brown tips on Ornamental Grass
Quick answer
If your Ornamental Grass has brown tips, the most likely cause is: Ornamental grass foliage browns along the blades and at the tips as warm-season types such as fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) transition into winter dormancy, leaving tan, dry flower stems that persist unless cut back. Switch grass (Panicum virgatum) likewise holds tan, dry flower stems through winter until cut down in early spring.
Start here:
- 1. Cut down the leaves in early spring to 4-6 inches on fountain grass, or to 12 to 18 in. on switch grass, before new growth begins so the browned foliage does not crowd fresh shoots.
- 2. Remove shattered flower spikes in fall before they set seed, and divide crowded clumps every three to four years to keep the center of the clump vigorous.
Why Ornamental Grass gets brown tips
Ornamental Grass
Ornamental grass foliage browns along the blades and at the tips as warm-season types such as fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) transition into winter dormancy, leaving tan, dry flower stems that persist unless cut back. Switch grass (Panicum virgatum) likewise holds tan, dry flower stems through winter until cut down in early spring.
How to reverse brown tips on Ornamental Grass
- 1
Cut down the leaves in early spring to 4-6 inches on fountain grass, or to 12 to 18 in. on switch grass, before new growth begins so the browned foliage does not crowd fresh shoots.
- 2
Remove shattered flower spikes in fall before they set seed, and divide crowded clumps every three to four years to keep the center of the clump vigorous.
Keep brown tips off this Ornamental Grass
Set out young plants 3 to 4 ft. apart in full sun and provide sufficient soil moisture during the growing season so plants enter dormancy from a position of strength rather than drought stress.