. However, if your yard has a bunch of them, it might be time to get rid of these plants. They can grow very long and wide with itchy, sharp, and pointy leaves. Pampas grass can also propagate fast, and when not dealt with early, they can overgrow your backyard.

Fortunately, there are ways on how to get rid of pampas grass in 2 ways, manually getting rid of them or by using appropriate herbicide.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API