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Growing grass in the shade

Grass performs better in sunny locations. It's hard to grow a dense stand of grass in the shade, so you may have to settle for one that is less than perfect.

To obtain the best possible results in shady areas, start with shade-tolerant grass mixes. Varieties of chewing fescue and creeping red fescue tolerate light shade quite well. Tall fescue has moderate shade tolerance and some varieties of Kentucky bluegrass have fair shade tolerance. As trees mature and shade increases, you may want to overseed with these more shade-tolerant varieties.

Another way to help grass beat the shade is to raise the lawn mower height to three inches, providing a larger leaf surface for photosynthesis. And if growth rates in the shade are slower, mow less often.

Reduce spring nitrogen fertilizer rates on shady lawns. Heavy nitrogen applications stimulate rapid growth, which makes grass prone to disease.

Aerate the lawn in spring and fall. Lawn is a poor competitor in compacted soils. Trees in the area also will benefit from lawn aeration. Make enough passes with the aerator to create plug holes that are two inches apart.

Pay attention to water needs. Heavy watering in shady areas may aggravate lawn disease problems. However, if the lawn has to compete with a large tree for soil moisture, the area may become overly dry.

In heavy shade, it may be more practical to use ground covers or a wood-chip mulch with shade-loving perennials.