There are some areas in the garden that require a bit of creativity to design. If tall buildings, woody plants or other structures shade the ground, there is not much scope for green areas. Nevertheless, there are variants for planting. Despite their adaptability, shade lawns require some attention.
What is the best way to grow and care for shade lawns?
A shade lawn is an adaptation to low-light locations and consists of grass species such as bluegrass, red fescue or common bluegrass. For optimal growth, they need sufficient nutrients, a permeable soil structure and moderate irrigation. Care includes regular fertilization, moderate mowing and, if necessary, reseeding in clear areas.
Growing in the Shadow
Shade is not a good condition for the growth of lawns
When light conditions are reduced, most plants suffer from deficiency symptoms. Only a few are adapted to low-light conditions in the shade. Grasses also strive for light, form fewer runners and put their energy into the length growth of the stalks. The high humidity in the air and soil, which is favored in shady garden corners, increases the susceptibility of grasses to fungal diseases.
Other influencing factors:
- Competition from trees
- limited supply of water and nutrients
- Leaf fall prevents air circulation
Where shadow begins
The light compensation point indicates the amount of light at which photosynthesis occurs ideally. According to scientific findings, this is between 1,000 and 2,000 lux for lawn grass. For orientation: in Würzburg, a strength of 11,000 lux was measured at lunchtime on a sunny February day. After the shading fabric was spread over the surface, the amount of light was reduced by 70 percent to 3,500 lux, which is still sufficient for a he althy metabolism.
Which types of grass are suitable for shade?
The crucial factor for grass growth is the amount of sunlight available. In order for the species to thrive and grow he althily, the area should not be completely in the shade. Even if the shade lawn is intended for low-light locations, the species often cannot develop in full shade. In these extreme habitats, you should consider alternative plant species such as ivy or moss. The following grasses are suitable for shady areas:
| Latin name | Claims | Special features | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common bluegrass | Poa trivialis | moist and nutrient-rich soil | very compatible with cutting, closes gaps quickly |
| Red Fescue | Festuca rubra | low demands on soil, nutrients and light | displaces weeds, ensures vital turf |
| Perennial Ryegrass | Lolium perenne | normal garden soil with good nutrients and water supply | very fast germination |
| Lagerrispe | Poa supina | loose, fresh and nutrient-rich soil | unrivalled shade tolerance |
| Meadow panicle | Poa pratensis | high nutrient requirements | forms dense and durable turf through runners |
What you should pay attention to when buying
As with everything, there are big differences in quality when it comes to lawn seeds
So that the shade lawn thrives and shows no symptoms of deficiency, you should pay attention to quality. Choose tested lawn mixtures that are adapted to the specific conditions. In order for a lawn to thrive in shady locations, the grasses should be shade-tolerant or shade-resistant. Products with 100 percent natural ingredients prevent unnecessary stress for domestic and wild animals.
Excursus
What is behind the name RSM
The abbreviation stands for standard seed mixture and describes a total of eight different mixtures, each of which is divided into subcategories. Grass mixtures that have been tested and are officially suitable for shady areas are designated RSM 8.1.4. Such lawn mixtures follow certain standards because they were produced according to the specifications of the Research Society for Landscape Development and Landscaping (FLL for short).
These criteria are evaluated:
- Scar formation capacity and scar density
- Competitiveness compared to other types of grass
- Resistance to disease and drought
- Capabilities for regeneration and growth rate
Companies and products
Various gardening magazines have compared the different mixtures for shade lawns in tests. Time and again a test winner emerges that can impress in various categories. But if you focus more on price, you can get a high-quality product with good germination results in the Gardenline shade lawn from Aldi, for example. These are the most common products on the market:
| Product | Quantity | Advantages | Disadvantages | available at | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf | Premium lawn “Shade and Sun” | 2kg | RSM Quality | high water requirement | Obi |
| Compo | Seed (R) Shade Lawn | 2kg | natural growth stimulators | many negative experiences regarding germination | Dehner |
| Kiepenkerl | Shadow Lawn | 10 kg | Shade lawn also suitable for the sun | no test seals | Hornbach |
| Greenfield | Shaded lawn | 0.5kg | low maintenance | contains additives | Hornbach |
The Wolf Shadow Lawn proves to be the test winner and therefore the best shade lawn. The mixture is characterized by good shade and sun tolerance and effectively suppresses weeds. The turf is very resilient. The only disadvantage is the grasses' lack of drought resistance.
Tip
Shade-tolerant grasses are also available as turf. With this variant you benefit from a quick growth time, so that the lawn can be walked on after a short time.
How to create a shade lawn
Shadow lawn can be sown from spring to autumn
Areas where not much light falls require a little more design freedom. There are various perennials and ferns that grow in low-light locations. If you want to create a shade lawn on such areas, there are a few aspects you need to consider. Good soil preparation is of great importance before sowing the shade lawn.
Lager panicle has the highest shade tolerance of all grasses that grow in low-light locations. Even with a light reduction of 50 to 75 percent, your coverage level is 80 percent after three years.
Time and preparations
You can sow the lawn seeds in the garden from April to October, with spring being ideal. During this time of year, trees have little foliage, so enough light reaches the ground. In the hot summer months you should not scatter the lawn seeds into the bed as there is a high risk of them drying out. As soon as the hot temperatures in autumn have subsided, you can also start creating a new shade lawn. In order for the seeds to germinate ideally, the temperature should not fall below twelve degrees, even at night.
