Made in the Shade
The secret to growing grass in shady areas...
Ever try picnicking or lying under a shady tree in the yard, only to wind up covered in mud or dirt? Growing grass in shaded conditions is one of the biggest challenges of lawn maintenance. (The task even baffles professionals, as grass would have been grown in domed stadiums years ago.) The key to growing grass in shaded areas is to choose the correct species of grass for the region and then provide the best possible environment in lieu of a lack of sunshine.
Choosing the Right Grass
Grass needs sunshine to undertake the process of photosynthesis and provide food to itself. A lack of sunshine for an extended period will cause grass to decline and eventually die. Although all grasses need sunshine, some perform better than others in shaded conditions. For cool season grasses, choose fine leaf fescues, rough bluegrass or supina bluegrass. For those who live in the transition zone, opt for tall fescue or zoysiagrass. In the southeast coastal area, the best choice is St. Augustinegrass. If you are unsure of what type of grass grows in your area, click on "regional information" on yarddoctor.com and select your region.
Here are my recommendations for the best-performing shady grass species:
Cool Season Grasses
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Fine Fescues such as red fescue (Festuca rubra var. rubra), chewings fescue (Festuca rubra var. commutata), sheep fescue (Festuca ovina) and hard fescue (Festuca ovina var. duriuscula) work well in the northern regions in dry soils. To find out which species will work the best for your yard conditions, buy at least two species to mix and plant in your shaded area. Species domination will naturally occur within the shaded area over time.
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Supina bluegrass and rough bluegrasses. For moist, shady areas in the cool season grass region, choose supina bluegrass (Poa supina) or rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis). One advantage of these grasses is their stoloniferous growth habit, meaning the grass will creep and more successfully fill in bare spots. Supina bluegrass is the better grass in this regard and has also demonstrated the best shade tolerance under high-traffic conditions. This grass seed may be difficult to find in some stores, but can be ordered wholesale through ULTRA TURF, Inc. by calling 1-503-636-2600.
Transition Zone Grasses
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Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is an excellent choice for shady areas in the transition zone. It is a bunch-type grass, which means it will not fill in bare spots readily and requires seeding where these spots exist. 'Grande' tall fescue has tested as one of the more successful varieties for shaded areas.
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Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) performs very well in shaded areas in the transition zone, particularly when compared to bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp.). Zoysiagrasses can spread by both rhizomes and stolons, increasing the chance for survival. Several new zoysiagrass varieties will soon be coming to market. One of the new varieties that has shown excellent shade tolerance is 'Diamond' zoysiagrass.
Coastal Grasses
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St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secondatum) performs best in partially shaded areas in the far South and coastal regions. This grass also has a stoloniferous growth habit that allows for spreading and filling in bare spots.
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Establishing Shady Grasses. Establish grass in shady areas in early spring or fall when leaves are not present. Establishing grass during this period will maximize the sunshine reaching the grass, increasing the effectiveness of water and fertilizers. Alter your fertilizing schedule for shady areas by making one application well before Memorial Day and another around Thanksgiving.
Providing Optimal Conditions for Existing Shady Areas
Once the grass begins growing, perform lawn care practices that will encourage grass growth. Here are some tips for providing the best possible conditions for existing shady areas:
- Look for ways to increase sunlight without taking away from the yard's beauty. If possible, prune branches to allow for the maximum amount of sunlight to shine through to the grass.
- Remove underbrush around the area to increase air movement, which will decrease humidity levels at the lawn's surface in the shade. By increasing air circulation, the shaded grass will be much more likely to succeed.
- Cut back on watering grass in shady areas. Grass that grows in the shade requires less water than grass that grows in sunny areas. Over-watering can encourage disease and poor root development from a lack of oxygen.
When All Else Fails
For those perfectionists who, despite failed attempts, try to grow a lawn in very dark, shaded areas that simply do not lend themselves to grass, take a step back and reevaluate the situation. Do you really need grass there, or could a flowerbed or shrub actually suit the area better? Consider the possibility of adding wood chips or concrete to make a seated area in the shade where people can take cover from the hot summer heat. Sometimes, when all else fails, you can come up with an alternative that still allows you to enjoy your yard.
