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Keeping Shaded Sod Healthy
Improving the health of your shaded sod can be tough, but it is possible with a little bit of knowledge and work. Use these tips to get it growing in no time:
Aerate
Aeration creates holes in the soil, which exposes the root layer to water, fertilizer, and air, stimulating growth.
Fertilize
Be careful to not over fertilize the shaded areas of your lawn. Most people don’t realize that they need one-half to two-thirds less fertilizer per year than the rest of their lawn.
Spot-Treat Weeds
Spot spray weeds instead of covering the entire grass with treatment — it limits extra stress on the shady lawn.
Don’t Mow Too Low
The shaded areas of your yard need to be kept at least ½ inch taller than the sunny areas of your yard, because those areas grow much quicker. Make a habit of stopping to adjust your mower height each time you get to the shady area, and see how much of a difference it can make.
Increase Air Flow
Stagnant air means dew will stick to the grass longer and create the perfect environment for diseases to develop. To fix this, consider reducing the size of your trees and shrubs, or replacing them with smaller ones to increase the airflow throughout your yard.
Minimize Traffic
Dogs spend a lot of time under shady trees, which can contribute to stress on the grass. If your goal is healthy grass, you may need to introduce them to another area of the yard.
If Your Lawn Is Shaded by Trees
Tree foliage can easily keep sunlight away from the sod underneath its branches — and oftentimes, that lack of sunlight cause the grass to suffer. The last thing anyone wants is a brown lawn, but the good news is, you can prevent it using a few of these steps:
Prune Trees
One option is to trim tree branches from the bottom up. When you remove the lowest branches, you raise the tree’s canopy and increase the chance of sunlight reaching the ground. The ideal canopy height begins at 10-feet above ground or higher.
Water Deeply, But Not Regularly
Since your tree and grass roots are competing for water, water the grass deeply, but not often, to encourage deep root growth. Healthy, strong roots are essential to growing lush grass year after year.
Read more:
How Sod Helps the Environment
Do It Yourself Sod Installation
Seasonal Tips
Dormant vs. Dying Sod
Your Sod Questions — Answered
Natural Turf Farm
6 Steps to the Perfect Lawn
How to Keep Sod Healthy With Dogs
Helping Sod Survive Drought
How to Get Rid of Mushrooms In Your Lawn
Should You Rake or Mulch Leaves?