Determining whether your ornamental grass is dormant or dead can be a bit tricky, but there are a few signs you can look for.
Firstly, it's important to understand that ornamental grasses typically go dormant during the colder months. This means they may appear brown and lifeless, but this is simply a part of their natural life cycle. They're not dead, but sleeping, and will return to their green, vibrant state when warmer weather arrives.
To ascertain if your ornamental grass is dormant or dead, you can perform a simple test. Try bending a blade of grass. If it snaps easily and is dry and brittle, it's likely dead. On the other hand, if the blade bends and doesn't break easily, it's probably dormant. Another test you can do is the scratch test. Scratch a small section of the plant's stem. If it's green underneath, the grass is still alive.
Remember, patience is key when dealing with ornamental grasses. They can take a while to come out of dormancy, especially after a particularly harsh winter. However, if you've performed these tests and there's still no sign of life by late spring or early summer, it might be time to consider replacing the plant.