Shade-Loving Grasses

Types

• Cool-season shade grasses adapt to the cold temperatures, acidic soils and abundant rainfall of northern climates. Examples of shade-loving cool-season grasses include fine fescues and bluegrasses. Warm-season shade grasses adapt to the hot, humid temperatures and inconsistent rainfall of southern climates. Examples of shade-loving warm-season grasses include St. Augustine grass and certain zoysia grass selections.

Exceptions

• Warm- and cool-season grasses prove difficult to grow in the transition zone between northern and southern regions. A cool-season grass such as tall fescue survives the hot summers of the transition zone, but is rarely used as a home lawn due to its coarse texture. A warm-season grass such as zoysia grass turns brown with the slightest dip in temperature. Shade grasses pose even bigger challenges in arid, western climates. Creeping red fescue only grows well at high elevations; St. Augustine grass only grows well at low elevations.

Considerations

• Most grass mixtures contain some form of Kentucky bluegrass, which does not grow well in dense shade. Avoid seed mixtures that contain more than 40 percent Kentucky bluegrass. Use seed mixtures with at least three shade-tolerant species. An ideal mixture for dry soils contains fine fescue, perennial ryegrass and supina bluegrass. A suitable mixture for wet soils contains rough-stalk bluegrass and a variety of perennial ryegrasses.

Care

• Plant shade grasses in fall, so they have enough time to build energy reserves and strong root systems for spring. Shade grasses do not require much nitrogen, but establish quicker in moist, organically rich soil. Rake up leaves that harbor disease and shade out grass plants.