How do I get the grass to grow in my shaded lawn? It is the most common question we see coming from people, especially when they have sod installed. The concern is relevant since you have worked hard to make your garden a lush green area and added landscape to enhance its beauty – but now trees are overgrown, and they cover the area, depriving grass of sunlight. Though sods like Emerald Zoysia have shade resistance, they will even turn dormant if they remain in the shade for too long.
In this blog post, we have come up with some tips and tricks that will help you maintain your lawn in shades as well. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Pick Right Sod Type – Preferably Emerald Zoysia
Walking around in parks or forests, you see that grass and plants are still growing even if they don’t receive much sunlight; why is that so? Some grasses naturally tend to survive in the shade, but remember, no green can flourish with the complete absence of sunlight. Therefore, you must pick the right sod for your lawn. If the area you expect to install the grass is shady, one of the ideal options would be to pick emerald zoysia sod. They rely on only a few hours of sunlight daily to grow, and their shade resistance allows the lawn to look alive and fresh.
Regulate the Moisture
The most common grass issue in shaded lawns is the growth of several diseases. This problem in turf usually starts when there is moisture retention in it. Under the shade, the sun cannot dry out and evaporate the excess moisture, and the airflow is not sufficient.
When the turfs hold on to the moisture for too long, the diseases get an opportunity to start appearing that dulls down the look of your lawn, and more importantly, damages the grass. Therefore, ensuring a proper drainage system for the shade sod is critical to keep it in useable condition. Also, removing some of the low-hanging tree branches and ensuring a proper airflow can help regulate the moisture.
Another factor sod suppliers like Atlanta Sod Farms want you to focus on is grading. Before laying the sod, grade away from the underlying soil properly from the structure. It avoids the accumulation of excess moisture away from any nearby structure, as well as the shaded area.
Consider Growth Pattern by Shades
The growth of grass in the sun and shade is quite different. Since the grass isn’t getting the sunlight in the shaded area, it puts less effort into growing lush green leaves. It focuses more on finding more light, which causes it to have long and thin leaves that aren’t wear-resistant. Also, their root systems will be weaker and shallower than those that get proper sunlight. Consequently, it also reduces the capability of grass to recover from damages.
Ensure less pet and foot traffic in shaded areas, especially in the growth stage. This growth issue is common in all kinds of zoysia, including zeon zoysia sod, so make you care if you think of installing one.
Mow Your Lawn Properly
Many homeowners are under the impression that the grass in the shade will turn thin if they follow mowing practices. They think as the grass isn’t producing enough clippings, they will stop mowing altogether. However, it isn’t true. Such people need to know that it relieves some of the stress from the lawn.
Ultimately, you have to know that growing emerald zoysia in the shade isn’t an easy task – the more sunlight it can get, the better it will be. However, the job isn’t impossible, no matter how hard it is. With the practices of mowing it properly, regulating the moisture, and picking the right sod – you can still see your sod flourish.
If you want to know more, move to our next section.
Read more: Emerald Zoysia – Maintenance Schedule
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put sod in shady areas?
The majority of the turfgrasses are grown under the sun; therefore, establishing them in a shady area is difficult, yet not impossible. The right maintenance schedule and following the tips mentioned above (including moisture control) can support them even in a shady area and help them grow.
How do I grow grass in the heavy shade?
To successfully grow the grass in shaded lawns, you can follow these steps:
- Evaluate the amount of sunlight as even shade-tolerant grass needs at least 3-4 hours of sun daily during the growing phase. However, if it isn’t the case, you can cut or trim some trees to let the light in.
- Find suitable grass-like emerald zoysia.
- Water and mow properly.
- Keep the grass length on the higher side – it allows the blades to store more energy.
Will sod grow without sunlight?
You can grow sod on a shaded lawn; however, it isn’t possible without sunlight. Even the shade-tolerant sods will require at least 3-4 hours of direct sunlight to grow better.
