A Healthier, Happier Lawn
With Yard Guard!

Monitoring Tree Health after Early Winter Snowstorm

An early snowfall while trees are still holding their leaves can cause significant damage. As I’ve driven around the valley following this storm, it’s been difficult to see just how many trees have lost major branches or suffered structural damage. While the moisture is certainly welcome, the timing of this snowfall has been particularly hard on our trees.

Not every broken branch means a tree needs to be removed. Many trees can recover from storm damage with proper care, but the extent of the damage and the tree’s overall health will determine the best approach.

First things First: Focus on Safety

Broken branches hanging overhead, split trunks, and damaged trees near homes or other structures should be addressed before focusing on long-term tree health. Once immediate hazards have been resolved and conditions are safe, homeowners should consider scheduling a professional tree assessment. Ideally, these evaluations can take place in the fall following the storm, allowing an arborist to identify structural concerns and develop a recovery plan before true winter. However, trees can also be properly assessed in the spring as they emerge from dormancy.

The important thing is not to overlook damage simply because a tree appears to have survived the storm.

What To Do Immediately:

We really like the article that MSU’s Abiya (Abi) Saeed, MSU Extension Horticulture Specialist, published on 10.12.2026 and recommend referencing this for the immediate steps. Once you have completed these, come back to this blog to help evaluate your tree’s long term health and recovery.

October Snowfall Brings Increased Risk for Trees and Shrubs Still Holding Leaves

Evaluate long term health and recovery:

1. How Much of the Tree’s Canopy Was Lost?

One of the first considerations is how much of the tree’s canopy was damaged or removed. When a tree loses more than 25% to 30% of its foliage, its ability to produce energy through photosynthesis can be significantly compromised.

Either you or an arborist should evaluate the remaining live canopy, the severity of the damage, and the tree’s overall structure to determine whether it can recover naturally or if removal may be the safer, more practical option.

2. Were Branches Broken Cleanly or Left With Jagged Edges?

Storm damage often leaves behind torn branches, exposed wood, and damaged bark. These irregular breaks can create opportunities for decay and disease to develop, particularly when moisture collects around damaged tissue. Proper pruning is important for the tree’s long-term health. Making clean cuts back to the branch collar helps the tree compartmentalize the wound, limiting the spread of decay into healthy tissue.

3. Does the Tree Need Additional Nutrients to Recover?

Losing major branches places additional stress on a tree. As it works to compartmentalize wounds and regenerate growth, it draws on energy reserves that would otherwise support normal development. Depending on the tree’s condition, a targeted fertilization program may help support recovery. Slow-release, micro- and macronutrients can support root development and canopy restoration without encouraging excessive, weak new growth. However, fertilization should be based on the tree’s specific needs rather than automatically applied following storm damage.

4. Is the Tree More Vulnerable to Insects and Disease?

Storm-damaged trees can become more susceptible to secondary problems, including wood-boring insects and fungal pathogens. These pests often target trees that have already been weakened by environmental stress or physical injury. An arborist can assess whether preventive plant health care treatments are appropriate to help protect vulnerable trees while they recover.

Taking a little time to inspect your landscape now can help identify potential hazards and prevent additional problems down the road. If you’re unsure whether a damaged tree can recover, reach out to us and we can schedule you for a Tree Consultation with Yard Guard’s ISA Certified Arborist. We’ll be able to evaluate condition, identify structural concerns, and recommend an appropriate plan for long-term tree health.

Helping Your Lawn Recover from Summer Drought Stress

Drought stress is a common challenge in maintaining a healthy lawn. This is especially true in locations with dramatic changes in seasonal weather conditions, called continental climates.

The impact of drought stress on your lawn

While drought stress is an issue in itself, there are several secondary conditions that drought stress can trigger in your lawn. These include fungal diseases, insect and pest invasion, increased weeds, worsened soil compaction, and crown crushing.

