Shade vs. Turf: Can They Coexist?

There’s no way around it—shade and turfgrass health are usually not compatible. When turf doesn’t receive enough light, a host of problems develop, including low quality turf, an increase in weeds and diseases, bare spots, wet spots and reduced playability due to the growth of a heterogeneous mixture of turf and weeds. These problems can be partially overcome by increasing mowing heights, increasing fungicide and herbicide applications, and avoiding overseeding programs, but some shade-related damage will be difficult to avoid.…