I have a very small front yard that has been worked on several times both seeded and sod. It is shaded by a big tree. Is it absolutely necessary that the existing sod be taken up or can the ground just be roto-tilled.
Posts: 4 | Location: St. Louis, MO. | Registered: Jun 14, 2008
I'm not sure what you want to do, but it sounds like grass won't grow because of too much shade and/or competition from tree roots for water and nutrients. If you have tree roots and rototill you risk killing your trees. What is it you are trying to do?
Newt
When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
MY FRONT LAWN HAS A VERY LARGE TREE IN THE FRONT PART OF THE YARD. YES, IT IS SHADED BY THE TREE. I ONLY WANT SOME GRASS TO GROW. THERE ARE GRASSES THAT GROW IN THE SHADE, ISN'T THERE?
Posts: 4 | Location: St. Louis, MO. | Registered: Jun 14, 2008
There aren't many grasses that will grow in the shade of a tree. You don't say what type of grass was planted or how it was cared for so I have no idea why the grass you planted didn't take. Maybe this will help. http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06725.htm
Also, please don't yell. Typing in all caps is like yelling and it's hard on the eyes.
Newt
When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
I agree with Newt. I also live in the St. Louis area and know the problem you face. Our trees here are very tall and healthy!
An option to growing traditional grass would be to plant the area in shade tolerant plants like hosta, liriope, day lilies, vinca minor...there are many choices. I know that this Spring was extremely wet but under normal conditions plants under a shade tree often get less water than in other places since the tree's roots take much of the water from the soil.
In the areas I have this problem I've made big planting beds of shade tolerant plants and mulched them up. It looks beautiful and it's very low maintenance. Of course, now that I've about finished planting the rain has stopped and we're watering two hours a day!
If you can post a photo it might help to see what you're dealing with.
I live in a condo that splits a front yard so I can do what I want to my side. I would like to put in shade loving plants with the mulch but I think it would me way to different, Thank You
Posts: 4 | Location: St. Louis, MO. | Registered: Jun 14, 2008
Msgtkjs, maybe dwarf mondo grass would work for you. It's a groundcover that looks like lawn grass, grows in shade and doesn't need to be mowed. You can even walk on it a bit. Here's a whole bunch of images you can click on to get ideas of what it might look like. Once it's filled in you won't need to put down mulch. http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=dwarf+mondo+gra...=Search+Images&gbv=2
Newt
When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
Msgtkjs, you are very welcome! Be sure it's the DWARF mondo grass that only grows 2 or 3 inches tall.
Newt
When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
