What is the best way to get grass to grow in my shady yard?

Question

My husband and I just bought our first house and we need grass in the worst way. For like two years leaves have covered this property, and it's very shady. I need grass and fast. I have two daughters and I want them to get to play out side but I hate sweeping up all this dirt!! Please if anyone has any advice on the best grass... share it with me~K~

Answer 1

K,
Fear not. The previous suggestion of pruning your trees is the best place to start. A professional can prune the trees in such a way as to allow for sunlight, air, and water to aid the turf. Expensive - yes, worthwhile - yes!
I loved the sodding answer. Think of a sod farm. Wide open acres of rich soil, constant feeding and irrigation, high maintenance (daily) and monitioring. Can you think of any sod farm that grows grass in the shade? Buy the sod that is in full sun, good soil, irrigated and fed, install it, and watch it die. In landscape there are no bad plants just bad areas for the plant. Sod in a shaded area is a perfect example.
Whatever turf you establish will be in competition with the tree feeder roots for air, water, and nutrients. Consider reducing the competition by making a mulch bed around each tree from two or three inch min. from the base of the tree to one inch beyond the dripline (outer most limbs) of the trees. Remove any growth from the tree to the dripline and make a four inch deep by two inch trench along the outer edge. This will stop the mulch from migrating and actually allow the rain and irrigation to better feed the trees.
Leaves on turf are both an eyesore and problem. You need to remove them as quickly as you can. There are handheld electric and two cycle blowers. There are backpack blowers (2-cycle). Depending on your area you need to service I would use a walk behind Hurricane Blower.
This is a powerful unit ($200) but a gasoline only unit. The advantage is that instead of having a mower with gas supply and another container with the 2cycle mixture one container powers both.
As for the seed. Most people think that Bluegrass will not grow in the shade. Fact is that there are numerous Blues that have great success in the shade (Midnight, Merit, etc.).
Purchase a Certified (Blue Label) seed mixture of Perennial Rye, Fine Fescue, and Blue. You will want a mixture that contains the shade tolerent Blue and you will have to go to a true Landscape Supplier versus a Box Store. Get a mixture that is 50%Rye, 30%Fine Fescue, and 20%Shade Blue. This you overseed at 2lbs/1,000 ft in the spring and fall.
Any fert you put down will work it's way to the tree roots so why not do both a favor. Purchase a 10-20-10 with minerals fert for the early spring and early fall. Apply in April and Sept.
Get a 10-10-10 with minerals for an application in Late May and Mid October. Make sure this is granular and applied at Manu. Recs. Your turf and trees will thank you!
While you are awaiting the turf to solve your problems you may consider a suggestion from 3-M regarding dirt. They did research that showed that having three or more walk-off mats (welcome mats as such) spaced before and in the entry reduced the dirt and deicers, by a significant amount. The first mat can be a Art.Turf mat at the base of the steps. Another course mat running from the top of the steps to the front door. The third a finer weave inside the door.
Hope this helps. Do not use any sod! Be creative with the mulch. Use a color that either blends in with the tree or is in stark contrast to the general leaf color. With edging around the perimeter use a gravel if you wish. Good Luck.

Answer 2

There is a reason that shady area doesn't tolerate grass.
Just putting something down isn't the answer. Prune the trees back as much as possible. Completely clean the area, and lay new dirt about 2 inches thick. Do your research on hardy grasses in your area but do not try to "readjust" nature - only choose what will grow in shady areas.
We had to replant sod after major yard construction. Went to Lowe's (3 trips) and planted St Augustine ourselves. Water, Water and it is thriving a year later - with no problems.

If grass is not recommended by your local nursery, consider ground cover plants - ice plant, clover, etc.. Most ground cover plants are fast growers so definitely put in a border or it will jump into your grassy open areas. Consider something you can walk over. Ice plant has beautiful tiny flowers, but you can't walk on it...

Good luck and do your prep work to the area first...

Answer 3

You have a couple of choices. You can invest in sod, and have almost instant grass, or you can clean up all the leaves, and have your soil tested. You may have to add lime or fertilizer. After which purchase grass seed for heavy shaded areas, and follow the directions. The latter will take more time, but is less expensive. You might also consider having some of the trees removed, and opening your yard up to more sun.

Answer 4

Dear Trish: First you must specified the area of the country you live, and what type of grass you have already around these bear spots, there are more than several grasses that will grow in shade, however you are almost forced to plant or seed with a similar variety than the one you already have, unless you want to sod the entire yard or reseed it. In any case, do not forget to fertilize, apply premergents after you have the yard established and if your soill is acidic, apply lime.
Hope this helps you.

Answer 5

Trim up your trees or remove enough trees to let in more light, Or look for shade tolerant grass seed and follow the instructions. Or you could have the property resodded but that would be more expensive. Keep the leaves raked up and off the grass in the fall.

Answer 6

looks such as you obtain ripped off to me if the grass or sod replaced into no longer fescue which will strengthen nicely in shade. different turf grasses will at last die out becuase they choose sunlight. Creeping purple fescue works fairly nicely in dense shade, I even have approximately an acre of forested section in my lower back backyard with lush fescue transforming into there. Takes a lot of water.

Answer 7

Try this website, it may provide you with helpful information.

Answer 8

miricale grow it worked for me!