The Grass Doctor

How do you get grass to grow in an old shady yard?

In Chicago, my friend's yard has weak grass in the side yard (partly sunny) and almost no grass in the back yard, always shaded by a big old tree that he will not cut down. He said he has put down 60 pounds of grass seed.

Public Comments

1. http://www.ehow.com/about_4571680_grass-that-grows-shade.html
2. No grass can grow where there is no sun. Under a tree, he will need some sort of shade tolerant ground cover suitable for your area, or cedar mulch. If he can prune any of the trees lower branches to allow sun in, then he can grow grass. At least 6 or 7 hours a day are necessary. Without that he can put down a ton of seed, and nothing will grow.
3. It's hard to grow really good grass in heavy shade but there is grass seed that grows better in shade. There's also a water issue, because grass under a large tree won't get as much rainfall as grass out in the open and it will need more watering. Has he considered having the tree thinned a bit?
4. There are a few new varietys of shade tolerant grasses avaliable. thinning the tree may have to be done to get even these new variatys of grass to grow.
5. St. Augustine grass likes shade but best to plug in or buy it from nurseries already grown and lay down, I would lime good and after planting make sure it stays watered also a little 10-10-10 fertilizer would help, it takes work because trees use up all the nutrients in soil.
6. Here you go / http://www.ehow.com/how_2049034_grow-grass-shade.html