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6 Tips For Growing Your Lawn In Spots With Heavy Shade…

If your lawn is heavily shaded, you might be worried about how you will get grass to grow. Thankfully, there are few things you can do to grow a luscious, green lawn in a shady location. Let’s take a look at these simple methods to grow grass in your shady yard…

Choosing The Correct Grass Type For Shady Areas

Selecting the correct grass type is the first step to getting grass to grow in a shaded location.

What are the best types of grass for low-light areas?

  • St. Augustine – This is a favorite in the southeast as it grows extremely well in warmer climates.
  • Zoysia – Like St. Augustine, Zoysia is a known warm-season grass that will grow great in both sunny and shaded areas.
  • Fine-leaf Fescue – Fine fescue is a cool season grass that tolerates drought conditions and will even grow when soil conditions aren’t ideal. Great for  Kentucky lawns.
  • Perennial Ryegrass – This is an affordable option that does well in partly shaded areas.
  • Bahal – This type of grass can handle moderate shade and several soil types.
Zoysia is the best warm season grass for shady spaces, while a mix of fescues are better for cooler climates. Some landscapers will suggest buying and mixing several types of grass seed available locally as this tends to provide the best results.

Improving The Quality Of A Shaded Lawn

Selecting the best type of grass seed for a low-light area is just the beginning, there are a few other steps you will need to take to yield a full lawn in these conditions.

Composting & Fertilizing 

Fertilizing is always an important component when it comes to growing a healthy, full lawn but it is even more important when you are attempting to grow a lush lawn in a shaded area. We advise our clients to fertilize in the spring and winter for best results. Top dress your lawn with compost each spring is another way to provide your lawn with the nutrients it needs during the growing season.

Aerating & Overseeding 

Whether or not your lawn has low-light, you should aerate and overseed it annually. But this is a vital step when it comes to growing a healthy lawn in places with inadequate sunlight. Overseeding helps to fill out those thinner patches of grass in your lawn, which are frequently found in shaded areas.

Avoid Overwatering 

Your shady lawn won’t need watered as often or as long as the water is less prone to evaporating. You are more likely to overwater your lawn if it is shaded which can lead to disease or a mold infestation that will kill any existing grass. Avoid overwatering low-light areas in your lawn and save some  money on your water bill in the process.

Trim Or Remove Trees

You might consider trimming back your trees to allow more sunlight in your lawn. It can be difficult to grow the perfect lawn in shady areas, so if you are able to trim back your trees to allow the sun in and make maintaining your lawn a little easier.  You may also think about removing your tree entirely but this is something to really think about as trees add value and privacy to your home– and create a place to cool down in the summer.

Grass In Shady Lawn Is Possible But You Have To Be On Top Of It 

Choosing the right grass type will help you grow grass in shady areas but you must be willing to put in the work. You will find that the grass won’t grow as quickly as it would if in sunny areas. It will also be more likely to become infected with disease. This is why you might consider an alternative to your traditional Kentucky lawn. But hey, you won’t have to water your lawn very often. Whatever you decide, we hope you have the perfect yard for your day to day life.

Contact us (859-314-LAWN) for more information or a free instant quote!

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About Green & Grow

Green & Grow is a full-service lawn care company specializing in fertilization & weed control, aeration & seeding, insect control, and more!