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Apple Valley soil #745811

Asked April 23, 2021, 8:33 AM EDT

My yard really struggles to grow grass, I re-seed every year and fertilize but only get mow every 2-3 weeks to try to keep it even. Yard is shaded but I do use a shade tolerant grass. Should I lime the soil?

Knox County Ohio

Expert Response

Growing a lawn under shady conditions is difficult as you have obviously found out. First, is there any chance that some of the tree branches shading your lawn can be removed or pruned. The more sunlight, the better. Does your lawn drain well or does it retain water? Shading and poor draining sites can hinder healthy lawns. You mention fertilizing the lawn. Check the nutrient contents of the fertilizer. Lawns growing in shade require less Nitrogen than lawns growing in the sun. I do not recommend adding lime until you have a soil test done to check pH level and what nutrients are needed. Following is a link to a Penn State Extension site with more info about growing grass under shady conditions: https://extension.psu.edu/growing-turf-under-shaded-conditions
Pat - MGV Cuyahoga County Replied April 23, 2021, 10:31 AM EDT

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