One of the most difficult situations homeowners face is
growing grass in the shade. It’s a battle you can win, if you cover the right
bases in your lawn care regimen. Learn how to succeed in growing grass in shady
places.
Will grass grow in the shade?
Most lawn grasses need four to six hours of direct sun to
survive. Some shade-tolerant grass types grow as long as light hits that
four-hour quota – and that light doesn’t have to be full sun. Four to six hours
of dappled or filtered sunlight can fuel the growth of a healthy lawn.
What types of grass grow better in shade?
For cool-season grass, rye and fine and tall fescues offer
the most shade tolerance. They require four hours of sun minimum to survive.
Warm-season grasses that grow in some shade include zoysia and St. Augustine.
When shopping for grass seed, choose shade-tolerant blends
adapted to your region. Buy a blend or mix of seeds for shade because if one type
fails to make it, another might. In this case, it’s not budget-wise to skimp on
seed quality in order to save money. Pay for a top-quality blend.
Could pruning my trees improve the light beneath them?
Removing lower limbs allows sunlight to reach soil beneath.
Pruning interior branches to open the tree canopy permits more sunlight to pass
through the tree’s interior to the ground beneath. Removing interior branches
also enhances air circulation to the center of the tree, which improves tree
health. Hire a certified arborist to prune large trees. Learn the basics of
pruning trees. Learn when to prune trees.
Do I need to mow grass differently in shady spots?
In shade, mow 1/2 to 1 inch higher than in sunny lawn areas.
This gives individual grass plants more leaf area to capture the limited
sunlight that’s available. Try to alternate mowing directions each time you
mow.
Avoid scalping shade-grown grass. This happens most
frequently in spring, when you haven’t raised the mower since the final fall mowing.
Shady lawns can’t tolerate even one scalping; it thins them and they may not
recover. Read more about mowing tips for lawn care to get the best result this
spring.
I’ve heard trees create dry shade. Does that mean I have to
water lawn under a tree more than lawn in the sun?
Under a tree, two things occur to create drier soil. First,
rainfall doesn’t always penetrate the tree canopy to reach soil beneath.
Second, tree roots absorb available moisture. As a result, turf beneath a tree
needs more frequent irrigation. Water these areas deeply to encourage deep
grass roots for a healthy lawn around trees.
Should I water more in other shady areas?
If your shade is caused by a building, you don’t need to
water more frequently. Grass in shady areas doesn’t use water as quickly as
their sunny counterparts. Water only when necessary. Learn more about
irrigating lawns.
I finally have lawn growing in shady spots, but it’s always
so thin. Can I do anything about that?
Growing conditions and lawn care for grass are tough in the
shade. Aim to eliminate any stress the grass experiences, such as foot traffic.
Insert stepping stones to protect grass from being trampled.
You can also overseed as often as once or twice a year, in
mid-spring or early fall for cool-season grasses, late spring to early summer
for warm-season turf. Don’t forget to water after seeding.
Do I fertilize lawn in shady areas the same as the rest of
the lawn?
Grasses in shady areas need one-half to two-thirds as much
nitrogen as sunny lawns. For lawns beneath trees, fertilize lightly in early
spring before trees leaf out, then not again until early fall.
What about weed killers?
To grow grass successfully in shade, you want to minimize
stress, which includes limiting herbicide use. If weeds are a problem, make one
general broadleaf application in fall. Otherwise, spot-spray weeds with an
herbicide as needed. Be sure to read the label to ensure it won’t harm trees.
Learn more about choosing weed killers.
What should I do if grass just won’t grow?
If you want greenery, choose a shade-tolerant ground cover
that’s hardy in your zone. You can also cover bare soil with mulch. Natural
materials such as bark, pine straw or wood chips look nice beneath trees.
Light-colored mulches show up better in shady spots. Include stepping stones to
add interest.
I’m trying to grow lawn beneath a tree. Does the type of
tree affect my chances of success?
In general, it’s easier to grow grass beneath deciduous
trees than evergreens that branch to the ground. Beneath these trees, you’re
not just dealing with shade, you’re also fighting acidic soil, which doesn’t
favor grass growth. You can grow grass beneath pines with a high canopy, which
creates filtered light beneath.
