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Turf Grass for Shade

Grass naturally prefers to grow in the sun, where it receives the abundant sunlight it needs to produce energy to live. In comparison, grass grown in the shade often lacks the energy supplies needed to ward off stress and disease. Furthermore, competition with tree roots and increased exposure to disease-producing moisture makes growing grass in the shade even more challenging. Selecting the correct grass species and taking steps to improve growing conditions will increase your chances of success.

  1. Minimum Light Needs

    • English ivy will form a thick ground cover over shady sites where grass won't grow.

      Grass needs at least four hours of sunlight per day in order to grow. Before seeding a shady spot in your yard, observe and note the amount of sun that the site receives. If the site receives fewer than four hours of sun, consider using a shade-tolerant ground cover, mulch or shade-loving wildflowers and ferns in that portion of your yard in place of grass.

    Shade-Tolerant Species

    • Some species of grass will perform better in the shade, while other species require full sun to survive. When choosing a seed for a shady site, choose a blend that contains two to four different types of shade-tolerant seed to decrease disease incidence. Fine fescues are cool-season grasses with a relatively high tolerance for shade. Tall fescue also survives well, but the coarse texture diminishes its appeal for some homeowners. St. Augustinegrass is a warm-season grass that performs well on shady sites. You can also expect success with supina bluegrass. Although perennial ryegrass doesn't grow as well as other species in the shade, its fast germination rate can stave off weeds while you wait for some of the slower species to germinate. It makes a good addition to a seed mixture intended for the shade.

    Cultural Practices

    • Keeping trees and shrubs properly pruned will increase light penetration to the lawn.

      Because grasses grown in the shade become more susceptible to problems, the cultural practices you implement can help you avoid disease, weeds and other difficulties. Grass grown in the shade requires less fertilizer because an overabundance of nitrogen can weaken the grass. You should apply approxinately 1 to 2 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, about half the rate you would apply to a sunny lawn. Choose fertilizers high in nitrogen and with half of it in slow-release form. Test your soil regularly to determine if your lawn needs phosphorus, potassium or other nutrients. You will not need to irrigate your shady lawn as often, but you should provide water when the plants show drought stress. Encourage deep, healthy root systems by watering infrequently and deeply rather than frequent shallow sprinklings. Avoid foot traffic across shady parts of the lawn.

    Mowing

    • To leave more leaf blades for energy production, you should cut your shady lawn taller than other parts of the lawn. Cut the grass when it measures about 4 to 5 inches, and cut it down to 3 to 4 inches in height. Don't remove more than one-third of the leaf blade at once, which can stress the grass. Remove any grass clippings or fallen leaves from the lawn to improve access to light.

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Lawn Basics
  1. Shade Grass for Back Yards
  2. A Good Grass Seed for Shade
  3. Grass Vs. Turf
  4. Grass Seed for Dense Shade
  5. Grass Seeds for Shade
  6. Perennial Ryegrasses for Turf
  7. Turf Vs. Natural Grass
  8. Insecticides for Turf
  9. Grass Sod for Shade
  10. How to Plant Grass Seeds for Shade
  11. Substitutes for Shade Grass
  12. Reasons for Yellow Grass in Turf Areas

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