We have received a ton of calls in the last week about improving shaded lawns. Following is a summary about shaded lawns:
- Turf does not perform well in the shade
“Shade-adapted“ grass species and cultivars will always perform better in full sun compared to shade (regardless of what the label states)
As trees mature, turf will get weaker and weaker under the increasingly thick shade
Extremely difficult summers (like 2005) will cause even more damage under shade than in full sun
Moss is an indication that there is not enough sun
Pruning trees to increase light penetration should occur annually (but that’s only marginally effective anyway)
You’re better off planting shade-loving ornamentals as opposed to battling non-performing turf
Hosta, periwinkle, and many other ornamentals will perform well in shade
There is more information available in our publication “Improving Lawns in the Shade” at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/pubs/ay-14.pdf
A better reference is “Landscape Plants for Shady Areas” at http://www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/ext/Pubs/HO/HO_222.pdf