Why Does Grass Need to Grow in Sunlight?

Chlorophyll

• Green plants -- like grass -- have specialized cells within their leaves called chloroplasts. The chloroplasts contain the chemical chlorophyll. Chlorophyll takes and stores solar energy and turns it into chemical energy through a process called photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis

• The photosynthesis process within the plants produces simple sugars made from water and carbon dioxide. The plants move these sugars throughout themselves for food or energy, or they store it.

Shade Grasses

• Some species of grass tolerate more shade than others. Any decent turfgrass needs at least 50 percent sunlight, though. When planting in the shade, consider trimming tree branches back to allow more sunlight. Also, grass grows more slowly in the shade, so apply fertilizers at a 50-percent rate compared to the rate you fertilize grass growing in the sun.