What's the best method of removing pampas grass?

[alex_m]

have you disposed of them alex?

 

Yes, sorry andy. They are on the burn pile under loads of other crap. It would of been ideal - the job was in Finningham, not far from you...

[tommer9]

Like has been said- DO NOT burn in situ, as they LOVE this. That is what their natural environment is....regular fires.

[alex_m]

Like has been said- DO NOT burn in situ, as they LOVE this. That is what their natural environment is....regular fires.

 

will keep that in mind - our burn site is in the middle of an old ww2 airfield on a concrete pad, so should be ok

[Stephen Blair]

put a big dumpy bag over it, tie it tight then hedge cutter it at ground level or as close as, turn over bag, viola all the stuff is in the bag, get a round mouth spade, bull dog is my weapon of choice and dig around it and each time you go around go a bit deeper, use your other foot to put pressure on it so you can open it up as you spade it out, they pop like black heads, usually really wet under neath so easy digging.

[Ian C]

Put a good price on it and get a subbie in to do it. simples.

 

I did a big on a few years ago, bleedin horrible thing and got cut all over.

[welwell]

If its possible, burn the rubbish. If not, cut all the lose growth with a hedge cutter and bag it up (its very light). Cut the dense middle into blocks with a saw or hedge cutter. The roots are quite easy to dig out with a mattock.

 

Great advice, exactly what we've done in the past. Take care though, I've come across a few wasps nests in pampas grass.

[Mesterh]

put a big dumpy bag over it, tie it tight then hedge cutter it at ground level or as close as, turn over bag, viola all the stuff is in the bag, get a round mouth spade, bull dog is my weapon of choice and dig around it and each time you go around go a bit deeper, use your other foot to put pressure on it so you can open it up as you spade it out, they pop like black heads, usually really wet under neath so easy digging.

 

Sounds like a good plan:thumbup1:

 

 

 

Dont forget to all have your WCL ready too:thumbup:

[Dean Lofthouse]

Sounds like a good plan:thumbup1:

 

 

 

Dont forget to all have your WCL ready too:thumbup:

 

If you seperate all the individual blades of grass and weave it into baskets on site, you will not need WCL as it as now been turned into a product, rootball can be ground and composted

[nepia]

What I've done successfully with large Phormiums (not for the chipper either) is dig round the back half of the rootball, girth hitch an old strop onto it so that the strop's almost under the back half of the rootball if you see what I mean. Attach to pickup/truck/winch; drive off. With luck the strop won't ping off until the rootball's out of the ground.

[Treewarrior]

Thanks for all the advice guys. The pampas grass was 100 yards from my house at a neighbours. He has a slipped disc and can't dig or pull. Quoted him £50 to do the deed. Started at 6pm and finished,at 7,30pm.

 

He was so impressed that he gave me £100 cash and asked me back next week to crown lift 2 silver birch trees. Great job and great advice.

 

Put rope round bush, cut through at root level. Then laughed for 5 minutes as I couldn't drag the sod into my trailer. He then laughed at me, cursing as I split it into bits to get into trailer then spent 40 minutes digging all the root ball out. Then said never mind about the bits, I'll clear up, you get yourself home. What a great bloke!!