Just offering some encouragement to those of us with heavily shaded lawns – yes it CAN be done! This is just 2 years of work, basic over-seeding, aeration, and good cultural practices (mowing fertilizing etc). It’s not perfect but it’s definitely established. Tall Fescue KBG mix. A few things I’ve learned:
- Mowing – do it often, especially in spring before leaves fill in, with sharp blades, and timing matters (always good before a big rain but not during heat waves). Mow between 3-4”… grass needs blades for photosynthesis but too tall in the shade can promote fungus, especially if mulching wet clippings. Don’t be afraid to bag, especially if grass is wet or you have trees with seeds (such as our giant sugar maples)
- Soil test – huge benefit. For $20-30 you’ll get an idea of what fert you need. This initial investment has arguably saved me money on fertilizer….
- Weeds are far less of a problem in shade than sunny lawns! Occasional nutsedge, wild violet or creeping charlie pop up. Pull your poa triv/annua. Just spot treat weeds and overseed
- You rarely have to water! Unless in a heat wave and a drought, shade+clay soils hold water very well
- Cost. Most shady lawns are not as large as those giant sun-baked multi acre lots. As a DIY my annual over-seeding cost with Jonathan Green seed on our 3K sq ft lawn is about $80, and shade requires less fert. You can also buy higher quality products for this reason.
You CAN do it, easier than you may realize. So grab a glass and go work on your grass.
Sincerely,
Zone 6B shade lawn
by abrames
19 Comments
Beautiful! Can i ask which ivy that ground cover is? Ive been procrastinating plating ground cover ivy cause i cant decide which species i want
Looking excellent! Nothing better than a thick, but shaded lawn. Now find some trees to hook up a hammock and chill
Fantastic. Shade can be tricky but you’ve got it mastered. Well done
What type of grass?
Looks great and gives me hope for my lawn. How do you handle helicopter seeds, pine needles, leaves, sticks, and other things that trees drop often? Do you just mow them? Do you manually rake and bag? I’ve tried blowing with leaf blower but they tend to just stick in the grass and don’t come up. Mowing only picks up so much. What does your clean up/maintenance look like?
Looks amazing!
Goals!!
What kind of grass / seed?
https://preview.redd.it/gbt6fnfgle3f1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5cb3b93fea159e340aef4dee0b81c88712dca3e0
Very nice. Here’s my JG Dense Shade lawn this spring after first seeding last fall – so less than a year in. Still got a few seasons to go to get it where I want it.
Can you please come remove all my moles? thanks.
Which broom are you using for those stripes bro?
Fantastic work!
That looks great. I’ve been fighting my shaded/clay back yard for years and I think I finally have some Bermuda grass hanging in there. I’ve killed too much Fescue back there to spend any more money on it. Thanks for the inspiration!
Looks amazing!
Lucky! I have 100% full sun with a fescue lawn. I have to water like 5 hours per week.
You’ve given me hope. Currently amending my soil (lime, fertilizer according to EXT soil report recommendations) to prepare to aerate then overseed with Black Beauty dense shade this fall. My huge oak’s shade has turned my burmuda into dirt under its massive dripline. Zone 8B in USA.
Well done! I’m just starting the same journey, 5k ft surrounded by Mature old growth Maples and Oaks. Soil test sent, overseeded last year for the first time and MUCH better than ever before (I’ve lived here since 1998).
Thanks for the proof that it can be done, and done well.
Also, which seed did you use?
But what about moss
shit my shaded areas in my yard do the best lol