Posted on July 12th, 2016
While of course a yard chock full of sunlight is ideal for growing new, green grass, for some it’s not always an option. For starters, most blocks have a “good side of the street” when it comes to sunlight, and “not so good side” as well. If you’re on the latter half of the block, chances are that sunlight isn’t all that abundant, which means you’ll have to figure out how to manage grass growth in shady circumstances. But have no fear, we’re here to show you the tricks of the trade!
Select shade tolerant seed. The first, and arguably most important step is selecting a grass type that will be able to withstand the lack of sunlight. Here in the Massachusetts and New Hampshire areas, we’ll be looking to cool-season grasses like rye, and fine or tall fescue. These grasses are most likely to stack up against minimal sunlight and prosper. We suggest a blend of all three.
Make as much room for sun as possible. Sometimes, something as simple as pruning back your bushes and trees can help let in the sunlight. Take a look around your yard and consider cutting back any overgrown or particularly leafy shrubs and trees. You’ll be surprised how much more light a little pruning will let in!
Set your mower to a higher setting. We always suggest mowing long rather than short, and when it comes to shady spots the longer the better. The idea with allowing grass blades to grow taller is that you’ll also be affording them more of an opportunity to soak up the sun.
Water often under trees. The grass growing directly underneath trees or shrubs will be competing with those plants’ roots for water. As such, it’s not uncommon for the soil to become drier than usual, so frequent watering is important.
Looking for more tips, or perhaps even a hand getting your shady grass up and growing? Allow the lawn care experts at Turf Unlimited to assist! We’ll have your lawn growing green in no time.
To learn more about our lawn and landscaping services call 888-649-9919 or fill out our online form to schedule a free on-site evaluation with one of our trained technicians.
