Should I trim the brown tips off?

You can trim them for aesthetic reasons, but it will not change the health of the plant. It is better to leave them alone.

Is my plant dying if the tips are brown?

If it is late spring or early summer, your plant is simply finishing its life cycle. It is not dying prematurely.

Why does my cheatgrass have brown tips? Causes and fixes

Check these first

Check the time of year to see if the plant is naturally drying out.
Feel the soil to see if it is extremely dry.
Look for signs of heat stress on nearby plants.

Likely causes

Natural Maturation
Most likely
How to tell: The plant is turning brown from the tips downward as it approaches its summer dormancy. This is a normal part of its life cycle.
What to do: Do nothing, as this is how the plant completes its life cycle. Cheatgrass is invasive in many regions, so if it is a weed where you live, pull it up and seal it in a bag before the seeds drop instead of composting it.
Extreme Heat
Possible
How to tell: The tips are crispy and brown during a period of intense, record breaking heat. The rest of the plant remains upright.
What to do: Provide a light misting of water during the coolest part of the day if the heat is truly excessive. Otherwise, let the plant handle the heat as it is naturally drought tolerant.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your cheatgrass

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

You do not need to worry unless the plant is wilting entirely during a cool period. Browning is expected as the plant prepares to die back in the summer.

Stopping it coming back

Accept that browning is a natural part of the cheatgrass life cycle as it matures.

Cheatgrass: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your cheatgrass and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Should I trim the brown tips off?: You can trim them for aesthetic reasons, but it will not change the health of the plant. It is better to leave them alone.
Is my plant dying if the tips are brown?: If it is late spring or early summer, your plant is simply finishing its life cycle. It is not dying prematurely.

Why does my cheatgrass have brown tips?