Having a lush, green, perfect lawn is a gold standard for many homeowners. Unfortunately, the grass seed we lay down doesn’t always like to do what we want. Sometimes it has difficulty getting established and looking nice. It can be difficult to grow grass under a tree. Trees are beautiful and should be planted everywhere, especially in urban environments, but they can present problems for lawn lovers. Here’s what to do when grass won’t grow under your trees.
A grass lawn provides numerous benefits for homeowners. Of course, the aesthetic appeal of a lush, green lawn is an obvious benefit. Depending on the type of grass you choose, you can also enjoy a soft, comfortable surface to enjoy activities like playing with your children or pets or just relaxing in the sun. Grass lawns also filter air pollutants, and can even help absorb water and prevent flooding and erosion. They also help to cool down the surrounding area and create a feeling of tranquility and relaxation in your home. Finally, grass lawns can improve the value of your home and provide a great place to entertain guests.
Growing grass under a tree
There are different varieties of grass to choose from. Some are drought-tolerant, others enjoy lots of water. Some enjoy full sun, others thrive in part or complete shade. Picking the right grass for where you’re trying to plant is pretty crucial for experiencing success. If you’re having trouble getting grass to take underneath a tree, try choosing grass specifically marketed for shady areas.
Grasses that do well in shady areas are Ryegrass and Fine and Tall Fescues. Ryegrass is a somewhat cold-tolerant grass that grows well in the shade. It can be used to overseed a lawn, and it will tolerate a wide range of soils. Fine and Tall Fescues are also popular in shady areas. This type of grass has a very fine texture and requires very little maintenance. It is also drought tolerant and prefers cooler temperatures, making it a great choice for shady areas. Both of these grasses will require regular watering and fertilizing to keep them healthy, but they are great choices for shade-tolerant lawns.
Water frequently and fertilize
One of the reasons your grass may be failing to thrive beneath a tree is due to resource competition. Trees are huge organisms, especially compared to grass, which requires tons of resources, like water and nutrients, in order to grow. You can help your grass thrive, despite the competition, by watering frequently and providing an organic fertilizer for your grass. You can also mix in a little bit of white clover seed to help fix soil nitrogen levels.
Lay down new grass seed every year
In a perfect world, we can lay down a bunch of grass seed and have a perfect, lush lawn. But that isn’t always how it works out, unfortunately. If you have a spot in your yard where grass doesn’t take very well, you’ll likely need to continuously seed and reseed the area. Each spring and fall, lay down a new layer of grass seed to help fill in any areas that may still be bare. Doing this will help you grow a lush carpet of grass under a tree that may be a troublesome area.
Re-seeding your lawn every year is an important part of lawn maintenance. Re-seeding helps to keep your lawn looking lush and healthy, fills in bare spots, and also helps to keep weeds and other unwanted plants from taking root. Re-seeding also helps to create a thicker, more even turf.
Work with the shade instead of against it
We humans like to force nature to exist in certain ways for our own satisfaction. Sometimes nature plays along, sometimes it doesn’t. One of the guiding principles of this website is that it’s important to work with nature, not against it. If you can’t seem to get grass to grow under your trees, perhaps you’re working too hard to force a square peg through a round hole.
Grass isn’t the only kind of landscaping that looks good beneath trees. If you find that grass is just impossible to grow, consider building out a garden bed around your trees instead and plant shade-loving plants, like hostas, that can fill out the space and look good doing it.
