Late summer/early fall is a great time to install or repair lawns now that the heat of summer & the heavy weed growing season should have past. One of the biggest issues people struggle with in lawn establishment is growing grass in shade: Can it be done?
Grass in shaded areas under trees is often thin or discolored, therefore making it more susceptible to weed pressure since these areas are already struggling. While there are shade-tolerant grass types, all grass needs at least SOME sun to grow yet. With that being said, here are a few approaches to choose from when trying to grow grass in shaded areas:
-Remove the trees.
Many times people don't want to remove trees if possible, but if grass is incredibly important, then this would be the easiest first option. Once a tree or trees are removed, then it's easier to re-sod or re-seed an area for best success.
-Prune trees for more sunlight.
If tree removal is not an option, then pruning maybe a better alternative. Thinning the tree branches above will allow more light to filter through and could potentially help the grass grow better in these areas. Since you may only be allowing filtered shade to an area, then the grass could use a little extra support by the means of aeration, & fertilizing. Weed control methods will also help battle pesky weeds from trying to sprout within a shaded area.
-Consider a grass alternative.
If tree removal & tree pruning are a no go, and your grass still is struggling maybe it's time to think about installing a landscape bed or utilizing the space for seating. Mulch or decorative stone rings around tree trunks add for an aesthetically pleasing site below trees without having to deal with spotty grass in shade areas. If there are many trees with shaded grass below it, installing a fresh plant bed below them all with shade plants can really add a pop of color to a dim place in the yard. Or, if it's a high traffic shade area maybe it's time to install a small patio between shade trees with small plantings all around.
