A blend of fine fescue, bluegrass and certain varieties of perennial rye can tolerate a fairly shady area. However, dense shade may require ground covers or shade type perennial plants. More important is cultural practices such as irrigation and more frequent light applications of fertilizer to make up this loss taken by trees.

None, really. That’s not exactly true, but then they haven’t developed an Astroturf seed yet. There is no true shade grass; all grasses like some sun. However, the best of the bunch that can get along with less sun than the rest is Poa trivialis. Kentucky 31 tall fescue, Zoysia, Japonica, Zoysia matrella, Astoria bent, Highland and Penncross bents, as well as creeping red, Illahee, and Chew-lugs fescue, all will tolerate light shade.

Plastic, concrete, and iron, none of which is available yet. In the South you can count on U-3 Bermuda grass, and in the North, Kentucky 31 tall fescue. I want to caution anyone who is planting a play area not to be tempted to add clover seed to these areas to fill in spots as it can cause injuries. Clover is slippery, and when running feet try to stop quickly, clover won’t cooperate.

In St. Louis, we are in the transition zone between ideals for northern and southern grasses. Tall Fescues are best adapted for our area where there are extremes of cold winters and hot summers.

Fall is the best time to sow because there is a more developed root system by the time summer drought stress occurs. Spring is the second best time because the temperature and moisture is good for germination.

Grass seed can be planted in either spring or fall. However, fall is the best time because the ground is warm and there is less weed competition. By far the best time is late August to mid-September. This allows time for the seed to germinate and grow, for the grass to be cut once, and for an application of fertilizer to be applied before the first hard frost.

To establish a lawn in western Washington, choose a combination of turftype tall fescue grasses and turftype perennial rye grasses. A mix that adds up to about 90% of these two grass seed types will grow well in either sun or light shade in western Washington. Turftype perennial ryegrass takes full sun and stands up to traffic. Turftype tall fescues are adapted to shadier locations. In combination, the mix works for a lawn in average light conditions.

In this area the best time to put grass seed down is in the spring during the months of April and May and in the fall during the month of September.

Grasses are plants that require a certain amount of light to survive. Plants use light to process and create food. Some grasses do better than others in shady areas because of the way they grow. Deep shade grasses grow flatter and can take in more light than a plant that grows straight up and down. Even shady grasses require sunlight for at least 1/3 of the day. If this requirement is not met the plant will begin to suffer and die back.

Why not? Remember, just before a snow, top dress with a light sprinkle of soil so the birds don’t think you’re a horticultural philanthropist.

Adopt six or seven cats. Seriously, though, cover the seed with one quarter inch of topsoil, pat down or roll gently. The faster it sprouts, the more you keep and the less the birds eat. You can also slit an old tennis ball and force it over the end of a six- to seven-foot piece of old garden hose. Draw two mean eyes and a nasty mouth, and place yellow strips of tape like Xs down the hose. Let this lie on the seeded area until the seed sprouts. Why? The birds think it’s a snake.

Most any type of grass seed can be used in Hydroseeding, factors such as climate conditions will be the determining factor as to which grass type is recommended. A Pro Turf Care professional will help you make the right decision for your lawn.

No grass will grow in complete shade however we have found Sir Walter to perform the best in shaded areas if mown longer than normal prior to winter. Generally Sir Walter requires a minimum of 3 hours of direct sunlight or 4 hours of filtered sunlight per day.

Remember, in the Spring, high ambient air temperatures promote crown and leaf development at the expense of the root system in Bermuda grass. When soil temperatures rise above 65°F (18 C) root growth starts. The plant is able to pick up appropriate nutrients and access deeper soil-water resources. When soil temperatures are above 65°F , more aggressive plant growth can be met with more aggressive cultural practices.