Homeowners are digging up the plant (stock image) (Image: Getty)
Homeowners in the UK have started digging up a particular plant from their gardens as they’ve realised it sends out a very unexpected message. The common plant is seen in many gardens across the country but, little you may know, it can make people think it’s a sign you’re a swinger.
Videos have been going viral on TikTok lately of people removing the plant from people’s gardens, with gardening experts such as NGS Gardening showing how to complete the task properly. Not to mention, another person previously took to Reddit to explain why they decided to try and remove theirs, and it’s left some a little startled.
It seems people are digging up the plant due to one particular issue, and April is said to be a good time to get the job done. It’s not the first time the problem has been raised either as, a few years back, sales of pampas grass also plunged as a result.
A social media user wrote: “Bought a house and dug out a massive pampas grass, becuase we are definitely not swingers! How do I get grass to fill the hole?”
The post got a lot of people talking. It was clear many didn’t know what the grass symbolised.
Read more: Lawns will be lush and green if you scatter simple item in garden in April
One person said: “Was it hard to remove? We’ve just bought a house with three huge ones and I hate them.” To this, the person replied: “I sawed through it with hedge cutters to about two foot tall and then it took me about an hour to dig out from there.
“It was an effort. Just couldn’t look it at it any longer!”
Another aired their confusion, simply writing: “Swingers?” Someone explained: “Having a pampas grass allegedly used to signal to people that you enjoyed swinging. E.g partner swapping.”
A third also noted: “This is making me cackle.” Little you may know, for years it was said that having pampas grass in the garden implied you’re a swinger.
It’s a widely recognised British urban legend, and is thought to stem from 1970s and 1980s suburbia when the tall plants were alleged to be a subtle sign to like-minded neighbours. Though some view it as a funny myth, others still don’t like having it around.
What you need to know
As well as its unusual alleged symbolism, people could also be removing pampas grass now as it’s a really good time of year to get the job done. April is considered an excellent time to remove or cut back pampas grass, as it falls within the ideal “late winter to early spring” window before the new, green growth fully takes over.
If you cut it back now, it will enable you to remove the dead, weathered and potentially rot-prone growth from winter. The key is to use sharp loppers or an electric hedge trimmer to cut the plant down to about six to eight inches (15cm to 20 cm) above the ground.
When carrying out the task, always wear thick gardening gloves, long sleeves and eye protection, as pampas grass has sharp leaves that can easily cut skin. Meanwhile, if you are removing it to divide it, spring is a really good time to dig up the root ball.
By April, the winter weather has often made the plant easier to cut back. This is why it’s good to try and tackle the job now.
If you want further advice, contact a professional gardener. They can help you to remove it if you struggle to do it yourself.
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