50 shades of grass…
Lawns need light to survive, so growing a lawn in the shade is most definitely not working in conjunction with nature. Almost all gardens have those awkward shady areas which need extra care and attention.
Grass must have access to sufficient light in order for photosynthesis to take place – the chemical process by which plants turn sunlight into food. The food is vital for the plant to develop and grow and without sufficient sunlight the grass will become weakened and growth will slow. In simple terms, if there is insufficient sunlight to sustain the plant, it will die.
We have put together some tips on how to get the best out of lawns which suffer with shade:
- Try and maximise light to the lawn by trimming tall shrubs and hedges.
- Trees can have their crown lifted (lower branches removed) or crown thinned.
- Water under trees – the soil can soon become dry due to the tree roots demanding water.
- Mow less frequently and on a higher setting so the grass plant leaf can absorb light.
- Regularly kill off moss or rake it out because shade is a perfect environment for moss to thrive.
- Regularly over-seed in warm, damp conditions as this will help the sward to stay thicker.
- If conditions are extremely shady consider another alternative to grass such as Bark Mulch, gravel, shade tolerant plants or synthetic-turf.
Why not contact a lawn care professional who will be happy to give you advice about what solutions would be best for your own particular shady habits…sorry habitats…
