Arizona Sod and Shaded Lawns

Shaded lawns in Arizona can be trouble. Sod requires a lot of photosynthesis to survive, so if you take away its main source of food, you are basically starving the sod. This is why bare spots develop beneath trees. Left in the shade for 80% of the day, there simply isn’t enough sunlight to support the sod in Arizona. Some grasses don’t need as much sunlight, but even the most shade resistant varieties need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. The most shade tolerant grass out there is Palmetto St Augustine and it requires 4 hours. This variety of sod is ideal for shaded Arizona lawns.

Another problem with shaded sod is that, away from sunlight, water is likely to evaporate slower and keep things very wet and moist. While this isn’t going to happen as often in Arizona, it can occur if not managed. The problem with highly wet situations is that they are likely to bring in various fungi-related turf diseases. One of the worst is the take-all root rot. This stuff can be brutal on your Arizona turf and require you to change the way your lawn drains, mow at a higher height, and if it’s really bad, replace the sod up to 6 inches deep and 2 feet away from affected areas. Even worse, it’s very harsh on St. Augustine sod as well as similar types of grass available in Arizona.

There are simple steps that you can take to help a shaded lawn grow better. An overgrown tree is the number one thing that generally provides too much shade. This is an easy problem to solve, just cut back or prune the tree’s growth so that the sunshine is on your lawn.

Another thing you can do is mow and water your Arizona sod less. The roots can suffocate if shaded parts of the lawn are retaining too much water. Be careful not to let water pool. Keeping the lawn at a high mowing height also helps.

If you find moss growing anywhere around your lawn, rake it up. Moss ultimately kills your grass.

Evergreen Turf is an Arizona sod company that has become the major sod provider not just for homeowners and landscapers, but for Arizona’s demanding golf courses and sports facilities.

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One Response to “Arizona Sod and Shaded Lawns”

  1. Landscapers Directory Says:

    Landscapers Directory…

    Great Info! Thanks Landscapers Directory…