What Grass Will Grow in Shade?

St. Augustine

• St. Augustine is a warm-weather grass known for its high tolerance of shaded areas. Found in the states along the Gulf Coast, St. Augustine thrives in areas that have at least a medium amount of moisture and mild temperatures in the winter. It does not do well when exposed to frosts. A lawn with St. Augustine grass looks its best when it receives regular watering, although this grass is somewhat drought resistant. It has wide green leaves that provide for an eye-catching lawn. St. Augustine grass is also durable and adapts to a variety of soils. It is usually established by sod, sprigs or plugs.

Tall Fescue

• One of the more common cold-season grasses, tall fescue thrives in areas with full sun, but it also grows well when exposed to shaded conditions. Tall fescue germinates quickly in less than two weeks under normal conditions. It does not need soil rich in nutrients to thrive. Tall fescue is a durable grass with the ability to hold up when it receives a lot of use. Because it has deep roots that absorb water from beneath the soil, it is generally drought-resistant. It also is good at resisting attacks by diseases and insects. Plant tall fescue from either seed or sod in the spring or fall months.

Ryegrasses

• Another of the more commonly planted cold-season grasses, ryegrasses do well in both shaded and full-sun areas. Ryegrass is a fast-growing grass that usually germinates in less than two weeks and comes in both annual and perennial varieties. Annual ryegrass lasts for just one year, while perennial ryegrass has a longer life span. Ryegrasses are also used in southern states to provide green color for a lawn during the winter months when the warm-weather grasses are dormant. Ryegrasses have green and fine-textured leaves that provide an attractive lawn. They are also durable and good for covering hilly areas because of their quick growth rate.

Bent Grass

• Bent grass is a cool-season grass with a good tolerance for shade. Planted from both seed and sod, it thrives in areas that are also cool and moist. It is not a good grass for areas prone to drought or high summer temperatures. Its dense turf makes for a durable lawn. The fine texture of its leaves and eye-catching green color also make it an attractive grass for lawns and golf greens in northern areas of the country. Because of its need for water, it does require maintenance. Bent grass spreads with creeping stolons. The Seedland website describes the three varieties of bent grass as the luxury grasses of the cool-season varieties.