How to grow grass in the shade

Growing lawns in the shade

Most common lawn varieties need at least five hours of sun to thrive. Without it, lawns end up weak, sparse and unable to repair themselves following wear and tear. For a lawn to grow in shaded areas, you need to find a shade-tolerant grass that can cope with these conditions. You will also need to adjust how you care for it. We’re sharing advice on how to grow grass in the shade.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment. Always store products out of the reach of children and pets.

What’s the best grass for shade?

All lawn types need sun. Despite advancements in grass breeding, no lawn will grow without at least some sunlight; even shade-tolerant lawns require some sun exposure. Of the varieties that can grow on as little as two to four hours of direct sunlight, “cool-season grasses like creeping red fescue, tall fescue, bent and Kentucky bluegrass are the most shade tolerant,” says Steve Jackson, Munns lawn expert.

Cool-season grasses perform best in cooler climates, so they might struggle to survive if you live in a warmer climate. For warm-season varieties, Steve recommends buffalo and zoysia grass. While warm-season grasses like couch (Bermuda grass) and kikuyu need at least five to six hours of direct sunlight, zoysia and buffalo can grow with three to four hours of sunlight. Sir Grange zoysia, Sir Walter buffalo, Sapphire buffalo, and Matilda buffalo are excellent turf grass choices for shaded areas, needing only three to four hours of direct sun or dappled light for most of the day.

How to help grass grow in shaded areas

While shade-tolerant lawns can and do grow in shade, it’s beneficial to increase the light in these areas where possible to help the lawn perform better. “Doing whatever you can to help increase the light reaching your grass will help your efforts,” says Steve.

This might include pruning trees and hedges to open the canopy, allowing more sunlight onto the lawn. Steve also cautions against over-watering in shaded zones, as slower evaporation can lead to waterlogging and fungal issues.

Grass in shaded areas will be weaker and less able to deal with stress compared to grass grown in full sun, so it’s worth keeping on top of your lawn care. Reducing foot traffic and keeping pets off the lawn are two things you can do to reduce wear and tear. An occasional application of diluted seaweed will also help.

If your existing lawn has become thin and sparse due to the shade, Steve also suggests overseeding or oversowing with lawn seed suitable for shade. “This will thicken up the lawn and help fill in any gaps,” he says.

Most lawn seed blends contain a mix of cool-season grasses, which will be helpful in repairing lawn in shaded spots.

How to mow lawns in shaded areas

Due to reduced sunlight, grass growth in shady spots is slower, requiring less mowing. “When mowing, avoid removing more than one-third of the leaf blade and consider leaving the grass a little longer so there is more surface area to catch sunlight,” suggests Steve.

How to grow grass with no sunlight

If there are shaded areas that are not able to grow grass, there are other alternatives for your space. Artificial turf, decking, paving or raised garden beds filled with shade-tolerant plants are suitable alternatives.

Need to give a patchy area of lawn a boost?

Check out our guide on how to choose the right lawn seeds.

Photo Credit: Reuben Looi, Getty Images