Grass in My Backyard
Is it all all possible to have grass in my North facing Brooklyn backyard? We have a very large tree that shades the yard in the morning, the afternoon gets some full sun. If I can grow grass, any suggestions on how to prep the yard and what type of grass I could get? Thanks!
Is it all all possible to have grass in my North facing Brooklyn backyard? We have a very large tree that shades the yard in the morning, the afternoon gets some full sun.
If I can grow grass, any suggestions on how to prep the yard and what type of grass I could get?
Thanks!
OP: Crabgrass grows in stiff, tall clumps so you can’t mow it and create a healthy dense lawn. It’s a weed that isn’t soft to sit on or nice to look at. It also turns brown and dies in the fall which ain’t pretty.
guvna- right?? damn.
OP here – Thanks for all the great advice, I had a suspision about the maple, thanks BOND. I have actually considered the artificial turf or possibly small round gravel.
But here is my question – what about crab crass? what’s so bad about crab grass if that’s all that will grow??
It sounds like we have a similar back yard situation. We seeded with a product called “eco-lawn” which is a fescue blend last fall and recently reseeded. Not sure how well it will work long term but it is coming in well.
Astral: I second that emotion! Tree trimming is a great idea for anyone who aspires to greater gardening success.
If there’s nothing desirable there now, I’d put out fescue sod to jump start it. We did so with a half-shady backyard and it’s doing well. You’ll need to supplement with some seeds by the end of the season to make it come in full in the spring, but it gives you a great head start with already-hardy plants, and covers up whatever unpleasantness might be there beneath.
That said, our best gardening investment was some major tree trimming to increase our light.
I have to say that a good grass lawn in a Brooklyn backyard that has a lot of shade is going to be hard to achieve if you also want to keep the yard as a place that you can use and be outdoors on.
Are you wanting a blanketed lawn? Or just the outside edges of a cemented over backyard?
I wouldn’t be one to recommend trying to get a perfect lawn at your described location, but if you’re just looking to green the outer border space up, grass can be done or a variety of other plants that won’t require the upkeep that grass needs can be put in its place.
supposedly alpine strawberries do well in shade, and taste delicious. We are thinking edible for our new garden… why not eat what you grow? I think lettuce does well in shade too.
If you’re thinking of ornamental ground covers I had sweet woodruff growing in my old backyard and it was great. A little slow to spread, but once it gets going, it’s very nice. Fine green foliage, tiny white flowers in spring.
I don’t know if it will handle DEEP shade…. I also love ferns and ferns like shade (but are not very lawn-like).
I was walking on Willow Street the other day and saw the elderly owner of one the brick federal houses that are set back from the street mowing his little front lawn with an ancient hand-push mower. It was a photo-op.
That lawn gets full sun especially in the afternoon.