JB Instant Lawn Blog
Shade Stress!
Apr 18th, 2017
While perennial ryegrass and tall fescue varieties might establish quickly in heavy shade, they will begin to thin significantly after the first year.
Shade stresses turfgrass by reducing green plant cells and carbohydrate reserve in the leaves.
The grass then becomes unable to make enough food to sustain new root and shoot growth.
When stressed- turfgrass also becomes more susceptible to shade-related issues.
Some typical turfgrass problems when planted in heavily shaded areas include:
- Thinning and/or decline of overall stand.
- Increased disease/pathogens.
- Moss taking over.
- Weeds moving into thin areas.
*It is ideal to provide 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight to maintain a healthy turfgrass stand.
Some ideas that help in partial shade areas might include:
- Selective pruning to thin trees- increasing filtered light.
- Over-seeding with JB Instant Lawn Seed Fall/Spring that match your particular lawn
- Additional JB Signature Premium Fertilizer as needed.
- Aerate to increase oxygen availability.
Shade and Turfgrass don't mix--- Keep it green, dense and happy---- and remember your lawn needs sun!!
JB Instant Lawn Seed Varieties in the link below-
http://www.jbinstantlawn.net/resources/display/see...
About the Author
Ryan Jennings is the Oregon / SW Washington Wholesale Representative for JB Instant Lawn and has 25+ years of Green Industry experience.
After moving to the PNW in 1997- Ryan received an A.S. Degree in Horticulture with focused study on both Turfgrass Management and Arboriculture.
This led Ryan to becoming a GCSAA Class A Superintendent at Mallard Creek 18 hole Championship Golf Course hosting many recognized tournaments- the OPGA Oregon Open 2002 & OGA Tournament of Champions in 2001 among them- and later in his career- a Management/Sales position in landscape contracting.