Fungal diseases: Fungi, like Ascochyta Leaf Spot, also known as ‘Melting Out,’ arise when the lawn is stressed and its immune defense is weakened.
Insects and pests: When the lawn is weak and its root system is damaged by drought stress, it is easier for pests like voles, grubs, and billy bugs to invade, resulting in further irreparable damage to the turf.
Weeds: Drought stressed turf loses its ability to outcompete weeds. Tap root weeds like thistles and dandelions can better compete for limited resources.
Compaction: When the soil is dry, compaction is accelerated because it begins to harden and shrink.
Crown crushing: Mowing drought stressed turf, or even walking on it, crushes the fragile grass crowns so that it is killed permanently instead of just remaining dormant.

How do I know if my lawn is in drought stress?

There are four stages of drought stress:

Stage One: The first sign of drought stress is when the lawn appears to have a bluish-gray/purple hue.
Stage Two: During stage two, the lawn begins to look patchy due to uneven moisture retention. The ‘patchiness’ is the result of leaf blades curling to conserve moisture and require less energy.
Stage Three: The lawn enters pre-dormancy during stage three, grass will lose its color and appear faded before significant browning occurs.
Stage Four: When the lawn is in the final stage of drought stress it re-enters dormancy and will be almost completely brown.

You can confirm drought stress by performing a couple of quick tests. The footprint test entails walking across the grass – if it does not return to its position after a few minutes and remains flat and matted, it is evidence of drought stress. You can also use the screwdriver test by pushing a screwdriver or other instrument into the ground, at least 3 to 4 inches deep. If the instrument does not have any dirt or wet soil stuck to it when you remove it, the lawn is in drought stress.

During stages one and two of drought stress, the lawn can still recover quite quickly, but once in stage three to four, it may be more difficult to mitigate the effects. Here’s how you can get the lawn back on track:

Begin frequent deep watering (extended periods, 20-30 minutes per zone), ideally in the early morning between 4:00-8:00 AM.
Avoid mowing until the grass begins to recover, and once it does, raise your mower height to 3 inches or higher.
Try not to walk on or use the yard while the lawn is recovering to prevent further damage.
Liquid aeration – our aeration service doesn’t cause further damage or stress to the lawn like mechanical, or core, aeration. It also introduces additional nutrients to help recharge the soil as well as encouraging biological activity to give the lawn a much-needed boost.

I water regularly – why is my lawn suffering from drought stress?

Regular watering often isn’t enough to prevent drought stress in your lawn. In Montana, plants, including your lawn, rely on deep ground moisture reserves resulting from snowfall during the winter. If winter conditions don’t build enough water stores, summer watering must be increased to compensate. However, there are also other considerations that may affect how your lawn retains water.

Re-think your watering practices: Shallow, frequent watering leads to moisture evaporating too quickly and inhibiting deeper root growth. Practicing deep watering will cause the roots to grow deeper and prevent moisture loss.
- Ask us for a rain gauge or place an empty tuna can in the yard to measure how much water your lawn is getting – we recommend around 1.5 inches per week!
Sprinkler coverage: Check for broken sprinkler heads or uneven overlap between zones, and have them rotated or adjusted regularly.
Soil quality: Not having enough top soil, poor quality soil, and lack of organic material contribute to drought stress because it has less ability to store moisture and the lawn can’t grow deep roots.
Soil compaction: Compacted ground can cause water to pool on the surface rather than be absorbed into the soil. Ask us about our Liquid Aeration service!

Understanding drought stress is vital to keeping cool season grasses healthy during the short growing season. It is even more important to know that just because your lawn is being watered, doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe from drought – applying the right watering practices and accounting for environmental conditions is essential. If you are unsure if your lawn is suffering from the effects of drought stress, we’re only a call away!

How to Keep Your Trees Healthy

Proper tree care practices help maintain the growth, appearance, and longevity of your trees. Montana’s greatly varying seasonal conditions make it essential to understand how tree care changes throughout the year.

