The grass under my tree is disappearing! It's on the north side of my house with a fence and a tree on the west and a tree on the east, plus it's on a slope. The grass started vanishing last year. I thought something was eating it. We put down a shade loving seed mix and it came up ok. This year there are a few baseball size patches and thats it. I had a pest guy come by and he said it was just a shade problem. What kind of grass will grow in the dark and heat? I think the rest of the lawn is buffalo but it's full of weeds (the pest guy's going to spray). Thanks for the help.
From your zone info, you appear to be in the panhandle where the weather is drier and hotter in the summer and colder in the winter than where I am in north Texas. I would suggest you contact your local country extention office to see what grass type they recommend for your area. Also, ask them about whether the Buffalo grass should be sprayed. From the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of north Texas down thru to the Gulf Coast a good grass for heat and shade is St. Augustine, but I am not sure it would do well in the panhandle. It is a thirsty grass and may be more maintenance than it is worth. Why not find a really nice ground cover that thrives in your area, it wouldn't have to be mowed (mowing can damage the trunk and roots of trees) and after it is established watering and weeding would be at a minimum.
Hmm, if you know anyone locally that is good with lawns, you should ask them about what length to cut your grass. I was amazed a few years ago to hear what a difference that makes on so many things at a little lawn care mini-class
Fescues are usually some of the most shade tolerant grasses. There are many varieties of turf type fescue so picking for your area is essential.
Thanks for all the help I think we are going to plug from what is working under are other trees and reseed. May the strongest survive!
