In every garden there are areas that receive very little light during the day. In these spots the grass grows very poorly and the soil looks haggard and shabby, an eyesore to most gardeners. There are many reasons for this, usually it is due to large trees with expansive treetops and shady house walls. In addition, there is a permanent moisture associated with the shade, since the sunlight required for drying out is missing. Areas that are too moist will be attacked by moss after a while, which will quickly spread. A shaded lawn is the right solution for these spots, a seed mix with special grass varieties that can thrive in these difficult conditions.
Table of Contents
location
The shade lawn also grows in predominantly shady places, but still needs a few rays of light from time to time to be able to thrive. If the area is completely in the shade, for example due to a house wall, the shaded lawn will not be able to do much there either. In this case, it is better to cover this spot with ground cover plants, such as ivy or St. John’s wort. These plants also tolerate extremely dark shade, feel very at home here and quickly cover the barren soil with a rich green.
Furthermore, the shady lawn under the branches of coniferous trees does not have much chance of growth, because their roots are close to the surface, so the lawn roots usually do not get enough water. In addition, most conifers cast a very extensive and exceptionally dark shadow, which the ground cover plants do better with. The shady lawn needs more of a semi-shade, here it grows very densely even without continuous sunshine and forms a closed and handsome grass surface with good care.
- Shady lawns are ideal for low-light locations
- Occasional, albeit low incidence of light is still required
- Ideal for areas under bushes and deciduous trees
- Partial shade is desirable
- Avoid places under coniferous trees and better plant them with ground cover
Soil conditions and plant substrate
As a rule, the soil in shady places is very damp and therefore tends to form moss. Therefore, the soil must be treated beforehand so that it can dry out better. The shady lawn needs sufficient nutrients from the soil so that it can thrive well over the long term. In order to find out any defects in the floor, an early and professional soil analysis is recommended, which is carried out by both private and state laboratories. This investment is worthwhile, especially if the creation of a shaded lawn has failed.
- Thoroughly loosen soil that is too moist and allow to dry
- Mix plant substrate with a little sand
- Sand makes the lawn more permeable to water and therefore drier
- Check the pH of the soil with test sticks
- A neutral value between 6-7 pH is ideal for lawn growth
sowing and planting
Sowing should take place very early after the end of winter so that the shaded lawn can still get a lot of sun. In this phase, the lawn must be extensively strengthened and built up so that it can store and generate sufficient nutrients and energy reserves for lean times. Before sowing, the soil must be treated accordingly so that the roots of the blades of grass, which are initially delicate, can develop more easily. For this purpose, the soil is sufficiently loosened before sowing. This project works best and easiest when the soil has dried well. It is better to wait a few days immediately after heavy rainfall and allow the soil to dry. Lay out the lawn as early as possible, when the leaves on the trees are not yet so dense. This way the grass gets enough sunlight to germinate and grow. The time pressure is not quite as great for trees that bear leaves late and the shady lawn grows particularly well.
- Sow early in spring at the start of the gardening season
- Prefer good quality branded seeds
- Loosen the layer of soil to a depth of about half a meter
- Keep the lawn moist at all times after sowing
- If necessary, water several times a day
- Reduce only when the lawn is closed
- sow gaps
maintenance and weed control
A shady lawn is very easy to care for, and less weeds will grow in a shady location due to the moderate light conditions. However, this special lawn is much more sensitive than a lawn growing in the sun, which can also withstand the wild romping of children and animals unscathed. For this reason, it must be treated with care and entered carefully.
- No particularly high demands for care
- Compared to the sun lawn far less resilient
- More suitable for decorative purposes than for extensive use
- Mix organic weed killer with fertilizer
- Keep the lawn mesh as permeable as possible by regularly raking, mowing and scarifying
watering and fertilizing
As a rule, the area for the shaded lawn tends to be damp due to the lack of sunshine, but here too the soil can dry out in the hot summer months with persistently little rainfall.