Summer:
June, July, & August

During the warm, dry summer months, practicing deep watering is necessary. Less frequent watering for extended periods of time is the best way to achieve this. You must fully saturate the deep tree roots so that the moisture is not lost to other surface plants or evaporation. During periods of dry, hot weather, adding 2-3 inches of mulch at the base of the tree can help trees better retain moisture.

How to deep water your trees:

Water for 20-30 minutes once a week per tree.
This should amount to about 10 gallons of water per tree weekly.
You can use a hose on a slow trickle or a drip system.

Fall
September, October, & November

Tree care during the time leading up to and throughout the fall months is the most important to your trees’ long-term health. Most of a tree’s underground growing, or root growth, occurs in the fall. Deciduous trees, or those that lose their foliage seasonally, like aspens or maples, enter dormancy in the fall. Evergreens, like pines and spruces, don’t enter full dormancy, but slow their metabolic functions in the fall and through the winter.

As a tree begins to enter dormancy, the sugars produced by its leaves get pulled into the tree and redirected to the roots. This means that aiding your trees in recovering from the stress of summer and entering into dormancy is critical for maintaining and improving root health.

Early fall care:
Late August – early October

Supplemental watering to build water stores for winter.
Have your trees evaluated by an arborist – fall is a great time to catch nutrient deficiencies before foliage is lost.
Fertilization – ask us about our Deep Root Fertilization program!
1. Fertilization not only improves the appearance and growth of trees, but also restores nutrients and helps protect against drought stress, disease, and insect attack.

Late fall care:
October & November

Continue regular deep watering practices.
Begin heavy soaking (45-60 minutes of watering) prior to a freeze or first signs of winter conditions to boost water stores before the ground freezes.
Consider wrapping your thin bark trees (like fruit trees, aspens, or maples) to protect against Southwest disease, also referred to as sunscald.
1. Sunscald occurs when winter sun warms the southwest side of the tree, and nightly freezing temperatures kill the then-active trunk tissue. This results in long-term damage including split or peeling trunks.

Winter
December, January, & February

Trees remain in a state of dormancy through winter. During dormancy, the tree converts internal sugars and moves water out of its cells to prevent them from bursting in cold temperatures. Growth stops and internal functions slow down to conserve energy. Fall care practices prepare the tree for this dormant period.

Winter care:

Dormancy is a good time to prune, especially for fruit-bearing trees.
Winter is also a good time to have your trees evaluated by an arborist for structural issues when there is no foliage. Structural issues are weaknesses within a tree’s trunk or unions (where its branches join), making it likely to break, drop branches, or fall over.
When snow coverage is minimal and temperatures are above 40 degrees for extended periods, begin deep watering practices again.

Spring
March, April, & May

As your trees come out of dormancy and prepare for another summer season, their care requirements increase. The trees are transitioning back to active growth, moving water from the roots into the trunk and converting stored sugars. It is essential to resume watering and care practices to aid in this process and rebuild deep water stores for the roots to access.

Spring tree care:

Fertilization
Insect control treatments – ask us about our programs!
Avoid doing any pruning until new branch buds or new growth has begun to avoid damaging the tree or stunting growth
Remove any trunk wrapping applied in the fall

Following suitable care practices will help you keep your trees happy and healthy year to year. If you ever have questions about what care is right for your trees, we’re just a phone call away!

Frost Damage on Montana Trees

The unpredictable nature of our current weather patterns, often oscillating rapidly from mild spring conditions back to late-season winter frosts, has unfortunately led to a noticeable increase in frost damage on newly emerging foliage. This type of damage can manifest in a spectrum of ways, depending on the severity of the freeze and the developmental stage of the plant tissue. Below is general information to understand frost damage on trees in Montana.

Understanding the Visual Signs of Frost Damage
The initial signs of frost damage are typically seen on the most vulnerable parts of the leaf.

