![]() Grass will not grow well in dense shade, so – unless the area has heavy foot traffic (in which case hard landscaping may be a better option) – it’s best to plant a grass alternative. View Deal FAQs What are the best grass alternatives for deep shade? Best fast-growing grass seed for a low-rainfall area To attract and help wildlife, you could consider mixing such low grasses with nectar-rich perennials (for example, coneflower) to create an informal prairie look that has movement, texture, and color. flacca (glauca sedge) has lovely green-blue foliage. There are many different types, including gold, cream, bronze, and green forms. All can be mowed high (3-8in/7-20cm) two to three times a season for a traditional look, or left unmowed for a more natural look.’Ĭarex is a low-growing evergreen grass with beautiful, arching growth and elegant, narrow foliage. Some are more appropriate to shady conditions, while others thrive in full sun. ‘They create a low ground cover that does not need regular mowing or fertilizing. ‘We grow several grasses and sedges that make excellent alternatives to turf grass,’ say the team at Hoffman Nursery in North Carolina, which specializes in ornamental grasses and native grasses. If you want to grass a patch of land (such as a front garden) that nobody ever walks across, carex is a great option. Shop Outside Pride Fine Fescue grass seed at AmazonĬarex (sedge) is a very attractive grass to use a contemporary alternative to traditional mown lawn turf.If there are a lot of trees nearby, sowing in autumn after clearing the leaves will give the grass several months to establish before the shade intensifies again with spring leaf growth. Where the soil’s drainage is not good, try to improve it before sowing fine fescues. However, they can be a cost effective and aesthetically pleasing way to cover a large shady area in the yard.’ It is important to keep in mind that the fine fescues do not handle foot traffic well, should be infrequently mowed, and need at a bare minimum two hours of direct sunlight. ‘Hard fescue is the best performer in the group. ‘In the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA, seed mixes that include fine fescues, such as hard fescue, creeping red fescue, and sheep fescue are best suited for shady areas,’ says Maryland-based landscape architect and designer Kirsten Coffen. Best fast-growing grass seed for shadeįine fescues are ideal for shady areas of the garden, as long as they receive at least 2-3 hours of good sunlight each day. Where the soil’s drainage is not good, try to improve it before sowing tall fescues. It can be seeded on its own, without the need for creating a seed mix. Also, research at MSU shows that tall fescue root has good tolerance to European chafer grub damage when compared with other cool-season grasses.’ Tall fescue is the most heat and drought tolerant of the cool-season turf-grasses with the ability to produce deep root systems. ‘If you are concerned about conserving water for lawn irrigation, tall fescue is a good choice. ‘Tall fescue provides moderate to good levels of turf-grass quality with limited maintenance,’ says Suleiman Bughrara, who has researched grasses with Michigan State University. It also has a good growth rate and loves open, sunny ground. ![]() Turf-type tall fescue creates a lush greensward that copes with foot traffic and requires less mowing and watering than some turf grasses. ![]()
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