Hardy Pampas Grass Grows Well In North Carolina
i/car riant Doctor: I am writing
to obtain information and advice on
pampas grass. The five-year -old
pampas grass plants in my yard have
displayed poc: growth this summer.
Several plants have developed rotten
centers with the outside borders dis
playing poor growth.
Are poor growth and rotten cen
ters due to too much rain? Are these
plants susceptible to diseases, in
sects, or nematodes?
Please tell me the best way to care
for my pampas grass plants. Please
include fertilizer, pruning, or other
cultural practices for optimum
growth. ? Laurinburg
ANSWER: Pampas grass has few
insect, disease or nematode prob
lems. The rotten centers you men
tion are due to the normal growth of
the clump. Older clumps of this or
namental grass should be periodical
ly divided to maintain plant vigor.
Pampas grass (Cortaderia sell
oana) is a native to southern Brazil
and Argentina that was introduced
to the United States in the mid
1800 's. Pampas grass is hardy
throughout, most of North Carolina
(except in the higher elevations) and
will grow in nearly every well
drained soil type in the state.
In the late summer, mature plants
develop a showy 2-to- 3-foot, silvery
white or pink flower plume that tow
ers above the mound of leaf mass.
The most beautiful and larger flower
plumes originate from female plants.
Seed will not be produced unless a
male plant is within pollinating dis
tance, and male pampas grass plants
arc auiiu in iiic iiiiditjipc
Pampas grass does best in full
sun. Shaded plants will often survive
but not develop a bountiful bouquet
of flowers. Plants have large spread
ing root systems that forage nutri
ents very efficiently from neighbor
ing fertilized lawns or shrub beds so
little supplemental fertilizer is nor
mally needed.
However, if your plants arc rot
vigorous as you would like and the
foliage appears yellowish then con
sider applying extra fertilizer. The
nile-of-thumb for applying fertilizer
to pampas grass is to apply 1 cup of
8-8-8 or 10-10-10 per 1 foot of
clump diameter after growth has ini
tiated in the spring.
Pampas grass is best "pruned" or
cut back in late winter. This allows
for maximum enjoyment of the
fountain-like shape and beautiful
flower plumes in the fall and winter.
Pampas grass can be easily propa
gated by clump division during
February or March. Dig and divide
clumps with a sharp shovel or saw (I
have even seen this plant divided by
a back -hoe!) Replant the divided
portion immediately in tiie ground
or large pot. Maintain adequate soil
moisture until the plant is well es
tablished
Dear Plant Doctor: 1 have two
problem weeds in my centipede
grass yard and do not know what to
do to get rid of them (sample plants
enclosed). Don't suggest pulling
them up because I have tried that
without any success ? they keep
coming turk1 I also have lhe.se
weeds in an area with zoysiagrass.
I also have another problem. I
normally use a granular fertilizer but
in past years I see the granules on
the surface all season long. So early
this spring, 1 used a liquid fertilizer
and the grass looked almost dead af
ter several weeks. Now 1 am afraid
to use it again. What fertilizers are
better, liquid or granular?
? Long Beach
ANSWER: The weeds you so
kindly sent to me arc spotted spurge
(Eophorbia maculata) and
Dcgfcnnel (Eupo'nrium capilhfoli
um). Both these broadlcaf weeds can
be controlled by applications of
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Weed-B-Gon for Southern Lawns
Formula II or similar products con
taining the herbicides 2,4D. dicamba
and mecoprop. Be sure that the
product is labeled for centipedegrass
and all label directions are followed
since severe plant damage can occur
with some formulations of these her
bicides.
In a normal home lawn situation,
little or no difference is evident be
tween how a i<quid or granular fer
tilizer provides nutrients to a grass
plant. The main difference between
granular and liquid fertilizer 13 COSt
and convenience Neither formula
tion of fertilizer will work properly
in an excessively acid or alkaline
soil or in inadequate soil moisture.
Liquid fertilizers have the advan
tage of being rapidly available to the
plant (through foliage and roots), are
more uniformly distributed on the
lawn, and, properly used, have less
tendency to cause environmental pol
lution. However, liquid fertilizers are
also more likely to burn leaf foliage,
cause nutrient sait buiid-up in the
soil, and cost more per fertilizer unit.
Granular fertilizers are less expen
sive per fertilizer unit, can be applied
with ease to large areas, and most
importantly, can be covered with
special coatings to make the fertilizer
"time released." Granular fertilizers
can also cause severe foliage burn
and nutrient salt build-up. Granular
and liquid fertilizers each have their
uses; one is not necessarily better
than the other. Either product will do
the job if properly applied.
Dear Plant Doctor: Can you
please tell me why or what would
cause a nice cantaloupe to be taste
less and 1 tushy inside?
? ShaUotte
ANSWER: No. The quality of
cantaloupes is determined by many
factors including soil fertility, weat
her, disease, insects, cultural prac
tices, etc. ...
Growing good cantaloupes is like
baking a "Blue Ribbon" pound cake;
you have to follow a basic recipe but
allow room for refinements. I am
sending you Horticulture inform
ation Note #8 " Muskme Ions -Canta
loupes" by Dr. Doug Sanders (N.C.
State University) that will tell you
the best basic recipe for growing
firm, sweet cantaloupes. Hope you
have better luck next season.
Send your gardening questions
and comments to the Plant Doctor,
P.O. Box 109, Bolivia JVC 28422.
Please send a SASE if requesting a
reply or publication.
Suver'Marhets !
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'? boney wilson & sons, i nc. 1994 SEPTEMBER 7 ' 13, 1994
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