How to Get Grass to Grow Under a Tree

Most people assume that the bare patch of earth under the tree will never grow grass.Trees suck up moisture, block out the sun, and compact the soil, all of which make it hard for grass to grow. If you prepare the soil properly and use a shade-tolerant grass, however, you should be able to get grass to grow under most deciduous trees. Water it frequently and keep it free of leaves, and you should have years of seamless ground cover.

Fine fescue grass

Dirt

Rake

Sprinkler

Hose

Mulch

Consider pruning the lower branches of the tree. Grasses like lots of sun, so the thinner the canopy, the better. If you can remove some of the lower branches, you can usually give the grass at least partial sunlight.

Add some soil. Most mature trees have pretty densely packed soil with roots close to the surface, so you need to add another layer on top for the grass to grow in. Pack it down lightly.

Plant fine fescue grass seeds. Fine fescues are extremely hardy, and do fairly well in shady conditions. There are several different varieties, but any of them will work.

Water the grass frequently. Your tree will suck up water from the ground and block rain, so you need to make sure the grass gets a steady supply of moisture.

Clear leaves out. Leaves and other debris will pose an additional obstacle for your grass. Rake them out as soon as they fall.

Sometimes, grass will not grow within a foot or two of the tree no matter what you do. If you run into this problem, spread some mulch in a small circle around the tree. It will look better than a bare layer of ground.

Because coniferous trees drop thick layers of needles on the ground all year, it is difficult or impossible to grow grass beneath them.