On 9/18/2016 12:47 PM, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
"Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney"
wrote in message
Greeting fellow garden fans,
What's the best type of grass seed and method to get some grass on
this section of the yard?
I've got a 300 sq ft section of yard that is partially under a pine
tree and partly under a cherry tree. At this time of the year, it
gets direct sunlight from 7-10am and from 12n-2pm. The ground was
covered with pine needles until a month ago when I raked it clean.
Good soil, but just water has not produced any new grass.
Rough sketch of the area
http://i63.tinypic.com/2enuomq.gif
Don't know technical zone name. Meditteraneans climate, San Diego
County, Calif, inland about 15 miles, 500 ft about sea level. Soil
tested and all is within recommendations.
You are likely in Sunset's zone 23: Favored for growing subtropicals;
best zone for avocados. Frosts negligible. Not enough winter chill and
summer heat for apples, pears, and peaches. Good for gardenias. Winter
lows generally range from 38F down to 23F. Buy a copy of Sunset's
"Western Garden Book" or see it at a local public library to get details
about your climate.
It is doubtful whether you will ever get a good growth of turf grass
under the pine. You might try red fescue (Festuca rubra). This is not
a turf grass on which children can play, but it does withstand light
foot traffic. It grows about 1-2 feet tall and flops over. It does
well in part shade. Mine has survived the water restrictions imposed
during the drought. I have mine mowed about once each year, in the late
fall. It needs to be mowed to about 3 inches if I am going to rake
leaves off the lawn; otherwise, the accumulation of leaves from my ash
tree will leave dead patches of grass.
Alternatively, consider a ground cover if there will be no foot traffic
in the area. Dwarf English ivy (Hedera helix 'Hahn's'), cinquefoil
(Potentilla neumanniana), pink clover (Persicaria capitata, not a clover
at all), and Vinca minor can take sun or shade. Once established, these
are relatively drought-tolerant; without ample water, they will survive
even if they do not thrive. Except for the ivy, they also have flowers.
--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary