Many homeowners find themselves in the difficult position of wanting to grow Bermuda grass, but not having a lot of sun. If this is your situation, you should know that there are ways to get around it.
Growing grass in shade is a common issue. There are many ways to deal with this, but it’s most important that you don’t give up on your lawn. We all want our yards to be beautiful.
This article will give you information on how to grow bermuda grass in shady areas, as well as other helpful tips for maintaining your lawn.
Can Bermuda Grass Grow In The Shade
Bermuda grass is a fast-growing, warm season grass that thrives in full sun to partial shade. It can be grown in the shade of trees and shrubs, but it will not grow as well as in full sun.
If you decide to plant bermuda grass in the shade, it will require a lot of watering and fertilizing to keep it healthy.
How To Grow Bermuda Grass In Shade
Here are 7 tips on how to grow bermuda grass in shade:
1) Choose the right variety of bermuda grass for your area.
There are many different varieties of Bermuda grass, and some do better in shade than others. Varieties such as Tifton 85, Tifgreen and Tiftondwarf are among the best varieties for shady areas.
2) Plant bermuda grass in a sunny location.
If you have a very shady area that will be difficult to grow Bermuda grass, try planting it somewhere else in your yard that gets more sun. This will help give it a head start before moving it to its final location later on when it has grown larger.
3) Mow your lawn frequently.
You’ll need to mow your Bermuda grass often if you want to keep it looking good and growing well. It’s recommended that you mow your lawn at least once a week during the summer months, and twice a week during the spring and fall months. If you don’t mow often enough, your lawn will look scraggly and dead because the grass won’t have time to develop properly between cuts.
4) Fertilize regularly with nitrogen rich fertilizer.
Like most types of grass, bermuda needs lots of nutrients to grow well, but especially nitrogen because it is a warm season grass which grows quickly in the summer months when sunlight is plentiful. Use high nitrogen fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 at least once every two weeks during peak growing times (spring through fall). Make sure not to fertilize too much though because this can make your lawn grow too fast causing problems like grubs and weeds which can damage or kill your lawn over time if left untreated.
5) Water regularly during hot weather periods.
Watering is an important part of caring for any type of lawn and bermuda is no exception. During hot weather periods when temperatures reach 85 degrees or higher, water at least once per day to keep your Bermuda green and healthy looking throughout the summer months until cooler temperatures arrive again in late fall or early winter when watering frequency can be reduced back down again until next springtime when new growth begins again!
6) Avoid walking on your lawn.
You should try to avoid walking or playing on your Bermuda grass as much as possible because it can damage the grass and cause it to die out in that area. If you must walk or play on your lawn, try to do so in the early morning hours before the sun gets too hot and strong. This will help reduce stress on your Bermuda grass and keep it healthy for a longer period of time.
7) Use a good quality lawn fertilizer with weed killer.
A lot of commercial brands of fertilizer come with weed killer mixed into them, but if you are using a generic brand from a local store, make sure to add some weed killer separately when fertilizing. Weed killer is very important for preventing weeds from growing up in your Bermuda grass which can choke it out over time and kill it if left untreated.
These tips should help you grow bermuda grass in shade successfully so you can have an attractive looking lawn year round!
How Much Sun Does Bermuda Grass Need
The optimal amount of direct sunlight needed by Bermuda grass is 6 – 8 hours a day, which in most cases can be achieved.
If a lawn has an area with more than eight hours sun each day it is already classified as a “sunny” lawn and doesn’t need supplemental light. If adequate light isn’t there at the start, the soil quality may be to blame due to compacted soil or low nutrient levels.
Seeded areas should have more sun than newly sodded areas when they’re first planted. Any drought conditions will also impact the amount of sun available for any given time period to Bermuda Grasses planted in that area.
It is also important to note that Bermuda grass can withstand just about any amount of sun. It is “heat and drought tolerant”.
It will grow in a variety of light conditions, but growth slows at the lower light levels. Light needs are not a major issue for this grass because it has a great ability to store water. The only times bermuda grass does not do well is when the humidity drops below 50%. This grass prefers warmer temperatures- get it no lower than 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18°C) with high humidity or 75°F (24°C) with low humidity; happy temps include 85° F (29° C).
Shade Tolerant Bermuda Grass Seed
TifGrand Bermuda Grass
TifGrand Bermudagrass never lets you down. Known for it’s dark green color and fine leaf blades, TifGrand is a natural choice for playing surfaces across the nation because of its ability to thrive in shade or full sunlight.
It can be found at professional stadiums nationwide where athletes count on those beautiful greens! Now homeowners too have access to this turf that looks great everyday with their own home team players running past anytime they feel like being active outside.
FAQs
What is the best grass for shaded areas?
Different types of grasses respond differently to different light levels, humidity, and soil conditions.
You will likely be able to find information on specific varieties at your local nursery or by contacting a turf specialist at a university who has tested the variety in your area.
What kind of grass will grow under shade trees?
Your landscapers are there to help. They know what they’re doing and have a variety of options. Ask your landscaper about the different types of grasses you can place in your yard, and then pick one that is well-suited for sun or shade that fits with your color scheme.