I like to cut mine earlier, but I have cut it later (Like now), Every couple of years, if it is looking out of control I give it a good hair cut with the brush hog. it is hard for me to cut the stuff. I have burned it, cut with hand shears and hedge clippers. I know of no easy way to cut the stuff, well burning is easy, but takes a while to recover, and , if you have any plants close by, they wont like the heat, it burns hot and fast. I told my wife when she was wanting to plant the stuff on each side of the drive that she was not going to like caring for it. but it looks nice.

I'd cut it now, and then cut it earlier next year before it starts greening up. Be careful. The edges of the grass blades can be really sharp. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, leather gloves and some form of eye protection. It generally is easiest to deal with it if you use some sort of twine, cord etc. tied around the grass to sort of hold it all together in a giant clump. Then, using the tool of your choice, start cutting. Some people use lopping shears or large pruners, but others have been known to use a machete or a chain saw. Go slowly, working your way from the outside inward. I love the look of pampas grass but never planted it and never will because of the difficulty of upkeep.

We do ours like Okiedawn mentions. I cut it in early winter with a chainsaw. the saw gets all clogged and I have to remove the chain and bar to dig out the clog but it makes the cutting fast and easy. We have 3 big clumps of it.