Many people have difficulty maintaining their lawn in the shade. It simply doesn’t get enough sunlight. Most grass species need at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight to thrive. Depending on the type of tree you have, you may not get any direct sunlight. That is why it is important to choose the right grass for your shady environment, and open the area to as much sunlight as possible.
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Tall Fescue: Fescue is a cool-season grass, and it will grow for quite a while even after it is covered by leaves. Technically, it requires some sunlight for photosynthesis, but it can survive with only a few hours of sunlight and is one of the best options for creating a lawn in a shady area.
Some Bermudagrass: In general, bermudagrasses are not very shade-tolerant. However, there are a few cultivars of bermudagrass that will hold up to some shade. Celebration and Tifgrand still need a minimum of 4 hours of sunlight.
Zoysiagrass: This slow-growing grass is shade- and drought-tolerant. It needs 4 hours of direct sunlight, but eight hours of reflected sunlight should keep it growing.
St. Augustinegrass: St. Augustinegrass typically needs at least 6 hours of sunlight, but that does allow it to remain in the shade for a good portion of the day.
One of the ways that you can help your shade-tolerant grass to thrive is by pruning your trees. You don’t need a dense canopy to have enjoyable shade, and some strategic pruning can help let light through.
Allowing your grass to grow a little taller is another way to make sure it grows well in the shade because each blade has more surface area, so it can absorb more light. Grass grown in the shade will need more water but less fertilizer. Less herbicides will be needed because most weeds prefer sunny conditions. If you get the perfect lighting situation in your shady environment, the results can be pretty spectacular.
No matter what type of shade-tolerant grass you end up with, it isn’t going to be very hardy. Sunlight is required for a good, strong carpet of grass, so don’t plan on walking on your shady grass often. If your shade is in an area of high traffic, pour a patio or place patio stones down to create a durable walkway. Otherwise, enjoy your shade and your green grass too with shade-tolerant grass varieties.
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