Partial Damage: Milder frost events may only affect the outermost parts or tips of the leaves. The water within these exposed cells freezes, expands, and ruptures the cell walls. Later in the growing season, as the rest of the leaf expands normally, these damaged sections, which are essentially dead tissue, do not grow. This differential growth can lead to abnormal leaf deformity, resulting in leaves that are curled, puckered, tattered, or irregularly shaped, often with brown or dead margins.
Total Leaf Mortality: A more severe or prolonged freeze can kill the entire newly emerged leaf. When the immature tissue freezes completely, it loses its structural integrity. The visual outcome is a striking and unfortunate appearance of blackened and shriveled leaves. This dead foliage often remains attached to the plant for a time, serving as a clear indicator of the freeze event.

Vulnerability of Early-Budding Trees and Shrubs
A key factor in susceptibility to this damage is the plant’s seasonal development– specifically, its timing of early bud break. Trees and shrubs that tend to bud out early in the spring are inherently more susceptible to late-season frost damage. Their undeveloped tissue is not yet hardened off and is rich in water content, making it highly vulnerable to freezing temperatures. This includes many ornamental varieties and certain fruit trees whose spring growth unfortunately precedes the final, consistent warm weather.

Long-Term Impact and Recovery
While a widespread frost event can look alarming, most established trees and shrubs have the capacity to recover. The plant’s overall health and energy reserves determine the speed of this recovery. Once the threat of frost has passed, the tree will typically attempt to push out a second set of leaves from dormant or secondary buds. Although this process requires a significant amount of stored energy and may temporarily slow the tree’s growth for the season, it is the plant’s natural mechanism for survival.

What Can Homeowners Do

Monitor affected plants for signs of secondary bud break.
Ensure the tree receives adequate water and is not experiencing additional stress.
Check for possible disease or pest infestations.
Contact your Yard Guard to have our Certified Arborist conduct a full evaluation

Our 5-Step Blended Organic Lawn Care Program

The 5-Step Blended Organic Lawn Care Program in Southwest Montana

If you’re new to Yard Guard, welcome! We’re excited to get to know you and your property. If you’ve been with us for some time now, thank you. We truly appreciate the trust you place in us year after year.

Whether you’re new or have been with us for a while, you may find yourself wondering what the significance of our five-step program is. Many people are familiar with a more traditional three-step approach, so it’s a fair question. The goal here is to walk you through why we recommend five steps, what each one is doing, and how they all work together to create a healthier lawn over time.

Looking at Lawn Care Differently

One of the most common misconceptions in lawn care is that weeds are solved simply by spraying them. While that can work in the short term, it doesn’t actually address the root of the problem.

Weeds tend to show up when a lawn is thin, stressed, or lacking nutrients. In many cases, they’re filling a gap where healthy turf should be. So instead of thinking about lawn care as “weed control,” we take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

A healthy, well-fed lawn is what truly controls weeds.

When your turf is thick and your soil has the nutrients it needs, weeds naturally have a harder time establishing. That’s why our program focuses heavily on fertilization and soil health, using weed control only when it’s actually needed.

Why Five Steps Instead of Three?

Traditional programs can produce good results early on, but over time many lawns begin to decline – losing color, thinning out, and becoming more susceptible to weeds again.

This typically happens because:

Nutrients are slowly depleted from the soil
The focus is placed more on removing weeds than building turf
The lawn isn’t being supported consistently throughout the season
Synthetic programs can only do so much

Our five-step program is designed to solve that by supporting the lawn at the right times, not just reacting to problems as they show up.

How the 5-Step Program Works

Each step has a specific role depending on what your lawn needs at that point in the season.

Step 1: Early Spring – Waking the Soil Up

Timing: Mid-March through April (weather dependent)

After a long winter, your lawn is coming out of dormancy. Even though it hasn’t been actively growing, the root system has still been slowly using nutrients.

