The Best Turf Grass for Ground Cover in Shade Zones

St. Augustine

• Many horticulture experts recommend St. Augustine as a good warm-season grass for shaded areas of the lawn. This choice is even more attractive to those with highly varied light conditions in the landscape, since St. Augustine can thrive in full sun, as well. Most warm-season grasses require six to eight hours of sunlight per day. However, according to horticultural specialists at the University of Florida, shade-friendly cultivars of St. Augustine can grow with just five to six hours of light, even if up to 30 percent of it is filtered. The cultivars that fit this profile include Seville, Delmar, Floraverde and Captiva.

Centipede

• Centipede grass is another warm-season variety that often has the resilience to handle reduced sunlight. Popular in the Southeast, centipede can handle light to moderate shade, and once fully established, can survive almost as well as St. Augustine.

  While success can be achieved with centipede in shaded areas, this choice will require you to implement good maintenance practices such as managing moisture, fertilizing properly and mowing as recommended to get the best result.

Zoysia

• Zoysia fans promote this grass's thick, carpet-like feel and drought tolerance as reasons to love it. For some varieties, moderate shade tolerance could be added to those positive attributes. 'Emerald' zoysia is the best performer in the shade, but requires more patience and different types of maintenance than St. Augustine and Centipede.

  All zoysia varieties are very slow-growing compared to other grasses, and therefore take longer to establish. This is most often done by planting sprigs or fully sodding an area. Additionally, zoysia can be susceptible to thatch, especially when heavily fertilized.

Best Management Practices for Shaded Lawns

• Whichever variety of grass you choose for your shaded lawn, good management practices can greatly increase the chance for success. For instance, increase the mowing height so that more leaf area can absorb the available sunlight and deeper rooting can be established. Reduce watering, as shady areas naturally stay more cool and damp. Irrigate less frequently, but to a soil depth of about 6 to 8 inches.

  Also, reduce the amount of fertilizer you apply. Too much nitrogen in slow-growing areas can actually backfire and cause weakened turf. Finally, restrict the traffic on your shaded are to limit stress on the turf.