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The shade math
6+ hrs: anything grows · 4–6: shade-tolerant types · 3–4: fine fescue only · <3: not grass
Grass is a sun crop — every shade problem is an energy-budget problem, and no fertilizer substitutes for photosynthesis. The picker matches the budget to the species that can live on it, and below the line it says so instead of selling seed that can't work.
Shade care is different care
Whatever grows there: mow it a notch taller (more leaf = more light capture — the height guide's top-of-range), water less often (shade evaporates slowly), and feed at half rate (slow growth needs less). Most shade grass is killed by full-sun care, not by the shade.
Seeding the fix
The seed calculator sizes the pounds, the planner schedules it, and under trees add one prep step: prune the canopy up where you can — an hour with a pole saw buys more grass than any product.
Frequently asked questions
What grass grows best in shade?
Fine fescues are the shade champions (4 hours of sun or even dappled light), tall fescue handles partial shade well, and St. Augustine is the warm-season shade pick. Kentucky bluegrass and bermuda are sun grasses — bermuda especially just quits below 6–7 hours.
How much sun does grass need?
Full-sun grasses want 6–8+ hours of direct light; shade-tolerant types manage on 4; below about 3 hours of direct sun, no turfgrass thrives — that's groundcover or mulch territory, and accepting it early saves years of reseeding disappointment.
Why does my grass die under trees?
Triple squeeze: the canopy takes the light, the roots take the water and nutrients first, and some trees (maples especially) cast the deepest shade exactly where their roots are thickest. Pruning up the lower canopy, seeding fine fescue, and mowing that area taller is the honest best case.
Can I mix grass types for a partly shaded yard?
Yes — that's what 'sun and shade' mixes are: typically tall fescue or bluegrass with fine fescue, where each type dominates the zone that suits it. For distinct zones you can also seed them separately — shade blend under the trees, sun grass in the open.