This is fescue planted in fall of 2022, over seeded spring of 2023. We had a super dry summer this year and I'm still happy with how the grass has held up. I'm getting ready to spray the grass out and put 2ft mulch circles around these trees. I figured I'd snap some pictures since I've had some many people say you can't grow grass around large oaks.
by SomeComparison
27 Comments
Have fun with the string trimmer. The Lorax says be nice to trees. So don’t hurt this one.
*shows this picture to the sorry grass under my trees*
I’ve also had good success with Tall Fescue under oak trees.
I also put a much ring around my trees a couple years ago about the size you describe. It’s been good to not have to weed whip around the base of the tree. The mulch circles are also a good spot to throw the little twigs that are always falling off the oaks every time the wind blows.
What about under maple? Is there a trick to that?
But also very pretty nice job
What state? I have 30 ft Chinese elms in my backyard and I’ve tried for two years to get grass to grow at the base and no luck
I’ll tell you grass won’t stay growing under my damn oak tree unless I water tf out of it everyday lol
My yard is 70% shade under oak trees (10 trees on small lot). I’m in Texas so the sunny parts have Bermuda & the shade has tall Fescue
My oaks had a dead zone too. Not anymore.
Did you also pile a ton of dirt over the roots too? I mean, sure, it can be done with enough effort and water and fert. If it’s tall enough, it may even get enough sun. But growing under trees is usually tough and many more roots than this. You are just lucky.
Lucky that tree doesn’t like to push it’s roots above ground…lol I think that’s why it’s typically harder, aside from the obvious shade factor.
Please don’t make a mulch volcano though…a small ring around it is fine though. I like stone because it doesn’t blow away as easy as mulch when I do leaf clean-ups..
/r/arborists would tell you to dig out that root flare and cut that grass back away from the tree quite a bit. They would be correct as well. A buried/deep root flare is bad for the tree. Looks nice though.
Where are you located? And what’s your process with getting rid of leaves on the ground?
I’m trying to grow grass under my oak tree but the leaves cover the ground too quick. I have a big roller with a wheeled brush that does a decent job but I can’t keep up with the leaves.
This is one of those situations where can and should diverge. I’ve been there, I’ve fought nature and ‘won’ to make this happen. Looked exactly like this. That oak eventually died. The arborists aren’t saying it *can’t* be done, they’re saying why it *shouldn’t*. The things you need to do for the health of the tree in the root zone are ultimately incompatible with the things you need to do for healthy grass. There’s a reason nature rarely ever does this on it’s own.
Granted it is pretty neat when it can be pulled off, congrats, but be sure to set expectations and future plans accordingly.
Can you tell that to my oak tree
https://preview.redd.it/ibnynjgzmxsf1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=ad6638202971751deba14fdaccf84771393e1f06
Not good for the oak long term. They tend to rely on mycorrhizae that thrive in the tannin rich soil from leaf litter to increase nutrient uptake. Roots also don’t do too well since the majority of their moisture uptake is from fibrous surface roots that the grass are competing with. Will likely notice a thinning canopy over next few years manicured like that & more frequent dead branches. Looks pretty though 🤷♂️
But DO let folks tell you that it doesn’t grow under black walnut trees.
I’m in the Charlotte area and in the middle of a total reno of my front (was fescue, staying fescue). I have a single large oak in the middle of the lawn and that’s one of the few spots that has given me the least amount of trouble
I mean, my grandpa had like 5 or 6 acres completely obscured by oak trees and grass grows on all of it.
Not thick turf, but grass that he still had to mow
yeah try st. augustine and you’ll be singing a different tune
I just grew grass under a pine after i raked up about a decades worth of needles and cones that the previous owner neglected.
Tell that to my Bermuda.
I usually have more issue with oak leaves and their acidity, then water issues. Also my oaks are so deep into my clay soil, that the water near the surface does not easily go to the tree roots and mainly hang around the surface, so my grass roots tend to not be as stressed.
>I’m getting ready to spray the grass out and put 2ft mulch circles around these trees.
Why spray, and why such small mulched areas? Cut out the grass by hand and give the tree a nice wide berth and you’ll have better results, sooner.
Yeah cause the tree was planted too deep and doesn’t have any root flare. Post this in the arborist sub and see how your tree is now going to die and needs to be cut down
I’ve seen grass grow in concrete.
Barley the roots of the tree suck all the nutrients out of the grass even watering making it hard to keep up