What Is the Most Shade Tolerant Grass for Florida?

Shade Tolerating Cultivars

• St. Augustine grass dwarf cultivars, Seville and Floraverde, tolerate up to 50 percent shade well. The cultivar Floratam often shows thinning after being subjected to extended shading. Floratam does not do well if it does not receive approximately six hours of sunlight per day. The cultivar DeltaShade was first released in 2005 and shows good shade tolerance. It sports a lighter green coloration than other cultivars but does withstand colder temperatures, which makes it ideal in northern and central Florida.

Considerations

• Even with adequate light, St. Augustine grass does not tolerate heavy treading. Even with ample light, the grass loses its dark green coloration during the winter months in north and central Florida. The grass is susceptible to chinch bug attack and has no resistance. It is herbicide sensitive, which makes it difficult to effectively kill weeds. The grass also suffers from bouts of take-all patch, root rot, gray leaf spot and brown patch. It also has excessive thatch buildup.

Growth Requirements

• St Augustine grass establishes well from sod. A perennial grass, it can be used as a lawn grass or pasture forage. It tolerates a wide range of soil pH levels, growing from pH 5.0 to 8.5. If the soil is too alkaline, the grass may show signs of yellowing, which the gardener might assume is from shading instead of a soil pH above 7.5.

Care

• St. Augustine grass requires regular mowing to maintain its appearance. The amount of shade the grass receives, irrigation and fertilization will determine the mowing frequency. The grass will grow faster in full sunlight than in shady conditions. It tolerates a mowing height of 1 to 3 inches. Mow St. Augustine grass at a height of 3 inches if it grows in the shade. Shade-grown St. Augustine grass will usually require mowing every 10 days to maintain its overall appearance.