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Eggs Zachtly · 21-05-2008, 10:25 AM posted to alt.home.lawn.garden

Steve said:

wrote:
Steve said:

wrote:
On May 18, 11:07=A0am, "Chris" wrote:
Are there any quick tips for maintaining grass in an *almost* fully
shaded=
area? =A0Any special fertilizers, or anything like that? =A0I seed
the area= and it's O.K. (not great), for most of the season, but
almost bare by the t= ime next March/April rolls around (Northeast
part of the US). There must be = something I can do, short of cutting
down all the trees, right?

--
Chris =A0-http://entelis.blogspot.com
** Posted fromhttp://www.teranews.com**

Use a good seed mixture labeled for dense shade. Seed it in the
Spring, when there will be no leaves so it can get established. Mow
it high. Keep leaves off it in the Fall by removing them
frequently. But, even doing all that, if it's in an area like the
north side of a house with trees, it may be impossible to maintain a
decent lawn. For those locations, a shade type ground cover or
similar may be the best solution.

To that good advice I will add, fine fescue is the most shade tolerant
cool season turfgrass. If that doesn't grow for you there then it's
time to look at ground covers, as Trader suggested.

My front lawn is *mostly* fine fescue. Man what a nice grass. =) Alas...
the 80 y/o Silver Maple in front will be coming down, soon. I expect a
muddy mess to follow, shortly after. *sigh* Not sure what I'll do.
There's still a Sycamore dappling light in mid-morning. But, fine fescue
is out, I'm sure. =/

Do you have a fireplace to make use of the maple? Man I hate to lose a
tree.

Nope. OTOH I don't have to pay to have it removed. I got enough shit goin
on right now to have to mess with tree/stump removal and prepping the area
for sod. The city's gotta go about seven or eight feet from the tree to put
in a 24" stormwater pipe. They're gonna sever too many big roots to do so,
and I had them put in the easement deed that if it's damaged beyond repair,
they take it down. Besides, power lines are running right through it. It
needs to go anyway.

It's an awesome tree ('cept for the samaras, HEH). And, it's removal will
wreak havoc with a hosta/fern bed against the house. I've already prepped
two other beds, much larger, where they can be transplanted. =)

I'll plant something a bit more appropriate, once the construction mess is
done. Maybe a nice flowering crab, or a whitebud or something. *shrug*

--

Eggs

-A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.