Many people love to plant Bermuda grass in front of their houses or the garden because of its beauty. However, many people are having problems with the underdevelopment of the grass and not being able to stimulate the grass to grow better.
One of the most common questions about Bermuda grass is regards to shade. Does Bermuda grass grow in the shade? Is there any way to stimulate Bermuda grass growth when growing in an area that lacks sunlight?
What kind of Bermuda grass can live in the shade? Is there any way to fix this situation? To answer these questions, let’s find out more information about the habitat and how to care for Bermuda grass to stimulate its growth best.
Does Bermuda Grass Grow In The Shade?
No! Bermuda grass cannot grow and develop well in the shade.
As you know, most grasses prefer the warm sunshine of the sun instead of the shade. So is Bermuda grass. They need at least 4 hours of sunlight a day to grow at their best. Lack of sunlight will make Bermuda grass grow slowly and not be lush.
Bermuda is known for being a sun-loving grass that can tolerate drought during the hot summer months. In particular, Bermuda grass has higher light requirements than other grasses. The growth and development of this grass species mostly depend on the time that they receive the accumulated light each day.
Light intensity is not a determining factor for the growth of Bermuda grass. Light time affects the growth of leaves, stems, and roots. Currently, some varieties of Bermuda grass have also been improved to enhance shade tolerance. However, they are still not the perfect choice if your garden lacks light.
You should not plant Bermuda grass in gardens with many old trees or tall foliage. Because they will block the light and make Bermuda grass unable to grow and develop well.
Read more: My Bermuda Grass Is Turning Brown (Causes And Solutions)
What Is The Effect Of Bermuda Grass Grown In The Shade?
Bermuda grass is a warm-season grass, so if you grow them in the shade, it will suffer a lot from the negative effects of the weather. To determine if your lawn is lacking in sunshine, you can look for some of the signs below.
The Grass Is Abnormally Long
As you know, in low light conditions, the amount of light is less than 60% normally, and the stem, leaves, and branches of Bermuda grass start to grow abnormally long. It is a sign that Bermuda grass is looking for ways to grow longer and towards the light. This phenomenon will make your Bermuda lawn not hard, weak, and vulnerable to rain, wind, or the negative effects of weather.
The Lawn Is Getting Sparser
As the stems, leaves, and branches of Bermuda grass grow longer and longer, the lawn becomes increasingly sparse. Lack of sunlight causes the photosynthesis of Bermuda grass to decrease. Therefore, it is difficult for them to grow to create new young plants every day.
In addition, the lawn becomes sparse, creating favorable conditions for weeds such as crabgrass, mushrooms, or dandelion flowers to grow everywhere. Weeds will spread quickly and encroach on Bermuda grass’s habitat. If this condition is not corrected in time, your Bermuda lawn will turn into a messy and ugly weed.
Reduced Ability To Fight Disease
Insufficient light will make Bermuda grass unable to photosynthesize, metabolize and grow well. Therefore, their tolerance to the negative effects of weather as well as pests is severely reduced. Bermuda grasses are more susceptible to pests and fungi when they grow in the shade.
Bermuda grass has grown in the shade and often has problems with fungus, moss, and root rot. The reason is that the humid environment makes the fungus multiply and grow more vigorously. The reason is that rain or dew will stay on the lawn for a long time because of the lack of light to dry the leaves. From there, the humid environment will create the ideal conditions for harmful microorganisms to attack Bermuda grass.
How To Care For And Improve Bermuda Grass In The Shade
If your Bermuda lawn is growing in an area that gets a lot of shade every day, here are a few methods you can use to improve the situation. However, any measure will not help you to have a thick, healthy, and green lawn when grown in an area with the full sun every day (At least 4 hours a day).
- Trim foliage and branches at the top of the lawn. Make sure the light reaches the lawn as much as possible each day.
- During mowing, the length of the Bermuda grass in a shady area should be higher than the lawn that receives enough sun.
- Create alternating voids so that light can shine throughout the entire lawn.
- Use a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content to stimulate lawn growth.
- Do not apply too much fertilizer because Bermuda grass can burn and wither.
What Kind Of Grass Can Live In The Shade?
If you can’t improve and upgrade your lawn to get more sun each day, you can grow some grasses that do well in the shade like Ryegrass, Palmetto St. Augustine, and Geo Zoysia.
Ryegrass: This is a cool-season grass that grows and thrives in shade conditions. Ryegrass is a tall herb and can tolerate harsh living conditions and lack of light.
Palmetto St. Augustine: This grass is resistant to adverse weather and soil conditions. They can grow and develop well in shade, drought, and even frost.
Geo Zoysia: It is a smooth-winged grass with very good shade tolerance. The color of Geo Zoysia grass is very beautiful and attractive, so many people choose this grass to replace Bermuda grass in the shade.
However, you should know that it is very difficult to find grass that lives completely in the shade. Therefore, light is still important to maintain a healthy and green lawn. Make sure the space around the lawn has gaps and that the lawn can be exposed to light for at least a few hours a day.
Conclusion
Bermuda grass is a warm-season grass that loves the sun. They are usually grown in sunny, dry areas during the summer months. Therefore, Bermuda grass is not suitable for growth and development in the shade.
If you grow Bermuda grass in the shade, it will face a number of problems such as thin and long stems, sparse grass, pests, and slow death. So make sure to trim the upper foliage so the light can reach the lawn for at least a few hours a day.
If you can’t renovate the area to get enough sun every day, you can plant some alternative grasses like Ryegrass, Palmetto St. Augustine, and Geo Zoysia. The special feature of these grasses is that they can live in partial shade. However, they still need a few hours of light a day to grow best and cannot survive in full shade.