How to Install Grass in Shaded Areas

Grass Installation in Shaded Areas in the Garden

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Most grass types need a substantial amount of sunlight to grow. However, growing a healthy turf of grass in a shaded area might not be as difficult as you think. It depends on your choice of grass as well as grass seeds. A good combination of both and a few extra measures during grass installation can help you achieve a pretty swath of lawn.

Grass Installation

Choosing the Right Shade Tolerant Grass Blends

The first step is choosing the right shade-tolerant grass blends. Contrary to popular belief, many types grow well with limited or partial shade as long as you care for them correctly.

If you live in an area with harsh winters and relentless summers, then choose cool-season grass. Rye and tall and fine fescues make for excellent choices.

If you live in areas where you face really high temperatures, then you should go for warm-season grasses. Zoysia and St. Augustine are two incredible shade-tolerant grass types that will bloom well.

Aerate

Preparing your soil for the grass installation is critical to its survival. For shade-loving grasses, the air holes in the ground ensure the lawn gets water and fertilizers, which boost growth and ensure survival despite the lack of sunlight.

Get the Best Organic Matter and Grass Seeds

Don’t be stingy when it comes to spending on organic matter. Make sure you choose the best quality as it is the fertilizer and the grass seeds that will determine how beautiful your turf will grow to be. For shady areas, you don’t need to spread a dense layer of fertilizer, so a spreading thin layer of compost post aeration will work perfectly fine.

Grass seeds, however, are a whole other story. We recommend that you invest in a good quality grass seed blend. It should contain a variety of shade-loving grass types so that if one fails to take root, the others may.  

The blend should show less than one percent weed composition and less than four percent inert material presence. Do make sure that the germination rate of the combination exceeds 70 percent; anything less than that is a waste of your money.

Overseed During Grass Installation

You may need to invest in a drop spreader for this part. It allows for even distribution of the blend throughout the lawn, which is absolutely necessary during grass installation. It is the distribution of seeds and their adequate presence that determines how healthy the turf will be. Make sure to go over the lawn once again to ensure each type of seed is present everywhere in abundant quantity.

Determine the Appropriate Watering Schedule

Overwatering can kill your grass even before it develops. It can create waterlogging in the soil, which aids fungal and foliage growth, which is poisonous for your turf. You don’t have to water shade tolerant grass as frequently as the one exposed to sunlight, but it needs a substantial amount of water. Make sure you water infrequently but thoroughly.

With the right amount of watering, your grass installation in the shaded area is complete. Make sure you keep any trees in your yard pruned to thin out the canopy as it lets sunlight in. As long as you don’t overwater your lawn, you should have beautiful turf, with the potential to be a sight for sore eyes.

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Thinking of having your sodding grass installed as the climate cools? Speak to a sodding expert at My Landscapers.

My Landscapers has been sodding and replacing lawns for over 17 years throughout Toronto, Markham, Vaughan & Richmond Hill. Our professionals only use natural fertilizers and solutions to help your lawn look lush, healthy & green. Request your FREE, no-obligation, detailed estimate today, and one of our landscaping experts will contact you. Prefer to speak over the phone? Give us a call.

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