Fast Growing Grass Seeds for Shady Areas

Creeping Red Fescue

• Creeping red fescue is a cool-season grass considered a very good choice for areas with plenty of shade. A fast grower capable of germinating in a little over a week, creeping red fescue has fine-textured leave that are medium to dark green in color. The leaves of this grass make for an attractive lawn. Often used in mixes with bluegrass and also known as creeping red, it can easily be grown from seed. It is a durable grass often found in parks, play areas and along roadways. Creeping red fescue is also planted in warm-weather areas to provide green color in the winter months while the existing grass is dormant.

Rye Grasses

• Rye grasses are quick growers, germinating in 10 to 14 days under most conditions. They also have the ability to thrive in areas with full sun and shade. Annual rye grass lasts for one year, while perennial rye grass has an extended lifetime. Rye grasses are of the cold-season variety, but often used in warm-weather areas to give a lawn a green color in the winter. The rye grass then dies in the summer heat when the existing warm-weather grass emerges from its state of dormancy and turns green again. The fine-textured leaves and appealing green color rye grasses make it a popular choice for lawns. Rye grasses are also durable with the ability to handle plenty of use and foot traffic. Because they establish quickly, they are good for slopes.

Tall Fescue

• Tall fescue is a common cold-season grass that adapts to different sunlight conditions. Although it thrives best in area with full sun, it will also do well in shaded areas. Quick to germinate in 10 to 14 days, tall fescue adapts to different types of soils and can grow in soil lacking in nutrients. Tall fescue is hardly and able to hold up well in areas with high traffic. It also is good at resisting insects and diseases. Another plus is the fact it's generally drought resistant due to its deep roots capable of absorbing water from beneath the ground surface. Although it is cold-season grass, it does hold up well in the summer heat. Establish tall fescue from either seed or sod in the spring or fall months.

Bent Grass

• One of the fastest of all grasses in terms of its germination time, bent grass is a cold-season grass that thrives in shaded areas that are cool and have plenty of moisture. It does not do well in areas with arid conditions. It has thin leaves that form a dense turf and provide for a durable lawn. It is also attractive with leaves of a dark green color and fine texture. These traits also make it a common choice for golf greens in northern states. Bent grass spreads with creeping stolons and requires a good deal of maintenance, including watering. It can be planted from both sod and seed.