Is it normal for pampas grass stalks to start to turn brown after splitting and transplanting them?
Answers:
The ones that are turning brown will die, the rest of the plant with root again and come back next year. No worries, it just needs time!
Other answers:
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The new canes of a clump of pampas grass tend to emerge around the perimeter of the clump. Over the years, as the clump matures and grows in size, the center dies off, so that you are left with a ring of green leaves with a center core of dead and decaying material. If that's the case, consider dividing it in the spring. Dividing an established clump of pampas is by no means easy. The matted rhizomes are tough to split. Be prepared to go in with a sharp machette. Or, in my case, a Tiger Saw armed with an old pruning blade! Don't attempt the job when the clump are fully leaved out - if you haven't already noticed, the sharply serrated margins of the leaves could prove to be painful!
My understanding is also that pampas is not salt tolerant. If the clump is in any situation where there might be a build up of salt - too near a path, driveway or road that gets gritted and salted in winter for example - you will need to amend to soil. To do this, it would still be better to dig it up, divide it and amend the soil before replanting.
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The new canes of a clump of pampas grass tend to emerge around the perimeter of the clump. Over the years, as the clump matures and grows in size, the center dies off, so that you are left with a ring of green leaves with a center core of dead and decaying material. If that's the case, consider dividing it in the spring. Dividing an established clump of pampas is by no means easy. The matted rhizomes are tough to split. Be prepared to go in with a sharp machette. Or, in my case, a Tiger Saw armed with an old pruning blade! Don't attempt the job when the clump are fully leaved out - if you haven't already noticed, the sharply serrated margins of the leaves could prove to be painful!
My understanding is also that pampas is not salt tolerant. If the clump is in any situation where there might be a build up of salt - too near a path, driveway or road that gets gritted and salted in winter for example - you will need to amend to soil. To do this, it would still be better to dig it up, divide it and amend the soil before replanting.
the plant is stressed so there will be some die back..... shear the plant back and next year it will rebound... it is a grass so it is safe to trim it back..... this way it should survive - keep watering!