The Best Types Of Grass To Plant And Grow Around Tree Roots

Ever noticed bare soil or patchy grass failing to grow around the trunks of your trees? This is a common issue that occurs for multiple reasons. Trees typically have shallow, extensive root systems, so they can access plenty of nutrients and water, but this can be problematic for turf that is competing for the same life-giving sources. Trees also create shade with their large and leafy canopies, but most grasses cannot grow under the cover of shade. In fact, grass usually needs at least eight hours of sunlight each day to thrive. When the average turfgrass is grown beneath the shade of a tree, you can expect shortened and weakened root systems, poor growth, and an increased incidence of disease. Sometimes, you may find that weeds are thriving around the base of your tree where grass should be, as they can flourish in the shade and won't be bothered by competing for nutrients and moisture.

The unattractive bald or weedy spot beneath your tree can be remedied simply by choosing a suitable species of grass to grow in that location. Several types of grass have good tolerance to shade, such as bottlebrush grass and blue fescue. A rare few even prefer shade to sunlight, including mondo grass and tufted hair grass. You'll need to adjust your maintenance routine for these areas, because they'll need to be treated differently to grass growing in the sun. Here we explore the best types of grass to plant and grow around tree roots, and how to take care of them.

Bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix) is a showy, ornamental grass that blooms from September to October. The flowers look like bottle brushes, explaining the common name of this grass. They start out green and fade to an earthy shade of brown as they dry out. The grass forms clumps that are ideal for covering bare soil beneath the canopy of a tree. Bottlebrush grass has a good tolerance to partial lighting conditions, such as that you might experience beneath the dappled shade of an open canopy. Because of this, avoid planting this grass under a dense tree canopy, as it may struggle to thrive.

As a native to dry woodland areas, bottlebrush grass has low to medium moisture needs. It grows easily in well-draining soils, but it can adapt to clay and heavy soils. The best time of day to water your lawn in shaded conditions is early in the morning. This allows more time for surface moisture on the blades of grass to evaporate with the heat of the day. Shaded grass watered in the evening will be more prone to diseases that are caused by humidity. Bottlebrush grass self-sows easily, creating a more lush and dense mat of greenery around the base of the tree season after season. Despite its ability to self-sow, this grass is not aggressive.

St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a common turfgrass found in lawns across moderate climates in North America. It thrives in moist soils and is known as the most shade-tolerant species of all the warm-season grasses. However, while it's one of the best picks for shady spots, like most plants, it still performs best when given access to between four and six hours of sun each day. With an aggressive nature, this grass will spread rapidly in the summer months to produce a dense mat of turf beneath the shade of a tree. It is not tolerant of low temperatures and will turn brown in cold winters.

As a species that likes a little bit of light, St. Augustine grass will benefit from some tips you can use that will make growing grass under your tree easier. Thin out dense tree canopies by pruning away the lower branches, allowing more light to flow through, and improving air circulation. When caring for St. Augustine grass, take note of its feeding needs. This is a demanding species that will appreciate regular fertilizer applications. Add fertilizer every month through the growing season, or every six weeks on compacted soils. Mow St. Augustine grass to between 3 and 4 inches to help prevent thinning and disease.

Since lawns struggle to grow beneath the shade of trees, weeds can take over. One of the best defenses against weeds is a thriving lawn that will prevent weeds from gaining access to moisture, nutrients, and light. Hard fescue (Festuca trachyphylla) is an ideal grass species to use around tree roots because it will out-compete weeds to help choke them out, thanks to its dense growth pattern. Hard fescue also offers excellent shade tolerance, making it a good candidate for growing beneath dense canopies.

If you have struggled to cultivate grass under the shade of your trees, you might be seeding at the wrong time. The best time of year to plant grass seed in shade is April and late summer. Sowing your hard fescue seeds at the correct time can give the lawn the best start, so it develops a strong root system that will create competition for weeds. Alongside being well suited to growing in shade, hard fescue is also tolerant of drought and poor soils, so consider this type of grass for beneath trees that grow in similar conditions.

Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) could take the title for the best kind of lawn for shady backyards. This cool-season grass forms tufted mounds that mature at around 10 inches in both height and spread. It will thrive in partial shade and work as an excellent ground cover around the base of tree trunks. Blue fescue takes on a blue-green color when grown in full sun, as you may have expected from its common name. This color will not be as well-developed when the grass is grown under the shade of a tree, but it still makes a striking visual impact and can help to hide bare ground.