How to prepare the soil:
- Hip flat and fluff thoroughly
- Remove weeds, root residues and stones
- Work organic long-term fertilizer into the substrate
- Improve poor soils with peat-free lawn soil
- Apply a five centimeter thick layer of humus
- Level the substrate and compact it with a lawn roller
Sowing seeds
Ideally, you should spread the grass seeds with a spreader. Work the surface first in lengthways and then in crossways. An amount of 25 grams of seeds is scattered per square meter. Then cover the area thinly with garden soil and carefully press the substrate down with a board. Water the freshly sown lawn daily for the first few weeks and avoid drought.
Tip
Due to a lack of light, the ability of shaded lawns to regenerate is generally lower than that of commercial lawns under better lighting conditions. Therefore, wait until a continuous turf has developed before stepping on it.
Maintaining shade lawns
Shaded lawns should not be mowed too often
Although shade lawns are not very difficult to care for, you should pay enough attention to the area. There are a few aspects that need to be taken into account, as species shifts can quickly occur under these special growing conditions.
Basic care tips:
- Annual scarifying between April and May combats moss and weeds
- Apply some lime every year to prevent moss growth
- Remove leaves in autumn to ensure air circulation
Fertilize
The nutrient supply with a long-term lawn fertilizer should take place as early in the year as possible, before the leaves of the trees sprout and shade the area. You can orientate yourself on the timing of the forsythia blossom. Fertilization is carried out a maximum of four times per year in March, May, July and September. In autumn you can use a high-potash fertilizer that improves the winter hardiness of the grass.
Watering
Shaded areas retain dew and rainwater longer than sunny areas. Therefore, you should only water the shade lawn when the substrate dries out. In the summer months you should check the soil moisture regularly, as it can dry quickly even under trees on hot days. The right amount is of great importance, as the combination of lack of light and high humidity can promote undesirable accompanying flora or diseases.
How to water correctly:
- once or twice a week in summer
- irrigate thoroughly and deep into the roots
- Ten to 15 liters of water per square meter is ideal
Mowing
The lawn is mowed regularly but not too often. An interval of three to four weeks between mowing dates is ideal, during which you cut around a third of the leaf mass. The cutting height should not be less than six to eight centimeters. The grasses benefit from a larger photosynthesis area, which means they can better assert themselves against weeds and moss. Remove the clippings directly from the surface so that it can breathe.
Reseeding
If algae and moss settle in the lawn despite good care, you can scarify the area next spring starting in May. In this way you comb the moss out of the turf. Since this method often creates gaps in the lawn, you should sow quick-germinating shade lawn seeds directly.
Frequently asked questions
What do I have to consider so that shade lawns thrive?
Every lawn seed needs light to germinate
Even shade-tolerant grass species require a certain amount of light to germinate. If the seeds do not receive any sunlight at any time of the day, a layer of moss will develop over time. This means the grass seeds have even less chance of germinating. Shade grasses also have limited growth opportunities near conifers. The shallow-rooted trees compete with the grasses for water and nutrients in the upper soil layers.
Which shade grass mixtures are cheap and good?
At discounters like Aldi or Toom there are seasonal offers on lawn mixtures for shady areas, usually in spring. Despite the affordable price, you should pay attention to the species composition and its quality. Not all mixtures are equally suitable for shady areas. The shade grass mixture from Grandiol, which is occasionally offered at Lidl, has positive reviews regarding germination success.
Cheap mixtures with good experiences:
- Lord: 10 kg shade grass mixture for approx. 50 euros
- Pegasus: 1 kg lawn mix shade lawn for around 10 euros
- Kas: 10 kg seed mixture for shade lawn for just under 40 euros
How does shade lawn grow in the sun and shade?
There are grasses that cope much better with darker locations. This includes the lager panicle, which, however, is only contained in small amounts in mixtures for shaded lawns. Shade grass mixtures thrive in light shade. However, these areas are less resilient than a lawn in the sun. In full shade, the vitality of the grass increasingly decreases and mosses take over. There are also differences in care. Shade lawns should not be cut deeper than two to three centimeters so that the grasses still have enough area for photosynthesis.
What do I have to consider before creating a new shade lawn?
It is important that air circulation in the soil pores can take place optimally. The substrate should not be too compacted. Thoroughly loosen the area and remove any coarse particles that have a negative impact on the root growth of the grass. By adding sand, you can loosen up heavy soils so that waterlogging does not form. A balanced supply of water and nutrients ensures he althy grass growth. The substrate should not be too acidic. Use a pH meter to measure whether the value is in the neutral range between 6.0 and 7.0.
Under which conditions do shade grasses germinate optimally?
When sowing, pay attention to weather conditions that have a positive effect on growth. If the weather is too cold or hot, the seeds will not germinate or the seedlings will die quickly. Soil temperatures between eight and ten degrees that last over a longer period of time are ideal. Drought is a major stress factor during the first two weeks after germination. The substrate should be moist but not wet during the root formation phase. To support root growth, a phosphorus-based starter fertilizer is suitable.
Is caring for a shade lawn easy?
A well-established lawn in the shade is comparatively easy to care for. A balanced supply of nutrients and correct irrigation are important. Since grasses in the shade do not tolerate deep cutting, certain cutting heights should not be fallen below when mowing.
For regular mixtures, a cutting depth of six centimeters is recommended. Shade lawns with Poa supina can be shortened to three centimeters. Under low-light conditions, the grass coverage level can fall below 80 percent if care is not taken correctly. Light areas should be reseeded in spring to keep the lawn visually appealing.
