Growing grass under oak trees???

[coco25]

anyone have any suggestions on what type of grass to get that will grow under oak trees? I have a lot of bare spots in backyard.
I don't really want to spend $$$$$ to add patio squares around the whole bbq, fire pit area.
I've tried a couple different types of seed that was supposed to be for full shaded areas. It only grew in patches and was very thin, wiry stuff that didn't last long...
Any ideas & suggestions would be great.

Thank you Much, Colette

 

[coco25]

Or any others suggestions about anything I could put as ground cover that can take full shade, or any out of the box thinking ideas I could use...
There's lots of leaves & lots of raking that happens, so it would have to be something I can rake or blow leaves off

 

[Smart Red]

I have a yard filled with burr oak trees so I know your problem. We planted a "Fescue" grass that works pretty well. Much as I'd like a full, rich Kentucky blue grass, this is the best that I've been able to do.

In places with the deepest shade, I have hosta beds and one large, beautiful shady garden. There is a spot under the shade of two crab apples with 25 foot arborvitae beside it that won't grow grass anymore at all. I'd like to plant it with wild ginger. Once wild ginger gets a foothold, it is totally hardy in my zone.

If you don't mind it spreading, Lamium is a good, dependable shade lover that will brighten the spot with its green and white leaves -- there's even a green and yellow leafed Lamium. I wouldn't use it again unless I had some barriers to keep it better behaved, but son wants me to scatter the plant pieces in his 'hidden' playground deep in the gully to counter the muddy conditions most of the time.

Gotta go! Spouse is calling. More later.

 

[coco25]

I have a yard filled with burr oak trees so I know your problem. We planted a "Fescue" grass that works pretty well. Much as I'd like a full, rich Kentucky blue grass, this is the best that I've been able to do.

In places with the deepest shade, I have hosta beds and one large, beautiful shady garden. There is a spot under the shade of two crab apples with 25 foot arborvitae beside it that won't grow grass anymore at all. I'd like to plant it with wild ginger. Once wild ginger gets a foothold, it is totally hardy in my zone.

If you don't mind it spreading, Lamium is a good, dependable shade lover that will brighten the spot with its green and white leaves -- there's even a green and yellow leafed Lamium. I wouldn't use it again unless I had some barriers to keep it better behaved, but son wants me to scatter the plant pieces in his 'hidden' playground deep in the gully to counter the muddy conditions most of the time.

Gotta go! Spouse is calling. More later.

Thank you, I looked into the Lamium & I really like the look of it, might be something I'll have to try out in a couple of spots.
I like the hostas too, but don't know about planting them directly in the soil around my large oak.... Would hosta do well in large pots?

 

[ninnymary]

I can only grow hostas in pots. Over here the snails will devour them if in the ground. But they don't grow as big as if they were in the ground.

Mary

 

[ninnymary]

 

[coco25]

Thank you Mary, those are pretty! I will definitely try them out, anything around that big oak will help, it is a beautiful tree that we all love, but it needs some green around it!

 

[Smart Red]

I suspect hostas will do well anywhere except in full sun -- and they are working on developing hostas for that.

Here we have to fence our trees to keep them from absconding. Hosta are our fence of choice.




Here is one of the Lamium. See how it has outgrown its place.

Especially when mowing you should be sure not to mow the Lamium since each piece cut seems to root and grow. I have this, flowering in purple. I also have pink and white flowering Lamium that looks identical when not in bloom. There is another variety that has yellow and green leaves. I don't have that one yet.

There are also ground covers such as vinca and Japanese Spurge (Japanese Pachysandra Pachysandra terminalis that also like the shade.

You should admire my restraint. I didn't show the hosta garden with its (now) over 45 varieties.

 

[coco25]

Wow those are absolutely beautiful pics! I will surely take your advice & try some out around my big trees, I would love my trees to look like yours!!
And by the way, your grass is beautifully green!! Very jealous hahaha
I guess it's time to take a trip to the nursery!!

 

[coco25]

I suspect hostas will do well anywhere except in full sun -- and they are working on developing hostas for that.

Here we have to fence our trees to keep them from absconding. Hosta are our fence of choice.
View attachment 13612 View attachment 13615

View attachment 13616 View attachment 13617

Here is one of the Lamium. See how it has outgrown its place. View attachment 13618 Especially when mowing you should be sure not to mow the Lamium since each piece cut seems to root and grow. I have this, flowering in purple. I also have pink and white flowering Lamium that looks identical when not in bloom. There is another variety that has yellow and green leaves. I don't have that one yet.

There are also ground covers such as vinca and Japanese Spurge (Japanese Pachysandra Pachysandra terminalis that also like the shade.

You should admire my restraint. I didn't show the hosta garden with its (now) over 45 varieties.

I would LOVE to see the hosta garden!!