How do you grow grass in a shady lawn

Specialist grass seed for shady lawns

Lawns lacking in moisture, nutrients, or in this case – sunlight, will always cause regular grass seed problems when trying to grow. This is where using specialist shade-tolerant grass species is key. These grass species are naturally able to thrive in low-light conditions, allowing you to enjoy a full lawn no matter how little sunlight it gets.

Choosing the best grass seed for shade

Depending on how much shade you experience in your garden, we have expertly blended two different shady lawn seed mixes to suit!

STEADFAST: Shade

Ideal for gardens that experience light, dappled shade – e.g. under trees with a light canopy or where sunlight moves around the garden throughout the day.

This seed mix contains perennial ryegrass that’s hardwearing and fescues (Strong Creeping Red Fescue, Chewings Fescue, and Hard Fescue) that provide lushness. We have then added a lawn seed for shaded areas: the Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass, into the mix to provide STEADFAST: Shade the shade tolerance it needs to thrive in these challenging growing conditions.

STEADFAST: Ultra Shade

The ultimate solution for areas heavily covered in permanent shade – e.g. areas under dense trees or hedgerows, fences or walls. This specialist blend features Chewings Fescue and Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass as well as the addition of a shade-tolerance super species, Poa Supina, which is renowned for its ability to grow in very, very little sunlight.

When to sow grass seed on shady areas of your lawn

The best time to grow grass in a shady lawn in the UK is when temperatures have reached 15 °C and higher. Generally, between May and the end of summer are ideal for sowing this grass seed, but keep an eye on the weather forecast because parts of the UK often get these temperatures sooner.

How to sow shady grass seed

Steps for sowing a new lawn

• Dig the soil over to a depth of 20-25cm
• Remove weeds by hand or use a feed, weed and moss killer
• Add topsoil if you believe the soil to be poor quality
• Rake the area to get a level seedbed
• Sow the seed at our recommended rate of 50g per m2 by using a seed spreader or your hand
• Rake the seed in after sowing so that the seed is in amongst the soil
• Firm down by foot or by using a roller to improve seed-to-soil contact

Steps for overseeding an existing lawn

This is a great option if certain areas of your garden are in shade and have become thin or patchy!

• Remove any dead grass, weeds or moss by scarifying/raking the area
• Rake the area enough so that the soil is loose
• Sow the seed at our recommended rate of 35g per m2 by using a seed spreader or your hand
• Sow between 5mm and 10mm beneath the surface. That’s about 3-pound coins deep (stacked).
• Rake the seed in after sowing so that the seed is in amongst the soil
• Firm down by foot or by using a roller to improve seed-to-soil contact

Shady lawn aftercare

• Watering - Continue to water your lawn deeply and daily for the next six weeks, avoiding when it is raining
• First mow - Once the new grass has established and reached a height of 5-7cm, your lawn is ready for its first mow
• Fertilise - To keep your lawn healthy, green and weed-free, it’s important to apply a fertiliser. Explore our fertiliser guide HERE for everything you need to know on finding the right fertiliser!