Tips on Growing Grass in Shady Areas

Seed Varieties

• Choose a variety of grass that grows well in shade or partial shade such as fine fescue for the northern regions and St. Augustine grass for southern regions and the plains.

Fertilizer

• Shady grass grows slower than sunny varieties and requires only about half as much fertilizer. Illinois University recommends applying 1 to 2 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet total for the growing season.

Light Exposure

• Pruning or thinning branches of trees can help increase the amount of diffused or filtered light according to the University of Minnesota extension. For taller trees, you may only need to trim the lower branches to increase sun exposure.

Mowing

• Shaded grass needs more leaf surface for the process of photosynthesis and should not be cut as short as sunny areas. Between 3 and 4 inches is a good length for shady grass.

Watering

• Shady grass seed planted under trees may not receive adequate rainfall and you should water it at least once a week during the hot summer months.