Like most plant life here on Earth, grass requires three key ingredients to grow: sunlight, nutrition and moisture. Without either of these elements, it will struggle to remain healthy.
But what if a large portion of your lawn is shaded by overhanging trees or structures? It may take a little more work, but you can still grow lush-green grass in shaded areas.
Let me first start off by saying that all varieties of grass require sunlight. There are more than 10,000 different species of grass, and while each of them have their own unique characteristics, sunlight is a common denominator among them.
Therefore, you should try to keep your lawn as well-lit as possible. This means cutting away unnecessary brush and limbs, and possibly moving large sheds or other sun-blocking structures.
With that said, however, there are some grass varieties that are more tolerant to shaded areas than others.
St. Augustine
One such grass variety that fairs well in shaded areas is St. Augustine. Be warned, though, that St. Augustine doesn’t grow well when mixed with other grasses. It’s a warm-season lawn grass that has become a popular choice among homeowners here in Central Texas.
It possesses an appearance similar to that of thick sod, blanketing the ground with lush, healthy grass that’s naturally resilient to weeds. If you are going to use St. Augustine in your yard, avoid spreading out seeds of any other grass variety.
Red Creeping Fescue
Another grass variety that’s known to grow easily in shaded areas is red creeping fescue. It’s described as a “cool seasonal grass,” adapting to a wide variety of environmental conditions.
You can grow your entire lawn in red creeping fescue, or you can use it to fill in voided patches. Regardless, this is an excellent solution for homeowners who are struggling with shaded lawns.
Hard Fescue
A third grass variety to consider using in a shaded lawn is hard fescue. Being that’s it’s a cool season grass that bodes well on infertile soils, it’s a great choice for shaded lawns.
Hard fescue has fine blades with a grayish/dark-green color. It’s classified as a “bunch grass,” meaning it grows in bunches. Hard fescue is also a low-maintenance grass and shouldn’t be mowed often (frequent mowing may kill it).
These are just a few of the many different grass varieties that are available for shaded lawns.
If you are still struggling to find the perfect variety, take a visit to your local plant nursery and ask for a recommendation. They will be able to guide you in the right direction, offering suggestions and advice on which variety is best suited for your particular needs.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
Leave a Reply