One of the most common questions asked county extension agents is
how to grow healthy turf grass under trees. It can be frustrating
when you plant over and over and watch the turf get thinner and
thinner as the tree canopy thickens.

Perhaps the best solution to the problem is to stop trying so
hard. Accept the fact that turf grasses and trees just don’t mix.

Trees don’t just compete with turf for valuable nutrients and
water. Mature trees with large canopies also cast too much shade
on our sun-loving grasses.

This usually isn’t a problem when the trees are young. But as
they grow and the shade gets more dense, the turf begins to
suffer.

Your best bet

Seeding or sodding turf grasses in heavily shaded areas may prove
to be a waste of time, energy and money. Your best bet may be to
avoid the disappointment by planting an alternative.

One popular choice is dwarf mondo grass. It grows 2 inches tall,
never needs mowing, thrives in shade and is green year-round.

Most garden centers sell dwarf mondo grass in 4-inch pots.
However, if you have a large area to plant, bare-root divisions
may be the most economical.

Your local nurseryman can order these from wholesale suppliers in
Georgia. If you’re really frugal and observant, you may find a
friend who is willing to share a few clumps of dwarf mondo grass
from his landscape.

Taller mondo

Another good choice for shaded areas is regular mondo grass. It
grows 6 to 8 inches high and has a fine, grass-like texture. Like
its dwarf cousin, it stays green all year and requires very
little care once established. Plant mondo grass 12 to 18 inches
apart and dwarf mondo grass 6 to 10 inches apart.

Liriope is another great choice for shaded areas under trees. It
has coarser foliage than mondo grass and grows 8 to 12 inches
tall. There are two types on the market.

Liriope muscari, the clumping form, spreads outward from the
parent clump. Liriope spicata, a spreading form, moves by
rhizomes (underground creeping stems) and seeds. The spicata is
more aggressive. But it may be invasive, too, and harder to
confine to a bed.

More choices

Another great choice for shaded areas is Asiatic jasmine. Once
established, it sends out runners that creep along the ground and
form a dense, evergreen mat that’s easily edged and kept confined
to a desired shape.

It has small, evergreen leaves, one-fourth to three-fourths of an
inch long. The flowers aren’t particularly showy. But the shiny,
pest-free foliage is worth the investment.

A popular newcomer to the ground cover market is Creeping
Raspberry. It creeps along the ground and forms a dense,
evergreen mat in sun or shade. It doesn’t bear edible fruit. But
it’s a reliable plant sure to tolerate the competition and shade
of trees.

When you plant ground covers under trees, remember that 80
percent of the tree’s system is in the top 12 inches of soil. So
avoid disturbing tree roots by tilling the soil. Instead,
carefully dig individual holes for the ground covers to minimize
the root damage to the trees.