The most common signs of drought stress in trees include wilting leaves, yellowing or browning foliage, leaf curling, premature leaf drop, and visible bark cracks. Early intervention through deep watering can prevent permanent damage.
Author: Sinziana Spiridon
Sinziana Spiridon is an outdoorsy blog writer with a green thumb and a passion for organic gardening. When not writing about weeds, pests, soil, and growing plants, she's tending to her veggie garden and the lovely turf strip in her front yard.
13 Types of Ornamental Grass for Your Landscape
Choose the best types of ornamental grasses for your landscape based on your yard’s conditions:
• Northern seas oats and Japanese forest grass for shade
• Blue oat grass and Mexican feather grass for sunny, dry spots
• Switchgrass for privacy screens
Cool-season varieties emerge early in the spring, warm-season grasses have dramatic colors, while evergreen types like black mondo grass provide year-round structure.
How to Cut Back Ornamental Grasses
To cut back ornamental grasses, tie the bundle of grass with twine or rope; then use a hedge trimmer to cut the stems. Trim leftover jagged stalks with pruning shears to give the clump a neat shape. Dispose of the debris in the waste bin or add to your compost.
How to Care for Ornamental Grass
Here’s how to care for ornamental grasses to keep them gorgeous with minimum effort:
• Cut back and divide the grasses in the spring.
• Water and control weeds and pests during summer.
• Leave the plants alone in fall and winter unless you need to winterize them.
Read all about ornamental grass care exceptions, problems, and solutions in our guide.
When to Cut Back Ornamental Grasses
The best time to cut back ornamental grasses is typically in the spring, when new shoots grow, but are not yet so tall that you’d clip their tips when cutting. Late fall and winter are also good options for some grass types and local climates.
16 Best Wind-Resistant Trees
Wind-resistant trees have deep, extensive roots and flexible wood that bends under wind pressure instead of breaking, such as:
• Canary Island date palm
• Live oak
• Crape myrtle
• American beech
• Bald cypress
When to Apply Weed and Feed to Your Lawn
Spring and fall, when temperatures range between 60 F and 90 F, is when you want to apply weed and feed. Wait until:
• You mow at least twice, so you’re sure the grass is actively growing.
• You get a mild day with no wind and no rain in the 24-hour forecast.
When to Water After Applying Weed and Feed
A good rule of thumb is to wait 24 to 72 hours before watering a treated lawn. Here’s when to water after applying a weed and feed by the type of product:
• Granular post-emergent: Wait 24 to 72 hours before watering to allow granules to dissolve on weed leaves.
• Granular pre-emergent: Water within 3 days with ½ inch or more to get the herbicide into the soil.
• Liquid weed and feed: Wait 24 to 48 hours before watering to avoid dilution.
Mulch Calculator: How Much Mulch Do You Need?
To learn how much mulch you need, measure the area and multiply the square footage by the mulch depth. Or use our mulch calculator.
Self-Propelled vs. Push Mowers
Self-propelled mowers propel themselves, while push mowers have to be pushed across the lawn. We discuss other important differences.