This first application focuses on rebuilding the soil environment. We apply a carbon-based product bonded with peat moss, which helps retain moisture and reintroduce carbon into the soil. Our granular applications make a huge impact on building up organic material in your soil.

Step 2: Late Spring – Growth + Targeted Weed Control

Timing: Late spring through early July

As temperatures rise, both grass and weeds begin to grow more actively. This is where we balance two priorities: continuing to build soil health while managing weeds as needed.

The fertilizer in this step is packed with organic nutrients like kelp, seaweed, molasses, humic and folic acids, compost, organic potassium, iron, and slow-release nitrogen. These ingredients help feed both the plant and the soil.

If weeds are present, we manage them with targeted spot treatments, rather than blanket applications across the entire lawn.

Step 3: Summer – Drought Management

Timing: July through mid-August (weather dependent)

Southwest Montana summers can be hot and dry, which puts stress on even healthy lawns. Because we grow cool-season grasses here, they don’t thrive in strong summer heat. As lawns begin to dry out, they become more susceptible to weed growth – sometimes leaving weeds as the only green pieces in the lawn, commonly seeing thistle as the primary weed during this time.

This application is similar to the makeup of Step 2, but the focus shifts. Instead of encouraging growth, we’re working to support the lawn through stress and give it the nutrients it needs to hang on and stay as healthy as possible during tougher conditions.

If you prefer not to increase your watering schedule during this time, we also offer a Water Saver application, which can help your lawn retain moisture more efficiently and reduce stress during peak summer heat.

Step 4: Late Summer – Supporting the Lawn Through Stress

Timing: Mid August through Mid September

As we move toward late summer, we’re often still experiencing heat and drought conditions, but cooler nights start to return. This is when your lawn begins to recover and become more active again.

During this time, it’s common to see a second round of dandelions pop up. This application continues to use similar nutrient inputs as Steps 2 and 3, but the focus shifts back to feeding the lawn as it begins actively growing again.

The goal here is to take advantage of that natural recovery period and help the lawn regain strength before heading into fall.

Step 5: Fall – Season Wrap-Up + Winter Preparation

Timing: Mid September through end of October (weather dependent)

The fall application is one of the most important of the entire season and it’s also one of the most commonly skipped. We can’t emphasize this enough: just because you’re done with your lawn doesn’t mean your lawn is done growing.

In many ways, your lawn is preparing for winter the same way a bear prepares for hibernation. It’s looking to store nutrients that it can slowly use throughout the winter months. Without this final application, the turf is essentially going into winter without the food it needs.

While things may appear to be slowing down above ground, the root system remains very active below the surface. This step focuses on supporting root sustenance and storing nutrients until the following spring.

What we do in the fall plays a major role in how your lawn looks and performs the next year.

How It All Comes Together

When you look at the program as a whole, it’s not just five individual applications—it’s a progression.

Each step builds on the last:

We start by improving the soil
Then feed the lawn and manage weeds
Then prevent drought conditions
Then protect it through stress
And finally prepare it for the next season

That consistency is what leads to long-term results, not just short-term improvements.

Expectations Over Time

With this approach, most customers notice:

A thicker, greener lawn each season
Fewer weeds over time
Improved drought tolerance
More consistent results year after year

If you ever have questions about where your lawn is in the process or what we’re doing at a given time, we’re always happy to walk through it with you. We believe that understanding the “why” behind the program makes all the difference.

What Does Your Lawn Do During Dormancy?

If you live in a colder climate like Southwest Montana, you’ve probably noticed your lawn turning yellow or brown as winter approaches. That’s not your lawn dying, it’s going dormant. Here’s what lawn dormancy actually is, what your grass is doing during this time, and how you can support a healthy comeback in spring.

What Is Lawn Dormancy?
Dormancy is a natural survival process your lawn goes through during cold winter months. In our region, lawns typically enter dormancy around November and begin waking back up in late March or April, depending on weather conditions.

