Grass growing tips...?
Question:I just bought a house in Florida and have oak trees and having a hard time figuring out what to do with a limited budget (NO SOD $$) to get grass to grow in the shade. I think there was bahia growing there before and it has started to come back a little since I removed all the leaves that had accumulated from the previous owner.
Answers:
Have you soil tested and make a trip to a good nursery with the results. They will be able to set you up. Home improvement warehouses are not usually a good source of information.
In NC the state AG dept tests soil at no charge. Florida might do this as well.
Good luck
1st thing I would do is to contact your county extension agent to see what type of soil is in your area.
They should be able to tell you what type of grass would do well in your area even in the shade.
well just water early in the morning and then when its afternoon it maybe better.
just try water every now and then.
I am a NATIVE FLORIDIAN and the only type of grass that will grow in the shade of an oak (Live Oak?) is called BLUE (something -- not BLUE GRASS like in Kentucky, but BLUE something, sorry it escapes me right now), but try contacting the U of F they invented Floratam Sod and perhaps the BLUE stuff too! You can also try on-line under Florida Grasses & Florida Shade Grasses !
Bahia might put up a few sprigs, but will NEVER grow well or look good, it will always be too sparse !!
Good Luck !
p.s. -- YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET THE SEED OR SPRIGS FOR THIS GRASS AT NURSERY OR SOD COMPANY! yOU COULD BUY 20 OR 30 PCS @ $1 EACH AND CUT THEM IN QUARTERS -- SPREAD THEM OUT IN AN EVEN PATTERN UNDER YOUR TREE AND hand water DAILY & deeply FOR AT LEAST THE 1ST 2 TO 3 WEEKS AND then every two to three days after that, when well established your grass will only need 1/2" to 1" of water per week. Get a water measurer that sticks into the groung after you establish sod then use a good sprinkler on established grass and check the measurer to make sure you dont over water or under water! As being under a tree you will have to watch out for fungus if it gets too wet and stays wet too long! Always water early in the morning so grass has all day to dry out! This prevents mold and fungus!
grass seeds, plenty of water, and rake the leaves when they fall
More Related Questions & Answers...