Shade-Resistant Sod

Grass Selection

• Rough bluegrass, supina and St. Augustinegrass grow well in areas with minimal amounts of sunlight, although these are not common varieties in sod selections. Commercially available sod usually contains grass varieties, such as Kentucky bluegrass, that require full sunlight. When choosing sod, look for a blended sod that contains a high percentage of fine fescues. Although the sun-loving varieties in the blend may falter in the shade, the fine fescues will take over and create an attractive ground covering under trees and in other shaded areas.

Preparation

• Proper site preparation helps to ensure the optimal health of new sod. This involves removing all existing vegetation from the site and amending poor soils to enhance their nutrient levels and porosity. A soil test can reveal important information regarding the current state of the soil, enabling you to correct any problems before the installation of the sod. Trimming back the limbs of overhanging trees will increase the amount of light in some areas and improve transplantation success.

Installation

• Install the shade-tolerant sod on a cool, overcast day. Dampen the prepared soil with a fine mist of water prior to planting the sod. While installing the new grass, keep the waiting sections of sod slightly damp and shaded.

Considerations

• Grass in shady locations requires different care from sod planted in sunny areas of the landscape. Give the shaded sod about half the amount of fertilizer and water as the rest of the lawn. Too much water increases the risk of fungal diseases, especially in shady areas of the landscape. Shaded grass tends to grow more slowly and requires less frequent mowing than grass that grows in full sunlight.