During dormancy, grass conserves energy to protect itself from freezing temperatures. With proper care, your lawn will rebound when spring arrives.

What Happens When Your Lawn Goes Dormant?
In the fall, your lawn shifts its focus below ground. Instead of sending energy to the grass blades, it moves nutrients and energy into the root system. This is what causes the yellowing or browning you see above ground.

While the lawn stops growing on the surface, the roots remain active throughout winter. They store nutrients that the lawn will rely on during its “hibernation” and early spring green up.

What Happens When Your Lawn Comes Out of Dormancy?
As temperatures warm and snow begins to melt, your lawn uses any leftover stored nutrients, sunlight, and moisture to transition back to active growth. This is when your grass starts greening up and filling in again.

If your lawn went into dormancy healthy and well fertilized, then it will come out of dormancy much quicker in the spring.

Treatments That Support Healthy Dormancy
At Yard Guard, we strongly encourage both the first and last lawn applications of the year. These treatments deliver a high load of nutrients right when your lawn needs them most, before going dormant and as it wakes back up.

With our Blended Organic program, those nutrients are focused on soil health, restoring the microorganisms and creating a healthier environment that supports long term lawn health.

How to Care for a Dormant Lawn
Dormant lawns are more fragile than they look so we recommend protecting them as much as you can:

Limit foot traffic: Frozen grass blades are prone to breakage, which can damage the lawn and increase compaction.
Spread out snow piles: Large, concentrated piles take longer to melt and can contribute to snow mold* in spring.
Use salt sparingly: Excess salt from driveways and sidewalks can damage grass and soil as snow melts.

*Snow mold forms when excessive moisture from snow piles stays in one area. It usually appears as gray or pink mold in early spring. While it looks unsightly and can slightly slow growth, it does not permanently damage your lawn and typically resolves on its own.

The Bottom Line
During dormancy, your lawn is resting, protecting itself, and storing energy for spring. With the right fall treatments, an early spring treatment and mindful winter care, your lawn will be well ready to come out of dormancy healthy, green, and strong.

Blog

Seasonal Preparation

Monitoring Tree Health after Early Winter Snowstorm

Thomas Wilson | October 13, 2026

Montana's early snowstorms leave many trees with broken branches and structural damage. Learn what steps you can take to protect… Read More

Helping Your Lawn Recover from Summer Drought Stress

Adrienne | August 27, 2026

Drought stress can weaken your lawn even when you’re watering regularly. Learn how to recognize the stages of drought stress,… Read More

How to Keep Your Trees Healthy

Adrienne | July 31, 2026

Wondering how to care for your trees throughout the year? This seasonal Montana tree care guide explains when to water,… Read More

Frost Damage on Montana Trees

Colin | April 24, 2026

Montana’s unpredictable spring weather can quickly shift from warm to freezing, putting newly budding trees at risk. Frost damage often… Read More

Our 5-Step Blended Organic Lawn Care Program

Sidne | April 1, 2026

Wondering why we use a 5-step lawn care program? Learn how our Blended Organic process builds healthier soil, reduces weeds,… Read More

Explore By Tag

Lawn Care Seasonal Preparation Watering Blended Organic Lawn Concerns all

What Does Your Lawn Do During Dormancy?

Sidne | December 31, 2025

Wondering why your lawn turns brown in winter? Learn what lawn dormancy is, what your grass is doing beneath the… Read More

Fall Mowing Recommendations

Sidne | September 30, 2025

Fall is the most important season for setting your lawn up for success next year. Follow these simple fall mowing… Read More

When Is the Best Time to Aerate Your Lawn?

Sidne | July 31, 2025

Discover the best time to aerate your Montana lawn and the benefits of mechanical and liquid aeration. Learn how to… Read More

1 2 →

Ready for a greener, healthier yard?

At Yard Guard, we’re excited to care for your property like it’s our own, not only with the attention we provide, but also keeping in mind the safety of the products we use and their impact on our environment.

Start Today!