I have three pampus grass plants in my back lawn. Two years ago, I decided to cut them back to the ground. I used hedge trimmers and didn't wear gloves. It took me about 5 hours. When I was done, the serated leaf blades had made minor cuts all over my hands and arms. When I ran hot water over them, it really stung.
Last year, I decided to buy a pair of leather gloves. That helped tremendously. I also used a hand saw instead of hedge clippers. It was a lot of work, but it worked a lot faster than trying to cut those leaf blades with a hedge trimmer.
Also, last year, I cut them back right after Christmas. What I learned is that as the new, tender leaf blades grow back, if it freezes, they turn brown. So all the tips of the leaf blades were brown last year. I finally broke down and clipped them all off with hand clippers last May. That took forever too.
This year, I plan to use my chainsaw and my leather gloves after the final freeze, probably around mid March. Should be a lot less work this year. I think the concept of tying bundles together makes a lot of sense too, but with a bundle that large, how do you stuff it into a garbage bag?
Later,
DFW Area Landscaper