How To Have A Lush Lawn In A Tree-Shaded Yard
If you dream of summer days laying on the green grass while shaded by waving branches overhead, you may be frustrated when the grass comes in thinly underneath your trees. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to have a healthy lawn under shade trees. The following are three simple ways you can adjust your lawn care habits so both trees and lawn thrive.
Thin the canopy
A thick canopy blocks out too much light for the grass below. It can also be harmful for the trees. When the branch canopy becomes too thick, air circulates poorly which increases the chances of bacterial and fungal diseases. Little light reaches the interior of a dense canopy, as well, which can cause branch die off in the center of the tree. Further, overgrown branches are more likely to rub together and becomes damaged, and damaged branches provide a vector for insect pests to invade a tree. Having your canopy professionally thinned allows dappled light to come through, which benefits the grass below and leads to a healthier tree as well.
Avoid deep shade
Even with proper thinning, you may still have trouble growing grass in the deepest shade area. This is typically near the trunk. The good news is that this is also one of the worst areas to plant lawn grass. Trying to keep the grass properly trimmed increases the chances that a string trimmer or lawnmower will cause irreparable harm to the tree's bark. Instead of grass, leave a bare circle of soil a few feet in diameter around the trunk. Then, cover this soil with either mulch or a shallow rooted, shade-loving ground cover that won't compete with the tree. A local landscaper can advise on the best options for your climate and region.
Plant the right variety
Not all grass varieties are created equally. If you have a lot of trees in your yard, then choose a variety that does better in shade. Most grasses are chosen because they thrive in hot sunshine where other plants get baked. Fortunately, many cool season grasses, particularly fescue, can tolerate light to moderate shade. You may need to overseed the shadiest areas annually to keep the grass thick, though, since there will always be some die off due to the lower lighting.
Fore more help, contract with landscape maintenance services like Lopez Tree Service that can help you with both your trees and your lawn grasses.