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6 Shade Tolerant Sod Grass Types for North Texas
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Most North Texas lawns have trees or other structures that cast shade over grass areas. As a result, most builder installed sods will suffer and require more shade tolerant grasses to repair those bare spots in the lawn.
In this article we’ll share 6 shade tolerant sod grass types for North Texas that thrive in areas of the lawn with low sunlight.
Raleigh St. Augustine
Raleigh St. Augustine sod is an excellent shade tolerant variety for those who prefer a dark green color grass with a medium blade.
It’s great for a shady lawn as it only requires 4-5 hours of sunlight per day, so it can be installed under trees planted in front yard landscaped areas and still grow quickly like other St. Augustine grasses.
Raleigh St. Augustine is a very dense growing grass that resists unwanted weeds and is not too picky about soil types. Though, it does require more watering than most grasses.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Color: Dark Green
Blade: Thick
Disease Resistance: Good
Heat Tolerance: Very Good
Cold Tolerance: Very Good
Sun Tolerance: Good
Shade Tolerance: Very Good
Drought Tolerance: Fair
ADVANTAGES:
dense texture
shade tolerant
sun tolerant
drought tolerant
weed resistant
DISADVANTAGES:
susceptible to Chinch bugs
susceptible to Brown Patch fungus
more frequent mowing
excessive thatch
invasive
Palmetto St. Augustine
Palmetto St. Augustine is a dark green grass with a smaller blade and softer texture than the Raleigh St. Augustine variety.
It has good disease resistance, cold hardy and drought tolerant. It’s known as the best shade grass available needing only 4 hours of sun per day, so plant this sod grass when you need a more shade tolerant variety than Raleigh St. Augustine.
Palmetto St. Augustine is also great for North Texas yards with weed problems as it’s dense turf will shade and deter weed growth.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Color: Dark Green
Blade: Thick
Disease Resistance: Good
Heat Tolerance: Very Good
Cold Tolerance: Very Good
Sun Tolerance: Good
Shade Tolerance: Very Good
Drought Tolerance: Good
ADVANTAGES:
dense texture
shade tolerant
drought tolerant
weed resistant
DISADVANTAGES:
susceptible to Chinch bugs
susceptible to Brown Patch fungus
more frequent mowing
excessive thatch
invasive
DelMar St. Augustine
If you’re looking for a grass that’s dark emerald green in color with a medium-coarse blade, DelMar St. Augustine is a good choice for you.
DelMar St. Augustine is known as one of the most cold tolerant varieties of St. Augustine. It’s a very good shade tolerant grass that’s affordably priced and grows well in full sun.
It grows very fast, like other St. Augustine grasses, so plan to mow frequently and bag clippings often to avoid thatch build up.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Color: Dark Green
Blade: Thick
Disease Resistance: Good
Heat Tolerance: Very Good
Cold Tolerance: Very Good
Sun Tolerance: Very Good
Shade Tolerance: Very Good
Drought Tolerance: Good
ADVANTAGES:
dense texture
shade tolerant
sun tolerant
drought tolerant
weed resistant
DISADVANTAGES:
susceptible to Chinch bugs
susceptible to Brown Patch fungus
more frequent mowing
excessive thatch
invasive
Emerald Zoysia
Emerald Zoysia grass has a fine blade and dark green color which makes it a great choice when there’s a need for laying sod that blends with Bermuda grass in other areas of the lawn.
It is more shade tolerant than Palisades Zoysia, more drought tolerant than St. Augustine with excellent cold-tolerant qualities for a fine blade grass.
Emerald Zoysia is a slow growing grass, like other Zoysia varieties, requiring less mowing, fertilizer and watering.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Color: Dark Green
Blade: Fine
Disease Resistance: Very Good
Heat Tolerance: Good
Cold Tolerance: Very Good
Sun Tolerance: Good
Shade Tolerance: Very Good
Drought Tolerance: Very Good
ADVANTAGES:
dense texture
shade tolerant
drought tolerant
weed resistant
slow growing
less frequent mowing
pest and disease resistant
DISADVANTAGES:
high up-front cost
slow growing
not ideal for high traffic areas
Palisades Zoysia
Palisades Zoysia has a dark green color and medium blades. Palisades has a thick pile density that deters unwanted weeds like other Zoysia varieties.
It’s shade tolerant like St. Augustine grass without the need for frequent mowing and maintenance due to it’s slow growing qualities. Although, you should plan to bag clippings and aerate the lawn periodically.
Palisades Zoysia, like other Zoysia sods, rarely suffers from pest and disease problems and has low fertilizer requirements.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Color: Dark Green
Blade: Medium
Disease Resistance: Very Good
Heat Tolerance: Good
Cold Tolerance: Very Good
Sun Tolerance: Good
Shade Tolerance: Good
Drought Tolerance: Very Good
ADVANTAGES:
dense texture
shade tolerant
drought tolerant
weed resistant
slow growing
less frequent mowing
pest and disease resistant
DISADVANTAGES:
high up-front cost
slow growing
not ideal for high traffic areas
Zorro Zoysia
Zorro Zoysia sod grass has a very fine leaf texture and is dark green in color. Like Emerald Zoysia, it blends well with thinner blade grasses like Bermuda.
It’s one of the most popular North Texas Zoysia varieties and one of the most shade tolerant warm-season grasses available. This grass thrives in full sun or partial shade and only needs about 4 hours of sun daily.
Zorro Zoysia does require more water than other Zoysia grasses. The only disadvantage to Zoysia grass in general is that it comes at a higher cost to sod a yard in the Dallas area than Bermuda or St. Augustine grasses.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Color: Dark Green
Blade: Very Fine
Disease Resistance: Very Good
Heat Tolerance: Very Good
Cold Tolerance: Very Good
Sun Tolerance: Very Good
Shade Tolerance: Very Good
Drought Tolerance: Good
ADVANTAGES:
dense texture
shade tolerant
drought tolerant
weed resistant
slow growing
less frequent mowing
pest and disease resistant
DISADVANTAGES:
high up-front cost
slow growing
not ideal for high traffic areas
more frequent watering
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