Unlike many others, I seem to have a couple of new pampas grass plants that truly appear dead. I just planted them early/mid summer last year and we did not have an overly cold winter. But the leaves are cream-colored and almost white. While others yards in the area have beautiful new greenery abounding, my two new plants are still in what I "thought" was a dormant stage. How do I truly find out if these are dead or is there something else I can do to make them start having the shoots start? Thank you!
It is possible they were winter killed, especially as you refer to them as new. If you planted them in early fall for instance, they may not have established enough roots, or may have been too neatly groomed to have any insulation from the cold. If you have many stems, choose one near the middle, cut it down lower than the rest by half or so, perhaps to within a few inches of the soil. The center of it may have green or pale moist growth. In a few days, that tiny core will be up taller than the bit you trimmed. That's telling you it still has life in it.
