How to Grow Grass in the Shade With Heavy Trees
Anyone who has large shade trees in their yard will tell you that getting lush green grass to grow in the lawn can be a challenge. Unfortunately, the shade provided by the trees is not the ideal condition to grow grass or any other plant for that matter. However, just because it is a challenge does not mean that it is impossible and with a little work and the proper knowledge, even a novice gardener can get grass to grow in a shady yard. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Grass seed
- Water
- Soil aerator or pitch fork
- Fertilizer with high phosphorus levels
Instructions
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1
Trim the lower branches of surrounding trees to allow additional light into the yard.
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2
Purchase a shade tolerant grass seed. Some of the best shade resistant grass types are St. Augustine, red fescue and chewings fescue. St. Augustine is a warm weather grass and should be planted in the spring. The other two types of grass seed are cool weather grasses and should be planted in the early to mid-fall.
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3
Using a rake, remove all leaves and other yard debris from the area, as well as remove any existing weeds.
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4
Aerate the soil under the trees with a soil aerator, pitch fork, or even an old pair of golf shoes.
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5
Spread the grass seed evenly over the aerated soil and then walk around on it to push the seeds into the ground.
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6
Water the seeded area well and continue to water it regularly until grass begins to grow. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Depending on the area you live in and the temperature, you may need to water the grass seeds daily.
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7
Once grass begins to grow, apply a fertilizer that contains a high phosphorus level. This will promote root growth and increase the chance of survival.
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Tips & Warnings
Since it is a challenge to grow grass in the shade, it is not recommended to install sod into these areas since the chance of the sod thriving is very low. Grass seed is cheaper and one bag will supply more than one application if the initial application fails to thrive.
