How to Grow Grass in Shaded Areas

Yes, you can grow thick turf even in the shade

Are you in the dark about growing grass in shady areas? You've tried everything, but that stubborn shady spot in the corner or by the tree still won't grow grass. It's a common problem. Even the best lawns can have shady spots that are thin or bare. The good news is that there are a few simple steps you can take to turn these shady spots into grass-friendly havens of thick turf.

Evaluate the Amount of Sunlight

The rule of thumb for even shade-tolerant grasses is that they need at least three to four hours of direct sun, or four to six hours of dappled sunlight, per day. If your shady spot gets less than that, you will need to prune back some of the nearby trees to let in more light.

Find a Grass Seed That Works Well in Shade

Depending on where you live, there are certain grass types that are designed to thrive in shade like Scotts® Turf Builder® Quick + Thick™ Grass Seed Sun - Shade 12-0-0

Plant the Grass Seed

Planting grass seed is a simple procedure. Prep the area first by raking the soil to loosen it up, spread your grass seed at the proper rate, and then lightly cover it with a quality soil, such as Scotts® Enriched LawnSoilTM. Follow that up by feeding with Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Lawn Food For New Grass, to help get your new grass seedlings off to a great start.

Water Well, and Watch It Grow

As you would with any grass-seeding project, keep your new grass moist by watering once or twice a day until you see it grow tall enough to mow. Then you can cut back to a normal watering schedule. Remember: when you plant grass seed around trees, the trees are hungry and thirsty, and will compete with grass for available water and nutrients. Be sure to regularly feed the grass around trees, and be a bit more generous when watering.