How to Fix a Front Yard With Grass and Trees With no Sun

Many suburban homeowners envy the yard with large, established trees, but a mature yard has its challenges as well. Large trees shade the yard, limiting how well grass and other plants grow. Shady yards can seem restful, but they can also seem dull or cold. Through proper planning and maintenance, though, you can increase the amount of sunlight in your yard and select plantings that provide color and texture.

Pruning shears
Ladder
Hardscaping materials, such as brick or stone
Shovel

Instructions

- 1
  Prune the trees if they are overgrown, to improve their health and form and open them up so more sunlight reaches the yard. Consult an arborist if you have never pruned trees before and hire a tree pruner to prune large trees safely. The best time to prune trees is usually in late winter to early spring when the trees are dormant.
- 2
  Install hardscaping, such as an attractive path or entryway, to add interest to your yard. Plant shade-loving annuals, such as coleus and impatiens, in attractive urns and pots and place them near the entryway to add color.
- 3
  Build flower beds in areas where grass won't grow, such as under trees, or near the entryway. Flower beds add variety to a front yard, breaking up the monotony of a large expanse of lawn. Many flowers grow better than lawns in shady areas.
- 4
  Select shade-loving flowers, ground covers and shrubs for the flower beds. Common choices include hosta, ajuga, bugleweed, coleus, impatiens, astilbe, columbine, coral bells or bleeding heart. Match plants with the level of shade found in your yard, as well as the moisture level and soil type. Many shade gardens are dry and infertile. Plan accordingly or improve the soil.
- 5
  Select a grass type suited to shade for lawns. Fine fescue is one of the best grasses for shady areas, although it doesn't tolerate wear well.

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