The shady lawn must be fertilized several times a year so that it is supplied with sufficient nutrients. The lawn lying in the shade should also receive its fertilizer as early as possible at the beginning of the gardening season so that there is still enough light to process the fertilizer. A good fertilizer promotes a lush green appearance, healthy lawn and resistance to pests and diseases. Without an ample supply of nutrients, the shady lawn quickly loses its beautiful, green color. A continuous application of fertilizer is therefore necessary and begins with the appearance of the first frost-free nights in spring. The shade lawn is also happy about an addition of lime,
- Never let the lawn get too dry
- Water extra during hot periods with little rain
- However, do not water excessively even on hot summer days
- Avoid too much moisture and waterlogging, check with your finger before watering
- Moist soil attracts moss
- Fertilize in spring and late summer
- Start fertilizing as early as possible in early spring
- High nitrogen requirement
- Fertilizer with a slow and even supply of nitrogen is ideal
- Prevents shock growth and protects the environment with release as required
- Use fertilizer sparingly
- Spread lime once a year in spring
Seeds, grass varieties and mixtures
When buying, it is better to give preference to high-quality branded seeds, otherwise there is a risk that too few seeds will germinate and the lawn will become very thin in some places. In this case, another seed is then necessary, which leads to increased costs. For this reason, savings should not be made in the wrong place. A mixture of different types of grass is optimal, so that the shaded lawn gets a rich green color and a dense growth.
The decisive factor in the mixture is the respective proportion of the lawn seeds, since a shady lawn must exist in an extreme location and should grow well here. The ryegrass, which is contained in a high percentage in sunny lawns, may only be contained to a small extent in shaded lawns, as this grows too quickly for a predominantly shaded area and requires too much water. In contrast, there is an exceptionally high proportion of fescue grass, which can also grow well in shady places. In addition, special species are added that grow in their natural habitats in densely leafy forests or under rampant bushes where the sun rarely shines.
- Give preference to varieties that get by with particularly little light
- Ideal seed mix: Perennial ryegrass, fescue grass and bluegrass
- Rispengräser: Wiesen-Rispengras, Hain-Rispengras und Läger-Rispengras
- Kleine Anteile: Rotes Straußgras und Sumpf-Straußgras
- Anspruchslose und feinhalmige Sorten, welche sich auch bei wenig Licht im Garten wohlfühlen
- Bei stark säurehaltigen Böden einen geringen Anteil Draht-Schmiele Gräser untermischen
Krankheiten und Schädlinge
Die heutzutage im Fachhandel erhältlichen Samenmischungen sind in der Regel gegen die üblichen Rasenkrankheiten resistent. Aufgrund seines dichten Wachstums und der Standortbedingungen ist der Schattenrasen außerdem besonders widerstandsfähig gegen Unkraut, Krankheiten und andere Schädlinge.
Moosbefall
Moos lässt sich mit vorbeugenden Maßnahmen und regelmäßiger Pflege einigermaßen erfolgreich verhindern.
- bevorzugt schattige und feuchte Plätze
- liebt sauren Boden, dieser wird durch Kalk ausgeglichen
- good competition are the wire hair grasses
Hibernation and pruning
The shaded lawn can and should stand longer than a normal, sun-kissed lawn. A newly created shady lawn should only be trimmed for the first time when it has grown to a height of at least ten centimetres. During the strong growth phase in the warm months, the lawn should be mowed more often. It is better to mow the shaded lawn more often, but less deeply. A dense carpet of lawn can only be achieved if the grass is constantly trimmed and does not grow excessively long.
- Let the shady lawn grow a little longer, 6-7 centimeters is ideal
- Never mow the lawn shorter than about 5 cm
- Increased growth between May and August, then mow several times a month
- Cut the lawn short before overwintering
Scarifying and aerating
If matting occurs in the shaded lawn, this can be eliminated by scarifying the lawn. Scarifying is the act of scratching the turf of a lawn to remove mulch, old clippings and moss. A special scarifying device from the garden trade helps with this work. When aerating, the soil is aerated to strengthen the grasses and improve water flow.
- Treat thatch immediately
- Remove dirt from the lawn
- There are scarifier rakes for small areas
- Punch small holes in the soil for aerating
- Distance about 15 cm
- Then fill the punched holes with sand
- Sand keeps the holes permeable and increases the effectiveness of the method
Conclusion
With a shaded lawn, dark garden areas under trees, bushes or in front of house walls can be optimally used and beautified. Due to the low incidence of light, this lawn is very easy to care for and significantly fewer weeds grow. If the soil is worked and loosened appropriately, the growth of moss is prevented and the shaded lawn shines in a rich, bright green. If you pay attention to quality when choosing, the shaded lawn will germinate quickly and sowing does not have to be repeated several times.
