How to Grow Grass Under a Crabapple Tree

Till the soil surrounding the tree with a garden spade to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. Carefully till to avoid damaging the roots of the crabapple tree.

Test the soil with a pH kit. This typically requires mixing the soil with a solution and matching the resulting color with a color code chart. Crabapple trees survive best in soils that are slightly acidic. If the pH reading is above 6.5, you will need to apply peat moss to lower the pH and raise the acidity of the soil. If the reading is between 5.5 and 6.0, the soil does not require peat moss.

Spread a 1-inch layer of washed sand and compost on the soil surrounding the crabapple tree and mix it into the existing soil with the garden spade.

Shovel a 1-inch layer of peat moss over the soil if the pH level is above 6.5. Mix the moss into the soil with a metal rake.

Fill a grass spreader with a grass seed that is suited for lower light conditions. Adjust the dial on the spreader to the setting indicated on the grass seed packaging.

Walk the spreader around the tree to throw the seed evenly into the soil.

Rake the soil with the back of a plastic rake to push in the seeds slightly.

Water the seeds immediately for 10 minutes.

Water twice daily for 10 minutes for the first seven days, then 20 minutes daily once the seeds bud.