Planting pampas grass in beds & pots

Pampas grass does very well not only in spacious beds, but also in pots. Let us show you what to consider when planting pampas grass.

If you have decided on one or more pampas grasses (Cortaderia) to beautify your garden, then it is important to find a suitable place for them. This ornamental grass is used in the open ground or planted in sufficiently large containers to place on the terrace or balcony.

Planting pampas grass: when to plant pampas grass

Pampas grass can be planted throughout the gardening year. The most ideal planting time is in late spring after the last frost. Then the grass will have enough time to get well accustomed to its new location before the next winter and grow in the best possible way. If you decide to plant in autumn, then there is a risk that the pampas grass will become rotten or even sustain frost damage due to increased wet weather. However, well-prepared and protected planting is also possible later in the year.

Where to plant pampas grass

Pampas grass needs a warm location, preferably in full-sun. The selected place should be protected from the wind, so that the long stalks of flowers do not bend. The ornamental grass must have enough space to spread. Because its eyrie raches a diameter of one metre plus.

Pampas grass needs a nutrient-rich soil that is also well-drained. If the soil is too firm, you can mix in sand or small pebbles. The addition of pebbles and sand has a draining effect and thus prevents waterlogging. To ensure that the ornamental grass is well supplied from the start, it is advisable to mix in a good dose of compost or slow-release fertiliser such as our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food when planting.

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Planting pampas grass in pot

It is also very decorative when planted in a tub or pot to decorate patios and balconies. You should only avoid growing pampas grass indoors. There, you can rarely find a place that will provide enough light, and the indoor climate is also not good for the plant in the long term. The south side of the house is an ideal place for pots.

Suitable substrate

If you plant pampas grass in a pot, then the planting substrate should ideally consist of garden soil, sand and humus or compost. These are all the conditions needed to thrive. If you like to use a ready-made potting soil mix, you can use a high-quality universal soil such as our peat-free Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost or a special soil for ornamental grasses. The most important thing is a permeable structure that allows air and water to completely penetrate the substrate.

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Pampas grass in pots: successful overwintering

The easiest way is to move the pampas grass in a container to a suitable frost-free and at least partially lit room, so that it can overwinter there without damage. It should be watered from time to time in the process.

If such a possibility is not available to you, then the pot should be thickly wrapped with bubble wrap and the rest of the plant tied together at the top and wrapped with fleece. It is advisable that the pot is placed on a movable planter from the beginning.

Planting pampas grass in flowerbeds: 6-step procedure

Below, we show you how to properly plant pampas grass in your own garden step by step.

1. Choose a suitable place. Here you should ensure that the soil is rich in humus and loose, as well as water-permeable, and the grass is placed in a sunny position, protected from the wind.
2. Dig a sufficiently large planting hole. The volume of the planting hole should be at least 50 litres.
3. Water well when planting, but do not because waterlogging.
4. Return the excavated soil to the planting hole and only lightly compact it – the rest will settle with rainfall and watering.
5. Plant the next plant in the same way with sufficient distance (1 – 2 m).

After planting comes care: You can find out how to properly prune pampas grass so that it is protected in winter but also sprouts abundantly year after year in our article on pruning pampas grass.