Pampas grass is native to South America and is therefore used to cold winters. Nevertheless, the ornamental grass needs some winter protection, especially in the first few years. This also applies to plants that are grown in pots. How to prepare pampas grass for winter.
Older pampas grass does not need winter protection
Pampas grass is hardy
Pampas grass is hardy, but needs a sheltered location. Older plants usually survive frost in winter without any problems.
With younger ornamental grasses, you should definitely protect the ground from frost by heaping up leaves or laying fir branches around the eyrie.
Tie the fronds together in the fall
Pampas grass is not cut in the fall. The fronds are tied together at the top and only removed in the spring when new growth begins.
The recommendation to tie the grass together at the top has a purpose. In winter it is often very humid, especially when there is a blanket of snow. If moisture penetrates the eyrie of the pampas grass, it begins to rot. The tied stems protect the inside of the plant from moisture.
Overwinter pampas grass in a bucket
Potted pampas grass needs special winter protection, as the soil here freezes through much more quickly than outdoors.
Place the tub in a sheltered corner on the patio or balcony. Place wood or other insulating material underneath. Wrap the pampas grass with fleece, foil or pine branches.
You can also overwinter the plant in a cool, bright spot indoors if you have the space.
tips
If pampas grass grows in very windy and unprotected locations, it can make sense to bring it indoors in winter. For this, the rootstock is dug up and stored in the cellar with some soil. It is planted out again in the spring when no more frosts are to be expected.