Dry conditions across eastern North Carolina are starting to show up close to home. Across Sampson County, homeowners are seeing brown lawns, stressed shrubs, and young trees that just don’t look right. According to NC State Extension and Clemson Cooperative Extension, this is exactly what we expect during a stretch of dry weather—but how you respond now will determine what comes back later.
The first thing most people notice is the lawn. Grass may turn brown, stop growing, and look like it’s dying. In many cases, it’s not dead—it’s dormant. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, zoysia, and centipede, which are common in our area, can usually survive drought and green back up when rain returns.
While lawns get the attention, the bigger concern is trees and shrubs. Young trees, especially those planted in the last couple of years, are at the highest risk. Their roots are still shallow, and they depend on consistent moisture. Without it, they become stressed and more likely to have insect or disease problems. In some cases, damage won’t show up until later in the year or even next spring.
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make during drought is trying to treat everything the same. When water is limited, you have to prioritize. Focus on what you can’t easily replace—trees, shrubs, and valuable landscape plants. Lawns can go brown and recover. Mature trees cannot.
If you are going to water, do it the right way. A deep soaking once or twice a week is far better than watering a little bit every day. Light watering only wets the surface and encourages shallow roots, which makes plants even more vulnerable. Water early in the morning or later in the evening to reduce evaporation.
Mulch is one of the simplest and most effective tools you have right now. A two- to three-inch layer around trees and in flower beds helps hold moisture in the soil, keeps roots cooler, and reduces weed competition. Speaking of weeds, they are a real problem during drought because they compete for the same limited water your plants need.
There are also a few things you should avoid doing right now. Don’t fertilize your lawn or landscape. Fertilizer pushes new growth, and plants under drought stress don’t have the water to support it. Heavy pruning should also wait until conditions improve, as it can add more stress.
Gardeners are feeling it too. Vegetable gardens need about an inch of water per week to produce well. Without it, you may see poor germination, fewer vegetables, and smaller yields. If you’re going to irrigate, focus on critical stages like when plants are flowering and setting fruit.
The reality is, during a drought like this, some plant loss is likely. But this is also a good opportunity to take a step back and think about the future. Consider planting more drought-tolerant varieties, reducing high-maintenance turf areas, and grouping plants based on their water needs.
This dry stretch is tough, but it’s not unusual for our area. With a little planning and the right approach, many landscapes can make it through and recover when the rain finally comes.
