Best Grass Species for Shady Gardens

Gardens with lots of shade can be fantastic to have in the hot summer months, giving you shady spots to retreat from the harsh summer heat, and protecting your lawn from the sun. Too much shade, however, can cause issues for many types of lawns, so it’s important to choose a grass species that can survive in the shade.

Often, lawns need a certain amount of sunlight during the day. If you have a lawn that isn’t shade-tolerant, you may notice brown lawn patches in areas that receive less sun, or lawn that struggles to grow and may even be dying off. To avoid this, you can grow one of a few different grass species that are common and cheap, and handle shaded outdoor spaces well. As experts in lawn care and maintenance, here are the Jim’s Mowing team’s top grass species that can grow healthily in sunlight-deprived locations.

 

GRASS SPECIES FOR SHADY GARDENS

Here are the different types of shade-tolerant lawns that you may want to consider if you have a garden that spends a lot of time in the shade.

Buffalo grass

Buffalo grasses are very good at tolerating shade, and there are many different varieties to choose from! Varieties such as Sir Walter Buffalo, Sapphire Soft Leaf Buffalo, and Palmetto are shade-tolerant grasses that can also withstand drought, frost, wear, and full-sun. These differ slightly in their care needs, but are overall considered to be hardy, low-maintenance grasses that can self-repair quickly.

Growing Buffalo grass is easiest when using turf, as using seed can be tricky and has a high rate of failure. Buffalo grass species need a little nursing to get growing, but once established, make for a hardy shade-tolerant lawn option.

Zoysia grass

Zoysia is another broad category of grass with multiple varieties that are good at tolerating shade. This grass can handle up to 40 percent shade each day, outperforming popular grass species like Couch and Kikuyu.

Meyer Zoysia, Emerald Zoysia, and Empire Zoysia are all hardy grass varieties that can thrive in climates and locations around Australia. The low-maintenance grasses are well-suited to yards with shade and some of the less desirable soil types like clay and sand. Empire Zoysia in particular also has a tolerance for salt, so if you live in a coastal area, this can be a good choice for your lawn.

Tall fescue grass

Tall Fescue grass is another shade-tolerant grass variety that will survive even if it only gets filtered sunshine through trees every day. With the best drought tolerance of all the cool season grasses, Tall Fescue grass can grow in shady areas or in full sun. It is extremely frost tolerant so can withstand cooler regions with a soil pH level between 5.5-6.5.

This shady lawn variety has a deep root system and broad leaf blade that allows it to soak up all the light it can get, staying a lush green all year long. Tall Fescue can be susceptible to lawn pests, so we recommend keeping on top of garden pest control to get the most out of your lawn.

Weeping grass

Griffin Weeping grass is highly shade-tolerant and the best out of all grass species when it comes to its ability for healthy development without sunlight. Not only that, it’s not sensitive to climate either; it can withstand drought in Hobart, frost in Hyden, and salty air and soil in the southwest of Western Australia.

While it’s a fantastic, versatile species, Weeping grass isn’t particularly hard-wearing, and doesn’t bounce back well from heavy foot traffic. If you, kids, or pets like to have a run around on your lawn, it might be better to consider one of the other shady garden grass varieties.

Perennial ryegrass

Another cool-season species, Perennial ryegrass is highly tolerant of shaded locations, and has a deep green colour that shows even through cooler temperatures. This grass is a little higher maintenance than others on the list, and without regular care can be susceptible to pests and diseases. A weekly mow during its fast-growing period in spring and early summer should be enough to keep it in check.

If you’re thinking of using Perennial ryegrass for your lawn, do some research into how it fares in your area. The grass does well in cooler climates, but has a lower temperature ceiling than others, so can take some extra watering in summer to keep it happy and healthy.

Centipede grass

Our last recommendation of grass for shaded lawns is Centipede grass. This species isn’t the most tolerant of shade compared to others, but can do well in partial sun. As a warm-season grass, Centipede grass handles heat well, and as it can tolerate some shade, is a good choice for Aussies living in hot climates.

While it fares well in warm areas, you will need to water it frequently, especially during extended periods with low rainfall. This is the most maintenance Centipede grass will need, as the slow-growing grass doesn’t take much mowing!

Enlist Lawn Care Experts

Shade-tolerant lawns require special care since they don’t get much sunshine. To keep your lawn looking great, trust the experts at Jim’s Mowing! Our mowing services will cut your grass to the perfect height and our lawn maintenance services like lawn aeration and lawn dethatching, will help keep your yard thriving. Contact the Jim’s Mowing experts to see how we can match our services to your needs.