When to Plant Grass Seed in Shaded Areas?

Time to Seed

• Seed your grass in the fall. Fall grass establishment helps grass produce strong root systems and growth for the next summer, according to the University of Illinois. Seedlings have more food reserves when they have been planted in the fall months. Throwing any type of grass seed in shady areas will likely not result in a thick growing turf. Gardeners must choose the right type of grass, prepare the planting site and give their grass proper care to survive these shady areas.

Shade-Tolerant Grass

• Gardeners living in the northern regions of the United States must pick a cool season grass type that will grow in shade and survive their cool climate. Cool season grass types that can tolerate shade include chewings fescue, hard fescue, creeping red fescue, supina bluegrass, rough bluegrass and creeping bentgrass, according to the University of Wisconsin. Those living in the southern areas of the United States can plant St. Augustine grass and zoysiagrass types. You may have to look around to find St. Augustine grass seed, because it is not commonly sold in nurseries.

Site Preparation

• Grass should not be seeded until you have prepared the soil. Remove all weeds and vegetation from the area. Because shallow root trees commonly grow in shady areas, you may have to hand pull or dig up weeds rather than spraying herbicide. Moreover, gardeners should keep their site free of fallen leaves not only before planting but after the seed has been sown in shady areas. Leaves can prevent grass seed from getting enough light to germinate.

Shady Grass Care

• Use less fertilizer in shady areas than you would in sunnier parts of the yard. Too much nitrogen can cause excessive grass blade growth at the expense of the root system, according to gardening writer Walter Reeves. If your grass has a weak root system in shade areas, it will have a difficult time spreading. The result is thinning grass. Also, keep grass higher in shady areas by 1/2 inch. For instance, fescue grass grown in sunny areas should be kept at 3 inches in height while the grass must be maintained in shady areas at 3 1/2 inches, as recommended by gardening writer Walter Reeves.