No Sun? No Problem—These 9 Grasses Will Thrive in Shade

We all love a cool and shady yard, but too much of a good thing comes with its challenges. Bare patches on an otherwise lush lawn are eyesores, and shady areas of your lawn are prone to them.

The good news is that you can grow lawn grass or ornamental grass in almost any shady corner. It all starts with selecting the right type, so we turned to a pro to demystify the selection process and get additional tips for growing grass in the shade.

Lawn Grasses

A well-manicured lawn requires a well-thought-out grass choice. When selecting lawn grasses for shaded areas, Roger May, director of technical operations at TruGreen, turns to these four grass varieties most often.

Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more!

Tall Fescue

Tall fescue grass is an ideal choice for sprucing up your lawn during colder seasons or in chillier climates. It only requires a few hours a day of full sun, so it thrives well in partial shade.

May recommends this durable grass for shaded spots of your lawn that get a lot of foot traffic, so it’s great for a lounge area under a tree. It won’t choke out most other grass varieties, so you can add this grass to existing turf.

Fine Fescue

Another ideal option for cool seasons and climates, fine fescue is a fine-textured grass that tolerates low-light conditions well. Fine fescue is a blend of several shade-tolerant grasses, including creeping red fescue, chewings fescue, and hard fescue.

Perennial Ryegrass

Perennial ryegrass doesn’t perform well in heavy shade on its own. But when you pair it with fine fescue, May says you’ll see success.

“It germinates quickly and establishes fast, which can help in shaded areas,” he says.

Zoysia Grass

Growing grass in the shade during warmer seasons or hotter climates presents an extra set of challenges. You’ll need a shade, heat, and drought-tolerant variety, and that’s where Zoysia grass comes in.

“It’s slower to establish but makes for a dense lawn once it does,” May says.

St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine grass only requires about three to four hours of sunlight a day, and it’s a good option for filling your shaded lawn during the summer or if you live in a warmer region.

Ornamental Grasses

Patchy areas of grass offer an opportunity to make a statement with certain ornamental grasses. Here’s what May uses to add some interest to problem spots.

Japanese Forest Grass

Japanese Forest Grass, or golden hakone gras, is low-growing, so it’s not its size that sets it apart. The plant’s vibrant yellow-green hue and fluffy texture make it a beautiful choice for planting under trees or in shaded garden beds.

“This grass is a standout in shaded gardens,” May says.

Liriope

Liriope is a good low-maintenance go-to for ground cover in shaded areas because it’s both drought and shade-tolerant. Its grass-like foliage puts on a show for several months, and it offers a grand finale with its purple flower spikes that pop up in late summer.

Sweet Flag

There are many reasons to love Sweet Flag. Aside from its ability to grow in partial to full shade, it also emits a spicy citrus fragrance that mosquitos happen to hate.

Blue Fescue

Add a subtle pop of color to your shade in spring and fall with Blue Fescue.

“It has a compact, non-spreading growth habit and beautiful blue-green leaves that add structure and color to the landscape,” May says.

Tips for Growing Grass in the Shade

While starting with the right type of grass is crucial, there’s more to successfully growing grass in shady areas.

Aerate Your Lawn

Lawn aeration is the process of creating small puncture holes in the soil surface, which allows your lawn to breathe. As a result, nutrients can better penetrate the soil.

“Aeration provides better soil-to-seed contact, which is essential for grass growth in shaded areas,” May says.

He also notes that it helps grass roots access nutrients and moisture from the soil.

In general, fall is a great time to aerate your lawn. However, warm-season grasses may do better with aeration in late spring or early summer.

If your lawn looks healthy overall, you only need to aerate it every two to three years. For more stubborn areas, such as shaded spots that receive more foot traffic, once a year is best.

Lawn aeration is a fairly easy DIY project, and you can rent lawn core aerator from most home improvement stores.

Water Regularly and Properly

Grass in the shade requires consistent watering, and this is especially important during the germination period. However, balance is key.

“Be sure to water deeply but infrequently to avoid over-watering,” May says.

Shade grass is more prone to over-watering and root rot because its soil retains more moisture than sunny spots.

Most lawn grasses require around one inch of water per week, but clay soils may require less and sandy soils more. Be sure to do your research before settling on a watering schedule or investing in a sprinkler system.

Reduce Dense Shade

If you’ve been trying to get grass to grow in a certain spot of your lawn to no avail, you may need to take matters into your own hands via some garden sheers.

“Grass will not grow well in dense shade,” May says. “Pruning overhanging trees and shrubs will help provide sunlight where it is needed.”

If the shade is coming from a permanent structure like a shed or fence, there’s no need for demolition. A spot that receives consistent shade often makes for a great pea gravel patio location.

Add some lawn chairs and an outdoor coffee table, and you have the perfect spot to escape the harsh sun rays.