Q. I have 3 large clumps of Pampas grass. They took a big hit this winter. They seem to be coming back along the outside perimeter, but the center is brown and dead. Should I cut the center back to nothing?
-Bellingham, Washington
A. Many grasses die out in the center but continue to produce new growth on the edges. You can leave it as is or you can undertake the difficult job of digging out the center. Most grasses have very strong fibrous roots, a characteristic which usually necessitates the use of a mattock or a pick and someone with a great deal of strength.
-Bobbie Schwartz, Bobbie’s Green Thumb
Shaker Heights, Ohio
