Growing Shade-Tolerant Grass
The area under tree canopies allows little sun and water to get through to lawn grass. Grass also has a very tough time competing with tree roots for nutrients from the soil. One option is pruning the trees. A tree professional can remove some lower tree limbs or thin the crowns of the trees to let more light in. However, even after pruning, there's still no guarantee that grass in these shady spots will get established. Planting shade tolerant grass is a good option for these areas.
What’s the Best Grass In Shade?
When you’re looking for the best grass seed for shade you’ve got more choices than you may think. There are several options for grass in areas that don’t receive full sun.
Shade-tolerant grass varieties are available but remember the key word is tolerant. No grass is likely to grow well for long in deep shade. Here are some warm- and cool-season grasses that grow in shade:
- St. Augustine is a great warm-season variety for shaded areas.
- Zoysia or zoysiagrass is another warm-season favorite for shade tolerance. While it does well in the sun, zoysiagrass can also handle some periods of shade.
- Centipede grass is another shade-tolerant favorite for warm-season lawns. Centipede grass is an option if your lawn has areas that get some periods of shade.
- Red fescue and Chewings fescue are two varieties of fine fescue that are good cool-season grasses for shaded areas.
- Turf-type tall fescue is another cool-season option that can tolerate some shade.
Sun and shade seed blends are also available.
Planting and Caring for Grass in Shade
Plant warm-season grasses in early spring and cool-season grasses in the fall. When you plant grass seed, provide good irrigation. You need plenty of water to get the root system established. Mow it as high as possible to encourage the growth of the root system.
Some types of shade-tolerant grass will require regular reseeding. When fertilizing, look for a fertilizer with a higher concentration of phosphorus to promote root growth. High-nitrogen fertilizer promotes blade growth, which isn't really what you want in shade grass.
Before undertaking any major fertilizer program, get a soil test kit and follow the recommendations.
Our guide to planting grass will show you how to seed new grass and give you tips on watering newly seeded grass.
Grass Alternatives for Shady Areas
If you're looking for alternatives to grasses for shade, we’ve got some ideas.
Grow Perennials and Ground Covers in Shade
Consider planting some shade-loving perennials or ground covers. Hosta, periwinkle, Asian jasmine, star jasmine, baby tears, ajuga, cast iron plant, dichondra, sweet Woodruff, liriope or pachysandra do well and look good in the shade.
Beautify Shady Areas with Mulch
Another alternative is to add a mulch bed to your shady spot, but don't pile the mulch too deep around tree trunks, as it may throw off the moisture balance around the area. Take a look at our tips for using mulch in your landscape.
Install Fake Grass in Shady Areas
High-quality fake grass or artificial grass can make your shady spots look green and lush with no worry about getting the right amount of light. Plus, artificial grass doesn’t require the maintenance — such as watering and pesticide or fertilizer application — that's often necessary to keep a traditional lawn green.
Learn more uses for fake grass when you read our artificial grass installation how-to.