Blue fescue is highly adaptable to a range of conditions, but it needs to be planted in well-draining soil. When grown in wet soils, this grass will not survive for long, so don't use it under trees near streams or riverbeds. It is also not tolerant of high humidity or high temperatures. When this grass produces flowers it is best to remove them, since doing so will redirect energy to the roots and the grass for a healthier specimen.

Zoysiagrasses (Zoysia spp.) tolerate shade, traffic, cold, and salt well and create dense lawns to resist weed competition, which can be a problem around tree roots. Several varieties of zoysiagrass represent good options for planting beneath trees, such as Manila zoysiagrass (Zoysia matrella), which is known for its excellent shade tolerance. Plant this type of grass beneath the canopy of a dense tree for a lush, green carpet around the trunk of its base. Japanese zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) is another good choice. This species produces coarse blades of grass that are commonly found in lawns, parks, and golf course fairways. Japanese zoysiagrass is a slow-growing grass that is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions.

Zoysiagrass is among the best grasses to handle extreme heat, so consider this species for growing around tree roots if you live in a hot climate. As an exceptionally durable grass that can withstand various conditions, it is a gardener's dream when planted in a difficult area, like beneath the canopy of a tree. However, it should come with a warning. Anyone who has ever tried to remove this turf from their yard will know it's so difficult to get rid of zoysiagrass. Use it responsibly in areas you want to be permanently grassy.

Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) is a slow-growing, shade-loving perennial grass. It forms dense, cascading mounds that reach 2 feet high and 3 feet wide, creating a stunning ornamental feature when used around the base of a tree trunk. The dense habit of this grass makes it ideal for use as ground cover on areas of lawn that have become bare or patchy, or to hide shallow tree roots that are peeping through the surface of the soil. There are so many different types of Japanese forest grass varieties you should plant for beauty and texture around the base of your tree. Consider 'Aureola,' which becomes flushed with red in fall, or 'Fubuki,' which has stunning green and white contrasting stripes.

As a native to wet woodlands and moist mountainsides in Japan, this perennial grass needs to be grown in well-draining soil that is kept consistently moist. If you allow the soil to dry out, the leaves can suffer. For the brightest coloring in shades of yellow and gold, Japanese forest grass should be grown in partial or dappled shade. If you plant this grass in full shade, it will still thrive, but the color will become lime green. 

Tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) is a cool-season grass that is also commonly known as 'tussock grass'. It is highly ornamental, growing in thick clumps with long and slender leaves that spray outwards to create the look of a grassy globe. Unusual for grass, tufted hair grass actually prefers to grow in shade. If you want grass that will thrive beneath the shady canopy of your tree rather than just tolerate it, tufted hair grass is an excellent choice. It grows to a mature height of between 2 and 3 feet, working best in woodland-style gardens.

Not only is tufted hair grass a perfect shade-loving addition to the base of your trees, but it is also an ornamental grass that will make your yard a bird and pollinator paradise. Panicles of tiny flowers in shades of purple, silver, green, or gold appear in summer and can last right through fall and winter. These cloud-like blooms are popular with bees and other pollinators, and they can also make excellent cut flowers. Grow tufted hair grass in moist or wet soils, close to ponds, riverbanks, or streams. Flower and foliage production will be negatively impacted by full sun, so grow this grass beneath the dappled shade of a tree. For instance, a birch tree, or any tree with an open canopy, will work well.

Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) is an ornamental grass native to Japan. It works as ground cover in shaded areas with moist, well-draining soils, forming clumps of green foliage that reach around 1 foot in both height and spread. Mondo grass is tolerant of foot traffic and resistant to deer, so it can work well in a variety of different yard types. It is known as an excellent turf alternative for shady spots, spreading via underground stolons to form a soft and dense mat.

Mondo grass is ideal if you want to cover ugly tree roots with an easy-to-grow landscaping stunner. The mounding habit of this grassy plant will easily hide any unattractive roots that are making an appearance around the base of your tree, and since it prefers shade over sun, it will have no problem thriving beneath a leafy canopy. If you prefer a more manicured look, mondo grass can be mowed.