Beginner Gardening: pampas grass, 1 by volric22

volric22 wrote:
I have a pampas grass and have had it for some 5 years now, it came with the property.
I have not fed it, or done much with it at all.
I have heard that they are better off being burnt back every few years how essential is that? and how does it benefit them.
do they need the charcoal type stuff produced from the burning, or does it just clear all the dead leaves away. leaving it space to grow?
I have enclosed pic of it in all it's glory, and you can probably see from the pic that is is close to a fir tree and a silver birch and hence I'm nervous of putting a match to it. lower down on the slope behind the pampas I have many heathers and have other firs, I don't really want a bush fire on my hands!
Opinions?